Lash egg???

[Leihamarie]

Hi all,

My 1.5 year old EE who has been laying thin-shelled eggs (but otherwise in excellent health) started walking oddly, tail pumping about a week and a half ago. Noticed it right away, took her inside and gave her an epsom soak + 2tsp olive oil and she popped out a small rubber egg. had some coagulated white stuff on top of it but DEFINITELY no hard puss or yellow anything. opening it up, I found egg white albumen with no yolk. Had her in the hospital crate all night and next morning she wanted OUT!!!! She seemed in excellent health. Tail up, bright comb and laid a couple of good looking eggs.

Today she did it again. She was chipper and active this morning and early afternoon her tail went down, she sat in a corner kind of fluffed up and looked... off.

I repeated the soak/oil treatment and out popped a much smaller plug looking like thing that again, is pure white albeit coagulated.

What gives??? Is this Salpingitis or some gum up in the works due to the shorter days? I'm in southern California so it's still fairly warm compared to other places. It's been dipping into the low 50's at night, but that's no big deal for a flock of 7 chickens.

Additionally, I have an Australorp (same age 1.5 years old) who is stopped laying and looking intermittently "off". She wanders off by herself more often than is normal for her and lays down more than she used to. Then sometimes she looks fine. With the EEs issues I'm concerned it's hit my Australorp as well.

I'm running a fecal on her now. I'm hoping that it's just because we're getting into really short days now but it's hard for me to tell what's winter and what's a problem.

Any ideas on what it is I'm dealing with???

 

[Kiki]

I would bet it's just a glitch in her equipment.
I do not think she has an infection right now.

What exactly do you feed her?

 

[Leihamarie]

I have a mixed layer/non layer flock so they're all on grower feed with free choice egg shell & oystershell. They get filterd water w/ 1Tbs ACV per gallon. They also free range all day and get a weekly plain yougurt treat mixed with appropriate amounts of crushed garlic and probiotics.

I sure hope it's a glitch. I'd be happy if she never laid another egg again as long as she's healthy!

 

[Leihamarie]

I should also mention I ferment their feed but they don't like it fermented, lol! Little jerks!

 

[Kiki]

I have a mixed layer/non layer flock so they're all on grower feed with free choice egg shell & oystershell. They get filterd water w/ 1Tbs ACV per gallon. They also free range all day and get a weekly plain yougurt treat mixed with appropriate amounts of crushed garlic and probiotics.

I sure hope it's a glitch. I'd be happy if she never laid another egg again as long as she's healthy!

Get rid of the ACV..it's not needed especially of you are fermenting their feed.

 

[Leihamarie]

Ahhh... Okay, will do. I was using it to help my thin-shell EE with calcium absorption.

 

[Leihamarie]

Well, I took her to the vet today since after the egg came out her tail went up for about 10 min and then drooped again. The vet recommended the Deslorelin implant to give her system a break. Took less than 5 minutes and she was done! I'm hoping that this will at least give her system a much-needed rest. It'll take about a week to take full effect. Thank heavens that implants are even an option! It was a little pricey, but she's a pet that I can't imagine losing before her time due to a reproductive issue.

We'll see how it does. The vet didn't seem to be concerned about infection at all so now we just wait and see.

 

[micstrachan]

I think the hormone implant was a good call before things go haywire.

 

[rebrascora]

I think you may have pre-empted things a little with the implant. At 1.5 years old, she will naturally be coming to the end of her first egg laying cycle. It is not unusual for egg shell quality to deteriorate at this time of year as their body's nutrient levels become depleted and those soft shelled and shell less eggs in the photos (they are not lash eggs.... which look completely different) are really difficult for the hen to push out, making them strain for some considerable time and look hunched with the effort. If she hasn't already, she will be starting to moult very soon and their bodies usually take a break from laying as a natural part of their cycle until the days start getting longer. The hormone implant will probably just trigger the moult a little quicker, although there is no way to know for sure as she may have been ready to drop her feathers now naturally. Giving her a direct dose of calcium supplement like a tums tablet crumbled onto some scrambled egg, would have been a cheaper treatment option.
I don't think the hormone implant will have any detrimental effect other than on your wallet.