Leghorn consistently laying shell-less eggs

[jennifer0224]

Hi, at the moment I have 8 laying hens. They all seem perfectly healthy, except that my 18-month old White Leghorn has been consistently laying shell-less eggs for the last week. She is even laying these eggs at night when she is roosting, instead of in the nesting box the last couple of days. There is no lack of calcium, as they are all on a layer feed. No stress except for the heat, but it's been hot for months now.

Is she simply getting tired and ready to go through her first molt? She's been just about laying an egg a day for the last year. Or could it be something else?

Thanks!

 

[Double The Ducks]

Hm, I'm not a chicken expert, so I'm not sure. You could try offering her oyster shell and adding a vitamin supplement like Sav-a-Chick (can be found at Tractor Supply Co) to her water.

 

[lazy gardener]

I believe the Sav-A-Chick is an electrolyte + vitamin mix. It would NOT BE A GOOD IDEA to put her on electrolytes. However, DTD is on the right path here, vitamins, and extra free choice calcium. She's getting older, and her shell gland may be shutting down. If the extra nutrients (I'd also up her protein) don't fix the problem, it may be time to consider culling, unless you don't mind cleaning a messy nest box every day.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I believe the Sav-A-Chick is an electrolyte + vitamin mix. It would NOT BE A GOOD IDEA to put her on electrolytes. However, DTD is on the right path here, vitamins, and extra free choice calcium. She's getting older, and her shell gland may be shutting down. If the extra nutrients (I'd also up her protein) don't fix the problem, it may be time to consider culling, unless you don't mind cleaning a messy nest box every day.

Wow 18 months is getting older for a leghorn
This chicken journey is going to get tough sooner than later.

I love my leghorn! Whitey used to be the most skittish and now since she started laying its all love baby and an egg a day! Will always have Leghorns in my flock.

Good luck, hopefully she pulls out of her funk and gets back to work.

Gary

 

[aart]

my 18-month old White Leghorn......Is she simply getting tired and ready to go through her first molt?

Yes. Funky eggs can happen prior to molt. 18 months is prime time for her first adult molt.

 

[aart]

It would NOT BE A GOOD IDEA to put her on electrolytes.

Why not a dose of electrolytes?