Gleefuul1e12
In the Brooder
- Oct 4, 2023
- 14
- 5
- 21
Before I get started, let me just say that it's not a life threatening issue, I'm just wanting to pick your brains. I'm pretty sure my girl either has egg drop syndrome or a faulty shell gland.
She's a three year old leghorn hen. She has been laying one egg a day except when she's molting. Even then, she only took a break for like three days at the most. She also doesn't stop laying in the winter month's. Maybe she'll lay 5 eggs instead of 7 per week, but she keeps on going. She has had this issue in the past, but she only laid a soft shell egg (egg without a hard outer shell, just the inner membrane, I believe they're called rubber eggs) every six months or so. Just one, and always at night time.
Starting May 10, she laid one normal egg in the morning and one soft shelled in the evening. On May 13 she started laying only one shoft shelled egg in the evening. In the morning she goes to the nest, sits for a bit and then sings the egg song, without laying. On May 18 and 19 she laid two very thin shelled normal eggs, then on May 20 no egg and from May 21, again, shoft shelled eggs in the evening.
She behaves normally, is absolutely perfect like always, no change in the environment, no stress, no molt. All hens eat a balanced layer feed, and have extra crushed eggshells on the side to munch on whenever they want. They free range all day.
Since all this started I have been giving her 1 tbsp of crushed eggshells in 2 tbsp of yogurt and extra calcium in her water. So if anything, her eggs should have been normal with calcium deposits on the outside of the shell.
Which is why I'm thinking it's a shell gland issue or egg drop syndrome. Has anyone dealt with this before? Will this go on until she stops laying? Will it go away on its own? Is it a leghorn issue? (I should add that she's my only leghorn, I've never had any other of this breed.) I'm aware that they're heavy layers but can't find if they're prone to this anywhere. She's my favourite for personal reasons and I don't care one bit if she never lays an egg ever again, I just want her to be healthy.
I should note that I don't have access to an aviary vet with chicken knowledge. In my country you would be considered a lunatic to want to take your hen to a vet.
Appreciate all your thoughts and input in this matter! (Also, English isn't my first language so if anything doesn't make sense, just ask me for clarification.)
She's a three year old leghorn hen. She has been laying one egg a day except when she's molting. Even then, she only took a break for like three days at the most. She also doesn't stop laying in the winter month's. Maybe she'll lay 5 eggs instead of 7 per week, but she keeps on going. She has had this issue in the past, but she only laid a soft shell egg (egg without a hard outer shell, just the inner membrane, I believe they're called rubber eggs) every six months or so. Just one, and always at night time.
Starting May 10, she laid one normal egg in the morning and one soft shelled in the evening. On May 13 she started laying only one shoft shelled egg in the evening. In the morning she goes to the nest, sits for a bit and then sings the egg song, without laying. On May 18 and 19 she laid two very thin shelled normal eggs, then on May 20 no egg and from May 21, again, shoft shelled eggs in the evening.
She behaves normally, is absolutely perfect like always, no change in the environment, no stress, no molt. All hens eat a balanced layer feed, and have extra crushed eggshells on the side to munch on whenever they want. They free range all day.
Since all this started I have been giving her 1 tbsp of crushed eggshells in 2 tbsp of yogurt and extra calcium in her water. So if anything, her eggs should have been normal with calcium deposits on the outside of the shell.
Which is why I'm thinking it's a shell gland issue or egg drop syndrome. Has anyone dealt with this before? Will this go on until she stops laying? Will it go away on its own? Is it a leghorn issue? (I should add that she's my only leghorn, I've never had any other of this breed.) I'm aware that they're heavy layers but can't find if they're prone to this anywhere. She's my favourite for personal reasons and I don't care one bit if she never lays an egg ever again, I just want her to be healthy.
I should note that I don't have access to an aviary vet with chicken knowledge. In my country you would be considered a lunatic to want to take your hen to a vet.
Appreciate all your thoughts and input in this matter! (Also, English isn't my first language so if anything doesn't make sense, just ask me for clarification.)
Last edited:
