Lots of wind eggs

[Amina]

Last summer, I got a 2 year old barred rock hen. I think she may have laid one or two normal eggs when we first got her, but she also laid a lot of wind eggs at that time, and since last summer, I could be wrong, but I don't think she has laid any normal eggs. They are all wind eggs that I know of. Recently, the problem has gotten worse. She is still laying 1-2 "normal" wind eggs per week, but this past weekend, I saw her lay this deformed monstrosity:



It's the kidney-shaped thing in the middle of the photo. She was about to lay it in the nest box but then I guess she changed her mind. All the chickens then fought to be the one to eat it. Oy!

I have been getting some messy, eggy nest boxes lately, and this is probably a big reason why, but it may also partially be due to a pullet that I have who sometimes lays shelless eggs.

Anyway, does anyone have an idea of why my barred rock would be laying solely wind eggs? Is there anything I can do to fix it? I am afraid my chickens are going to learn to be egg eaters, at this rate.

 

[PrairieChickens]

It's rare that chickens learn to be full blown egg eaters. When it does happen, it's usually a result of a nutritional deficiency (either calcium or protein) or severe boredom. That should help you put your mind at ease while you deal with this.

As for your hen who's laying poorly, there may not be anything you can do. If she was sold to you at 2 years old, it was probably because of this very problem. Some chickens have faulty reproductive tracts and can't produce proper eggs no matter what they do.

 

[chickenboy190]

A wind egg is a shelless egg right? My EE has laid like 4 of them. She never did before.

I hope she starts laying normal eggs!

 

[PrairieChickens]

Wind eggs are eggs without yolks. They're usually caused with the hen's reproductive tract mistakes a bit of natural debris for a yolk and forms an egg around it.

Shell-less eggs can be caused by a variety of things. Did your hen recently start laying after a break?

 

[chickenboy190]

Wind eggs are eggs without yolks. They're usually caused with the hen's reproductive tract mistakes a bit of natural debris for a yolk and forms an egg around it.

Shell-less eggs can be caused by a variety of things. Did your hen recently start laying after a break?

Okay I see then.

She laid laid like 3 yolks and nothing around it. Today she laid a yolk with some stuff around it. No, she might be around a year old. She never really took a long break.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I can't think of all the reasons for shell-less eggs off the top of my head, but if you're worried about it you can always look it up. I don't tend to worry about a few odd eggs here and there, but if it continues, you'll definitely want to look into it.

 

[chickenboy190]

Okay yeah. I didn't really think much of it but she laid like 3 in 4 days. I'll see though. Thanks for the help!

 

[chickenboy190]

She laid a normal egg this morning!!!!

 

[Amina]

I'm glad your hen laid a normal egg, chickenboy190!

I know a lot of times shelless eggs can be caused by calcium deficiency, so that could be your problem. In my case, when my pullet lays eggs with shells, they always have little calcium bumps on the fat end, so I think she probably has enough calcium. It's probably that she's a new layer and still working things out. Does that sound right? I have oyster shells out for the hens but I don't think they are eating any. None of them are super high-producing breeds though, so maybe they just don't need any extra calcium. I don't know.

With my hen that only lays wind eggs, I am planning to sell her as a stew hen I guess. I was hoping there might be an easy fix, since I am struggling with this decision. But I can only have a small number of hens, and I'd like to get some eggs from them.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I'm glad your hen laid a normal egg, chickenboy190!

I know a lot of times shelless eggs can be caused by calcium deficiency, so that could be your problem. In my case, when my pullet lays eggs with shells, they always have little calcium bumps on the fat end, so I think she probably has enough calcium. It's probably that she's a new layer and still working things out. Does that sound right? I have oyster shells out for the hens but I don't think they are eating any. None of them are super high-producing breeds though, so maybe they just don't need any extra calcium. I don't know.

With my hen that only lays wind eggs, I am planning to sell her as a stew hen I guess. I was hoping there might be an easy fix, since I am struggling with this decision. But I can only have a small number of hens, and I'd like to get some eggs from them.

The calcium bumps happen from time to time, even with practiced hens. Though I imagine they don't feel great coming out, they don't harm the hen and are usually easy to wash off. Sometime it's because the hen is actually getting too much calcium, but other times it happens just because. I have one hen that has them on almost every other egg. lol

It's a tough decision to get rid of a chicken, especially when you know it's going to be eaten, but sometimes that's what we have to do. It doesn't make the decision easier, but at least you can know you're not alone. Just recently I had to process a rooster that I loved dearly because he was getting too aggressive with the other chickens and was having to live in isolation, so I can kind of relate to your dilemma. As you said, however, space is limited, and you have to keep utility in mind.