Mature hen laying soft shelled eggs, and prolapsing vent!

[leela2012]

We adopted a Golden Campine hen about a month ago. She is about 1 year and 3 months old. When we got her the guy said she was very friendly and laid about an egg a day. We picked her up and she was super nice, but very mean to the other ladies. Anyway, the first day she laid a regular egg, then the next day nothing, next day after that a soft shelled egg that was broken in the nest box. Gross! So I read up on it and figured she was stressed. Days passed, and we got a 1 good egg out of every 3 or so soft. I have her on layer feed with oyster shell supplements. She is still laying soft eggs. She eats them too! It's really quite gross. Some of the eggs still have a cord attached? IS THAT NORMAL??? A CORD??? Why is this happening? Then this is the worst part.....today I find a broken egg but no shell????? Then I see her vent and butt area, totally swollen and the soft egg shell and some poop dried to her back side So terrible! Her vent completely prolapsed. I soaked it off and ended up pulling the other half of the soft egg shell out of her vent! Only because I saw a little piece sticking out. I ever so gently pulled a little and out it came, along with a big poop! Poor thing felt so much better. Her vent went back in and I was so relieved. So now the big question... why is she laying these soft eggs? She is in very clean free range conditions and has super high quality feed and care. No table scraps and not a lot of treats. What can I do? No outward health problems showing except this one thing. Is she going to die? Sorry for so much detail, I just really want to get to the bottom of this. I know someone out there can help....thanks so much!

Regards,
Concerned Mother Hen of Bonnie (pictured below)

 

[CMV]

You may want to dose her with a crushed up TUMS. That should give her a hefty dose of calcium to aid in the egg shell formation. Does she get free choice oyster shell?

 

[leela2012]

Hi CMV,
Thanks for the help! I will do that today! She does get free choice, but there is also some mixed into the food. This morning I went out to the coop and she was already out, but hiding behind some bushes. Almost as if she was in pain and trying to lay but couldn't. I am super worried she is not going to make it much longer. But no prolapse from what I could see yet today. I feel so helpless.

 

[terryg]

A true prolapse needs an immediate response. If the other hens see it, they'll peck and then it can't be fixed. Read my blogposts about my hen that prolapsed and went on to lay healthily for several more years. http://hencam.com/henblog/2007/07/folk-medicine-cure/
My guess is that her laying system is out of whack (not exactly a medical term but what is going on.) She needs a break from laying while things get back in line. You can put her in a crate and keep it covered for all but 5 hours a day. Keep it dark and her system will tell her to stop laying. This will give her vent a chance to heal. Let her out for a few hours to eat and dust bathe, etc.
Next, I'd give her an epsom salt bath, which helps to regulate mineral imbalances in the system. Also, the break will give her a chance to build up her calcium store. Read about that here.http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/04/agnes-dark-comb/
She's a beautiful bird and I think she can recover just fine.

 

[leela2012]

Hi Terry,
Thank you for that note! Lots of good info! I am hoping she will be ok, I am just worried that there is something going on that I can't see, like you said. So I will try to keep her subdued in a crate for a while and see if that helps. I have a dog crate and I will put her in there when I get home. Does the caging have to be done in mid day? Since I work it would be hard to do. I will do my best though. Thankfully, when I say the prolapse, I fixed it before the other hens could touch her. The other girls are very young, and they stay away from Bonnie since she is alpha. The hardest part is watching her suffer..... I hope this method helps her. Again, thanks for the advice! I love this website!

Lea

 

[terryg]

Lea, keep the crate totally dark while she is in it. It will shut down the laying and keep her calm. It doesn't matter what time of day you let her out, as long as she has a few hours to poop, feed and drink.

 

[leela2012]

Thanks, I will put her in there when I get home. If she is still with us