My 8 year old hen laid a soft shelled egg today- advice needed

[Eggcessive]

Make sure your calcium tablets have vitamin D 3. Some people with birds laying a lot of shell-less eggs will have a vet give a hormone implant to stop them laying eggs. Hopefully, she will respond to the calcium and D, but if not, she may be suffering from an oviduct issue that could lead to internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis.

 

[azygous]

You can double up on the calcium and it won't hurt anything since this a strictly short term while a crisis is ongoing. After the crisis passes, the hen can safely return to oyster shell as a calcium supplement. D3 added to the calcium assists with absorption. Normally, vitamin D is supplied by the sun, but not all chickens get the required amount.

 

[mrskenmore]

Make sure your calcium tablets have vitamin D 3. Some people with birds laying a lot of shell-less eggs will have a vet give a hormone implant to stop them laying eggs. Hopefully, she will respond to the calcium and D, but if not, she may be suffering from an oviduct issue that could lead to internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis.

Thank you- I was able to pick these up at the store, they have D3 which is good news! There is 630 mg for two tablets. I was going to crush it up in a water solution and give it to her in a syringe in her little mouth (I find this method best) should I give one tablet or two?

 

[mrskenmore]

You can double up on the calcium and it won't hurt anything since this a strictly short term while a crisis is ongoing. After the crisis passes, the hen can safely return to oyster shell as a calcium supplement. D3 added to the calcium assists with absorption. Normally, vitamin D is supplied by the sun, but not all chickens get the required amount.

Perfect- sounds good... yes she has been out of the sun as I also have them on lock down in their spacious coop while avian flu is a threat

 

[mrskenmore]

Thanks all for your quick responses!! She is quite special and my oldest and original flock member.. I know they can't live forever, but sometimes they need a little extra help and love and care to get through the tough stuff

 

[azygous]

Yes, the avian flu is depriving hens of vitamin D. There perhaps should be a push to alert chicken keepers enduring the lock down of their flocks to add D3 to their chickens' diet for this duration.

 

[mrskenmore]

Yes, the avian flu is depriving hens of vitamin D. There perhaps should be a push to alert chicken keepers enduring the lock down of their flocks to add D3 to their chickens' diet for this duration.

It's a really good point...

 

[mrskenmore]

It's a really good point...

Update- was able to feed her 2 pills of calcium citrate in crumbles (at one point she was eating it out of my hand lol) I did the rest by hiding the pills in blueberries, the blueberry water calcium citrate smoothie via syringe didn't go over as well. She ate some meal worms and some more scrambled egg. I gave her .5 ml of straight nutridrench as a supplement as well. I put her back in the coop and will continue to monitor.

Thanks all for your help and advice!

 

[mrskenmore]

Update- was able to feed her 2 pills of calcium citrate in crumbles (at one point she was eating it out of my hand lol) I did the rest by hiding the pills in blueberries, the blueberry water smoothie via syringe didn't go over as well. She ate some meal worms and some more scrambled egg. I gave her .5 ml of straight nutridrench as a supplement as well. I put her back in the coop and will continue to monitor.

Thanks all for your help and advice!

guys- she flew up to her favorite perch!

 

[vantain]

Yes, the avian flu is depriving hens of vitamin D. There perhaps should be a push to alert chicken keepers enduring the lock down of their flocks to add D3 to their chickens' diet for this duration.

What’s the best and/or easiest way to do this?