Nest pad wet with gelatinous liquid

[Aristocat123]

Good morning. I just checked one the nesting boxes and found 2 eggs, one of them spotted with yellowish liquid (dried on one more the other) and the nesting pad is wet. It’s a clear gelatinous liquid. There is no smell to it. It almost looks and feels like egg white. They are all pullets and two have not laid any eggs yet. RIR and a Welsummer?
I’m posting pics.
Thank you for your help.

 

[slordaz]

or someone started laying and layed a shelless or soft shelled egg and someone ate it. Yours are new layers if I remember right and you still have some coming up on laying, so I wouldn't worry to much, clean it up and keep an eye on them as you should by now know when they are going in to lay.

 

[slordaz]

They get Flock Raiser because of the ducks and treats 1or 2 times a day (flax seeds, BOSS , lettuce, cabbage, meal worms, watermelon, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, pasta, rice , alfalfa ) plus they free range. I think they’re pretty spoiled.

well that much treating will unbalance their diet and can affect them, Treats should not exceed 10% of the feed they get in a day. and don't see calcium source listed at all

 

[azygous]

The calcium tablet is a good idea in case there is leftover egg material inside the hen. You need to identify which one, though, so you can give her the tablet. I use calcium citrate since it's most readily absorbed. It can help her body flush out the egg material.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The Tums gives them calcium right away and in a big dose.

Yes, that's true.

It's important to note that the added calcium is to support the muscles pushing stuff out most often and not actually to harden shells... though that can happen as well for future eggs it won't do anything for a current egg that may be stuck. If a shell gland isn't working properly, no amount of added calcium will change that.

The hens absorb calcium into their keel bone where it is then redistributed to the shell gland which then has to put it on the egg. They will sacrifice their own bone needs in order to make hard shells.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Good morning. I just checked one the nesting boxes and found 2 eggs, one of them spotted with yellowish liquid (dried on one more the other) and the nesting pad is wet. It’s a clear gelatinous liquid. There is no smell to it. It almost looks and feels like egg white. They are all pullets and two have not laid any eggs yet. RIR and a Welsummer?
I’m posting pics.
Thank you for your help.

I’m pretty sure it is an egg white, hopefully she expelled the whole thing.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This is a first. Is this normal? Is it part of the first time layer process?

Yes, it very much sounds like a new layer hiccup from the reproductive track coming online and working out its' kinks, that should resolve itself... IF you are providing adequate nutrition.

Your eggs are beautiful, congrats on your new layer!

 

[FortCluck]

Once you start getting more eggs, you can actually use their eggshells as their calcium supplement. I put mine on a pan on 250 degrees for about an hour then I let them cool. Once they are cool I crush them up and I put them inside of a mason jar. I give my girls at least a mason jar filled every week (about 2 cups). They really like the eggshells, mine don't like oyster shells so I found this method for them on BYC.

 

[so lucky]

Mine really go after the crushed egg shells, too.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have a few shells in the refrigerator. Waiting to accumulate more so I could do that. Thank you

I don't wash mine or bake them. I set them on the counter and let them dry not cradling so they don't get moldy if I don't take em out right away. I just crush them a little and toss them out or pout them into their OS container. Yes, they always eat the egg shells first... but it may not be enough calcium by itself long term. Having the OS available on the side as you do is great.

As stated, keep your treats below 10% and be aware that many things touted for protein content such as BOSS, meal worms, and scrambled eggs are fairly high in fat.