New layer and weird deflated egg

[Ninjanina]

Hey there chicken peeps-

I have a new layer of 3 weeks a Blue Copper Marans, who is a 22 weeks old. Every few eggs she has laid a "rubber egg." There have been two or three in total. When she lays a rubber egg it's at night and I find it on the poop tray in the morning. This morning I found what looks like that same rubber egg material but it looked deflated and wrinkled (orangish in color and very small in size, like a rope). It didn't look like pictures I've seen of lash eggs but I thought I would post a picture of it for feedback. The white grit is just the sweet PDZ granules from the poop board.

I also noticed that her bottom feathers are a little dirty. When I first saw that I thought it was just because she is very fluffy and just needed a feather trim. Maybe related.

I'm knew to chickens and this is my first layer out of the five in the flock. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

How is her behavior? Any slower? Inactive? Appetite off?

Or is she normal acting, good appetite, and poop all normal? Id you can, post a photo of her poop.

It's difficult to say what the material consists of that she has been passing. But it's unlikely lash material. Lash "eggs" aren't eggs at all or even close, so it's more accurate to call it lash material because it's quite simply chicken pus from infection. It's like cheese in consistency and is often layered when you slice it.

This is more likely "proto-egg" material. Sometimes bits of tissue slough off the reproductive tract and then as it moves down the oviduct, it gathers albumen and membrane like a yolk would. This isn't that uncommon in new layers, but it's even less common for there to be several consecutively.

I suggest you try something. Get some calcium citrate and give one tablet each day to her for just three days. Pop it whole, yes, it's a big pill, into her beak. She will have no problem swallowing it. This may be enough of a calcium jolt to fix this issue, and encourage a real egg to appear. Keep us posted as to what happens.

This what to buy.

 

[Ninjanina]

Her appetite and behavior is normal. I noticed her poop is a little looser than normal but not diarrhea. Her comb is nice and red too.

The rubber eggs have been interspersed with regular eggs. But it has been several days since the last regular egg which is unusual in her (very new) egg laying pattern.
I will give the Calcium citrate a try! I'll keep you updated.

 

[aart]

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

 

[Ninjanina]

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

They get free access during the day to their layer feed (scratch and peck) and oyster shell. I give treats sparingly. Sometimes the treat is pumpkin, sunflower seeds, greens, grubs, etc. It rotates.

 

[aart]

layer feed (scratch and peck)

Is it a pellet or a crumble or cracked grains?
If cracked grains, can be really good to wet it so they get the fines(that contain all the vitamins/minerals/amino acids.

 

[Ninjanina]

They get pellets. However, when they were on grower feed it was cracked grains and I did notice they all were picky and they would leave the fines behind. Maybe they have a standing deficiency?

 

[Ninjanina]

Egg update:. She laid a nice sized egg today! Hopefully the couple of days of calcium did the trick!

 

[Kiki]

They get pellets. However, when they were on grower feed it was cracked grains and I did notice they all were picky and they would leave the fines behind. Maybe they have a standing deficiency?

What grower feed were you using? Do you have a bag laying around or direct link to where you bought it?

 

[Ninjanina]

What grower feed were you using? Do you have a bag laying around or direct link to where you bought it?

I was using the Scratch and Peck Grower feed. I bought it from Azure Standard.