New layer trouble...two soft shell eggs and now...? Please help!

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chickengoggles

chickengoggles

Songster
Jan 29, 2019
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Warrenton, VA
My 8 month old EE pullet has laid two soft shelled but intact eggs the last two days. I read here that it is pretty common for new layers, refreshed the oyster shell she has out free choice, and added some to my three layer feed 'stations'. Thought she took a break today, but when I went to do her lice treatment (she's been in quarantine with three other hens I got from a friend) I saw what looked like a piece of a soft shell egg hanging out. I gently removed it, put on a latex glove, and inserted a finger about an inch into her vent to check for more. I used a wipe to clean up her feathers and set her down - she immediately went into a nest box; perhaps there is more to expel after all? Her vent is not swollen, so I didn't apply preparation H.

I read that I can offer her a crushed tums - I plan to do this in about an hour if you all think I should. Is there anything else I can do for her? She is absolutely my favorite chicken - she loves being held and is already very dear to me. I am ready to have my chicken vet out tomorrow if need be.

Oh, and she was happy to hang out, eat mealworms, and fly up to my lap earlier, so she must feel pretty well. I did wonder if she wasn't slightly less active a bit ago.

Thanks in advance, from "Baby" and me!
 
Last edited:
Chicken in question:
20190217_161545.jpg
 
Sorry about your EE pullet. She is pretty, and looks a little like my salmon faverolles. Do you have any idea how long she has been laying eggs? Sometimes they can have problems with their shell gland, and sometimes it can be a common thing with a new layer, with a calcium deficiency, or with a pullet who has had a respiratory virus, infectious bronchitis, recently. Human calcium with vitamin D, such as Caltrate or the generic form, is good to give for several days in a row. Tums can be given, but I would give a little egg yolk or cooked egg for vitamin D. Be aware that soft or shell-less eggs can be harder to pass, can cause egg binding, and can burst inside. There are all sorts of egg mistakes, and some can occasionally be seen with reproductive disorders. Hopefully, this is just a temporary problems that gets better.
 
chickengoggles said:
My 8 month old EE pullet has laid two soft shelled but intact eggs the last two days. I read here that it is pretty common for new layers, refreshed the oyster shell she has out free choice, and added some to my three layer feed 'stations'. Thought she took a break today, but when I went to do her lice treatment (she's been in quarantine with three other hens I got from a friend) I saw what looked like a piece of a soft shell egg hanging out. I gently removed it, put on a latex glove, and inserted a finger about an inch into her vent to check for more. I used a wipe to clean up her feathers and set her down - she immediately went into a nest box; perhaps there is more to expel after all? Her vent is not swollen, so I didn't apply preparation H.

I read that I can offer her a crushed tums - I plan to do this in about an hour if you all think I should. Is there anything else I can do for her? She is absolutely my favorite chicken - she loves being held and is already very dear to me. I am ready to have my chicken vet out tomorrow if need be.

Oh, and she was happy to hang out, eat mealworms, and fly up to my lap earlier, so she must feel pretty well. I did wonder if she wasn't slightly less active a bit ago.

Thanks in advance, from "Baby" and me!
Click to expand...

If she flew up into your lap, she is likely not egg bound.

Definitely give her the Tums. Sometimes the OS is not easily absorbed by the body. I believe Tums is Ca carbonate and it requires higher acid levels to be absorbed than Ca citrate (Citrical). You can mix the crushed Tums or Citrical in with a bit of yogurt or make a small amount of mash out of her food and offer it to her that way. I would give her one tablet daily for several days. Once her system fully matures, hopefully she will no longer have the softies and will be able to utilize the OS better.

Has she ever laid a normal egg or are these her first attempts? It is not uncommon for newly laying pullets to drop a few 'softies'. It's a bit worrisome that one broke inside her. Watch her carefully for any signs that she isn't feeling well as it may be a sign that she developed an infection.

She is just beautiful, by the way!
 
Eggcessive said:
Sorry about your EE pullet. She is pretty, and looks a little like my salmon faverolles. Do you have any idea how long she has been laying eggs? Sometimes they can have problems with their shell gland, and sometimes it can be a common thing with a new layer, with a calcium deficiency, or with a pullet who has had a respiratory virus, infectious bronchitis, recently. Human calcium with vitamin D, such as Caltrate or the generic form, is good to give for several days in a row. Tums can be given, but I would give a little egg yolk or cooked egg for vitamin D. Be aware that soft or shell-less eggs can be harder to pass, can cause egg binding, and can burst inside. There are all sorts of egg mistakes, and some can occasionally be seen with reproductive disorders. Hopefully, this is just a temporary problems that gets better.
Click to expand...

These are her first eggs. I have Tums and some D3 oil...would a drop or two of that help, until I can get Caltrate tomorrow?

I'm really hoping this is just a glitch of a first-time layer.
 

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