Normal vent?

[Nickpicsss]

Hey all! I’m a first time chicken tender and got my FIRST couple eggs from my RIR girl who is just over 18w old (hatched 3/7/25). She started laying last week - I found 2 just egg whites on their poop shelf and 1 super soft egg shell. I had 2 fresh eggs that week (one on Tuesday & Thursday) and haven’t see any since then (July 10). I checked her vent today and it looks like this. I also have a male rooster (with 11 hens, all anywhere between 13-20 weeks currently) who is 19 weeks old (hatched 3/3/25) that is starting to mount her & others. She’s still walking like normal & has a good appetite. Should I be worried or perform any treatment? Or just watch her and let her body figure out/get used to laying eggs? Looks like a minor prolapse to me, but completely unsure. I have attached pictures of her (supposed to be a RIR), her eggs I found on the poop shelf and her 2 eggs I collected last week that she laid in our nesting boxes! Also a pic of our rooster because he’s so handsome lol

 

[SkyAJK]

@Eggcessive is the Educator on BYC here

 

[Eggcessive]

Are they getting a layer feed and do you put some crushed oyster shell out for them in a separate container from their feed? I have seen a couple of mine have slight prolapses when laying an egg. Does the vent look normal after they are not straining? It can be common to see a soft egg when they first start laying, but make sure they are getting a layer feed or at least some crushed oyster shell if feeding an all flock type feed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What are you feeding?
Do you have oyster shell available for the girls to free-feed from always available?

 

[Nickpicsss]

Are they getting a layer feed and do you put some crushed oyster shell out for them in a separate container from their feed? I have seen a couple of mine have slight prolapses when laying an egg. Does the vent look normal after they are not straining? It can be common to see a soft egg when they first start laying, but make sure they are getting a layer feed or at least some crushed oyster shell if feeding an all flock type feed.

They are still on grower feed since I still have 100lbs left and she just started last week! I have 3 feeders available and am planning on mixing grower & layer feed to get it transitioned! Yes, I have feeders of oyster shells & grit always available and they free range most days! I will check her vent in the morning to get an update on what it looks like!

 

[Nickpicsss]

What are you feeding?
Do you have oyster shell available for the girls to free-feed from always available?

They’re still on grower feed since she just started last week yes, they have free access to oyster shells & grit in their run and also free range most days while we’re home!

 

[Nickpicsss]

@Eggcessive is the Educator on BYC here

Thank you!!

 

[Themellowyellows]

I found that when my hens start laying, they usually have problems. After a year they get use to laying and then no more problems. You are getting great help right now! Good luck!


P.S. Your hen and Roo are beautiful!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They’re still on grower feed since she just started last week yes, they have free access to oyster shells & grit in their run and also free range most days while we’re home!

You can keep them on grower feed the rest of their lives as long as you have oyster shell (OS) available. They'll help themselves to the OS when they need it. You may always have non-layers in your flock, and the calcium in layer feed can be harmful to them. By non-layers I mean birds too young or old to lay, molting birds, and males. They can all eat the same stuff if it doesn't have too much calcium in it. So grower or all-flock, any of those, are good.

 

[Nickpicsss]

You can keep them on grower feed the rest of their lives as long as you have oyster shell (OS) available. They'll help themselves to the OS when they need it. You may always have non-layers in your flock, and the calcium in layer feed can be harmful to them. By non-layers I mean birds too young or old to lay, molting birds, and males. They can all eat the same stuff if it doesn't have too much calcium in it. So grower or all-flock, any of those, are good.

I have attached nutrition stats of the food I purchase for my flock (locally made & sourced)! I do have 11 hens (some still young) and 1 rooster. Would the grower be fine to keep them on long term as long as I have an adequate source of calcium? I have OS available at all times and they get a few scoops of black fly larvae daily & shrimp shells whenever we shrimp for dinner lol