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Odd egglaying behavior

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Ikoniak, Jul 21, 2010.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jul 21, 2010 #1
    Ikoniak

    Ikoniak In the Brooder

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    I have 4 chickens, an EE, australorp, a silkie, and a barred rock. My australorp just started laying 5 days ago, and so far she layed everyday. My silkie is too young to lay, and my EE lays green eggs every other day (she started laying 4 days ago).

    My Barred Rock is where my concern is. She started doing the 'chicken squat' the same time all of my other girls did, and was born on the same day (march 1st), but NO EGGS. Last night, at 0215 I checked the coop to see all my girls pirched up on their perch sleeping. But, as I look under turbulence, I see two soft shelled eggs! When I put the girls away that evening at about 8:30PM, there where no eggs in the nest nor in the padding under their perch. Earlier that afternoon, black betty already gave me an egg, which had a very healthy shell (as for every egg she layed), so the only girl this could have came from was turbulence.

    Is it possible for a chicken to lay two eggs?

    Then just right now when I checked on her, she was nesting in the nest box. So I sat outside the coop for about 30 mins, and I heard and 'egg song'!! As she proudly walked out of the nest to join the other birds, I opened the nest box to find nothing! :0

    I hope my chicken is OK [​IMG]
     
  2. Jul 21, 2010 #2
    Rennie

    Rennie Songster

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    Its supposed to take about 20 hours to make a single egg so laying 2 in one day isnt normal, Im not sure if it can even possibly happen,
     
  3. Jul 21, 2010 #3
    Lifetime chicken lover

    Lifetime chicken lover Songster

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    Rogers, MN
    2 in one day can definitely happen!!
    I have only one layer- I am absolutely sure of that. Her first days laying she layed 2 eggs a day for 2 days in a row- very good, delicious eggs. So never say never.
     
  4. Jul 21, 2010 #4
    Rennie

    Rennie Songster

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    She is a defier of science lol ...
     
  5. Jul 21, 2010 #5
    Pet Duck Boy

    Pet Duck Boy Songster

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    I think eggs take the longest amount of time developing the egg shell. So if the "shelling" process was cut in half, causing a very thin or shell or soft egg, I would assume that the egg would be laid earlier. Could be a possibility?
     
  6. Jul 21, 2010 #6
    gryeyes

    gryeyes Covered in Pet Hair & Feathers

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    My slice of heaven in Somerset, CA
    Here's the progression of egg formation:

    The Funnel (infundibulum) receives the yolk from the ovary. Unlike other animals, hens have only one functioning ovary: the left one. If live sperm is present, fertilization occurs here, and it spends about 15 minutes in this section.

    In the Magnum, it spends about 3 hours , adding the inner and outer shell membranes as well as some water and mineral salts.

    Next is an hour or so in the Isthmus, where the Albumen (white) is secreted and layered around the yolk.

    The shell gland or uterus is next, where 21 hours is spent, initially adding some water to make the outer white (albumen) thinner. Then the shell material (mainly calcium carbonate) is added. Pigments may also be added to make the shell brown (or other colors).

    Less than one minute is spent in the cloaca. The egg passes through this section before being laid. There is no other known function in the cloaca for egg formation.
     
  7. Jul 21, 2010 #7
    jjthinkagain

    jjthinkagain Chirping

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    Without a doubt, more than one egg can be laid in a day if one gets stuck and others build up behind. My sweet hen Betty (RIP) once laid 4 in a day (saw with my own eyes) because once the stuck one came out the others followed in fairly rapid succession. All were misformed, a couple were deflated. A real mess.
    Do your birds have 24/7 access to oyster shell? What is their diet?
    This situation needs to be cleared up if possible because it is very hard on them. Passing a soft shelled egg can be very difficult (as you might imagine, it doesn't move along as smoothly..).
    JJ (aka also jjthink)
     
  8. Jul 23, 2010 #8
    jjthink

    jjthink Crowing 11 Years

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    Also, they're quite young so sometimes it takes a little while for things to run smoothly. How long ago did she start laying eggs or were these her first?

    But the answers to the above questions may also help shed some light....

    JJ
     

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