Peculiar Eggs

[Littlemrse]

Slang for a defective product, most often applied to automobiles...and might have been coined in the auto industry.

Digestive granite grit should be offered separately from oyster shells.
I mixed dried and crushed egg shells into oyster shells.

Amberlinks are high production hybrids and often do not live long as they are susceptible to reproductive issues due to that the high production is hard on their bodies. They basically can 'wear out'. Heat can have an affect too, but think your girl may be pst her prime and/or she is getting ready to molt.

How old is she, in months?

Past her prime! They are 27 months old and have layed for coming up to 24 months.
I have added extra crushed oyster shell around the coop for them, Fleur has been interested so we shall see what the next few days bring. I also have some calcium powder (looking after the school tortoise this holiday!), should I try to add a sprinkle of this to her diet? Or would that be too much?
Thanks for the ‘lemon’ explanation, yeah, she has been producing some peculiar shaped eggs or non-eggs!
Thank you so much all for your advice, it is really appreciated

 

[aart]

Calcium is not always the answer to shell problems,
there are other nutrients that are essential to calcium uptake and application.
I would first cut out all other foods but layer feed and plain water.
Layer feed is meant to be the sole ration.
But if your other birds of the same breed are still laying fine eggs,
I'd say the funky egg layer has some system issues,
something is wrong inside.

Did she ever molt at around 18 months?
She still could be getting ready to molt,

 

[anvia]

We keep lots of ex batts in the uk - they are prone to egg problems & this hot summer has been unusual for them. Sadly she may be reaching henopause.... the trick there is to manage her health as she stops producing eggs - as long as you are happy to keep her as a pet?
Her eggs may get weirder & weirder but the goal is to pass them, if they get stuck she may get internal infections. Daily warm baths help hugely, as does haemorrhoid cream if you have to help.
Equally she may just need some extra oomph in her diet, ex batts have big nutritional requirements to match their copious egg laying, they have been bred as egg machines and they need their nutrition to match - the heat has affected “normal” growth of free ranging & foraging. Personally I’ve used Shell max and seaweed supplements in the past on top of commercial feed, both are added to water so are easy to administer and can get them back on track laying easy firm eggs again. Ex batts need a lot of nutrition, not all feeds are created equally - don’t be afraid to supplement especially if their forage hasn’t recovered this year, or is very limited.

 

[Littlemrse]

Calcium is not always the answer to shell problems,
there are other nutrients that are essential to calcium uptake and application.
I would first cut out all other foods but layer feed and plain water.
Layer feed is meant to be the sole ration.
But if your other birds of the same breed are still laying fine eggs,
I'd say the funky egg layer has some system issues,
something is wrong inside.

Did she ever molt at around 18 months?
She still could be getting ready to molt,

You maybe right! She and one other had a ‘faint molt’ at approx 18 months, whereas my other lady had an almost relatively ‘naked molt’ a little later, in December too! All three hens are Amberlinks and hatched the same day. She is the greedy hen out of the three, that probably has the worst diet, as she is not as interested in finding her own natural food in the garden. She may follow the others and barge in if she is interested in eating whatever they have uncovered. I shall keep observing her and see how she gets along. Thank you!
‘Funky egg layer’!

 

[Littlemrse]

We keep lots of ex batts in the uk - they are prone to egg problems & this hot summer has been unusual for them. Sadly she may be reaching henopause.... the trick there is to manage her health as she stops producing eggs - as long as you are happy to keep her as a pet?
Her eggs may get weirder & weirder but the goal is to pass them, if they get stuck she may get internal infections. Daily warm baths help hugely, as does haemorrhoid cream if you have to help.
Equally she may just need some extra oomph in her diet, ex batts have big nutritional requirements to match their copious egg laying, they have been bred as egg machines and they need their nutrition to match - the heat has affected “normal” growth of free ranging & foraging. Personally I’ve used Shell max and seaweed supplements in the past on top of commercial feed, both are added to water so are easy to administer and can get them back on track laying easy firm eggs again. Ex batts need a lot of nutrition, not all feeds are created equally - don’t be afraid to supplement especially if their forage hasn’t recovered this year, or is very limited.

Thank you! Wow! ‘Henopause’!!!! I had no idea. We got the girls as back garden pets, it has been lovely getting eggs in return but not essential. Our nearest chicken vet is some significant distance away. Thank you all so much for the advice. She is eating, drinking, chatting and bossing the others about, so I will continue to boost her with vitamins and cuddles (she does love a good cuddle) and see what the next few weeks bring.

 

[Littlemrse]

Beautiful egg with a stronger shell and a bit of colour, delivered this morning! Thank you all for your advice

 

[aart]

Beautiful egg with a stronger shell and a bit of colour, delivered this morning! Thank you all for your advice

This is from the funky layer?

 

[Littlemrse]

This is from the funky layer?

Yes! This is funky layers own work today! Increased calcium, tricked her into eating more oyster shell, lots of cuddles and usual vitamins. Todays result is a near perfect egg! Thank you all