Pullet laying shell-less eggs, trouble walking

[Icelander]

I have a Barred Plymouth Rock, almost 6 months old that started laying a couple of weeks ago. A few days ago she started laying shell-less eggs and at the same time started having trouble walking. She will only walk a short distance, uses her wings to support herself and lays down a lot and doesn't seem to be able to support her own weight for very long at a time. She's eating and drinking and every so often she makes a very large dropping. She's a lovely girl, very nice and gentle, and I hate to see her not doing so well!

 

[mamagardener]

It could be that she is just getting used to the whole laying thing, and is just taking some time working out the kinks.
She could also be laying weak shelled eggs that are breaking inside of her with the shells left behind, or she could be eggbound. These 2 problems are not good at all.
I wish you the best and hope she is just getting used to egglaying.

Do you give your girls oyster shells? That might help.

 

[Icelander]

Thank you mamagardener! I did put out oystershell grit as soon as she started laying (I have 2 laying pullets and 3 four-month olds that are not laying yet) and I've had to top it up so I know it's getting eaten. She (Montana) laid a half-dozen perfect eggs before she had this problem. I hope she's just getting used to laying! She gets good-quality organic feed, free-ranges for a couple of hours a day on weekends and all day on the weekends, but I'm giving her some vitamins B and E just in case she may be short, and I mixed her feed with yoghurt yesterday and tried to stroke her tummy a bit, but she was not better this morning. I don't know if I should be doing anything else or how long I should wait to try something else?

 

[mamagardener]

I am surprised that no one else has answered you, usually lots of people have helpful suggestions in cases like this. You could always do a search of threads to see if you can find an old one on this same topic.
I wish I had more answers for you...good luck!

 

[Icelander]

Thanks Mamagardener, I've browsed around and found lots about shell-less eggs and difficulty walking, but not really anything specific enough about the two together.

My pullet, Montana, seemed a bit perkier this morning, but still not moving a great deal and walking awkwardly (not fully standing straight up). I believe she laid a shelled egg yesterday but it had white "dust" all over it, (stuck to the shell, not from the coop) and looked "scratched" (I'm guessing maybe shell by shell pieces that might have broken in her? So maybe it is like you say, just working out the kinks of putting together an egg properly.

The egg appeared too light-colored and round to have come from my other laying pullet (Dakota), who has had no issues laying and makes narrower, slightly darker eggs, so either this round, lighter-colored egg came from Montana, or both my layers are making strange eggs. Since I only found the one egg yesterday I can't be 100% sure until I see two eggs, hopefully today!

I just love this little pullet so much, she's the nicest chicken you can have!

 

[dawg53]

It sounds like she's having problems absorbing calcium or she is going to have problems internally actually forming/laying eggs. I'd stop the vitamin supplements and just give her regular 16-18% layer feed to eat. Ensure apple cider vinegar (ACV) is mixed in the water, about 2 tablespoonsful per gallon of water. ACV helps with calcium absorption and lowers gut PH.

 

[Icelander]

Thank you so much dawg53! I mixed the ACV with her water and stopped the vitamins and I also gave her a warm 20 minute sitting bath last night, after which she made a big grainy non-smelling all-brown dropping and went to sleep. This morning she layed a normal-looking egg, with a shell, although the shell is a slightly lighter color.

She is eating mash and dandelions and pooping and she seems fine, except she still isn't walking upright but stumbles around on the back of her legs using her wings for support. Most of the time she just sits still in one place, close to the food/water. Could something have happened to her "ankles"? My birds free range and are not on wire and her feet look normal so I have no idea what is going on with her.