Reproductive Problems

[sspare]

I have 2 Golden Comets that seem to have similar issues. They are 2 years old. Their feed is supplemented with calcium. I give them fly larva, and greens. When in the past, I noted soft shells on their eggs, I fed them calcium with D3. It did not help. They both stopped laying in the winter (I wasn't concerned then because after all, it was their vacation). However, in the spring, one of them (not sure who) laid a normal egg and the other laid a fairy egg and that was the end of the production till a few weeks ago when the eggs she was laying had no shell at all. I did everything I could think of and followed suggestions from the experienced members here on this site and have come to the conclusion that they are now pets.

 

[Bawkbok]

I did everything I could think of and followed suggestions from the experienced members here on this site and have come to the conclusion that they are now pets.

I'm sorry your girls are no longer laying. It's disheartening the production breeds have so many issues; that has been our experience with everyone that we have had, most of which never laid at all or not properly. It's unfortunate because their dispositions are so endearing and sweet.

 

[dearmeghann]

I'm so glad your girl passed the lash egg. We just lost our Olive Egger (bardyard mix) to peritonitis. She prolapsed twice, and the second time she couldn't lay an egg, so I think it caused the infection. I'm so glad you were able to get antibiotics early on! We waited a day too late, and she passed. Thankfully, she had pain meds in her system and passed peacefully.

Weirdly enough, we have an easter egger dealing with reproductive issues. I was unaware that some hens experience difficulties absorbing calcium. We give her calcium pills, but there is still an issue. We've reduced the scratch and are providing different calcium sources. Our girls don't seem to want to eat oyster shells, so I'm giving them back their eggshells, broken up into pieces.

 

[Bawkbok]

We have some that never touch oyster shell and others that eat it every day. I don't know why some do and some don't or if that has any impact on their egg quality or productivity if the commercial feed is supposed to supply all they need.

 

[Granny23]

I’m so sorry to hear about your poor baby!
It sounds to me like she has a calcium deficiency. Lack of calcium not only causes soft shelled eggs, but also muscle spasms and extreme discomfort while laying.
Are you feeding oyster shells?

I grind up the shells from our eggs in a Bullet and give it back to my hens plus they have 24/7 access to the oyster shell. Some of the egg shells are really firm, others not so much. The hardest shells are from the youngest hens.