shell-less egg by one year old polish tophat

[esme13]

My one year old polish tophat has been laying soft shell eggs for about 2 weeks give or take. At first I thought she wasn't laying until I found the membrane as the other hens had picked at it. She was listless in june and not laying. Then she perked back up a few days after june and started laying. Now I have soft shell or is it shell-less eggs? from her and she became listless again. She is a hatchery bird if that matters? lays my largest eggs in the coop. I feed them 5 grain with layer feed and oyster shells. They are in an enclose run, no mites on them and have sprayed as a precaution the coop and all hens. Any ideas what else it could be? everyone else is fine. She eats and drinks.

 

[trailrider330]

You may want to check these sites out. They offer suggestions as to what might be the cause of your shell-less eggs.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/01/how-hen-makes-egg-egg-oddities.html

https://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

 

[esme13]

Thank you, not really sure if that helped me or not. It gives lots of causes. I think she has a pretty good diet, i'll add some vitamins. It is just odd, my other hens are all laying well and show no issues. But she is laying shell-less and has gone listless twice, once in june and just yesterday. She'll fluff up during those times, her head will be droopy and her butt is upwards to the air (like something is stuck). But there is nothing there that we feel.

 

[trailrider330]

Sorry. You asked, "what else could it be?" (as in causes) that's why I suggested the sites.

As far as what you can do, I would start by adding some vitamins but also make sure she has access to oyster shell 24/7 (if you do not already offer it 24/7) and maybe try to add some more sources of protein into her diet (meat, mealworms, yogurt, etc.). Not sure what to tell you about her having her butt up on the air. Do you have an avian vet nearby that you can consult with?

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[esme13]

Thank you trailrider, I did more inspecting today on my buff tophat. I found two mites, so not seeing an infestation. I did post in the mite forum that is currently up. As for the mites, they seem to love the woodshavings, which might be a species that prefers wood. I'm just not sure if seeing barely any mites could cause whats going on. All their skin is really nice condition. With the buff polish I looked everywhere and found the mites on top her feathers and clean as a whistle by her down feathers. So not sure if this is causing my golden lace one the issues. She is my soft shell layer. Still no eggs from her and she was fine in the morning and now is all fluffed up, butt in the air and wings down. Will treat for the mites again, but if no improvement I will cull her. She looks miserable and I don't want her to suffer the cold winter.