Shell-less Egg? Finding the Cause and Remedying

[lazy gardener]

Soak them for a few hours to over night, then put them in a sprouting jar or multi tiered sprouter and rinse 2 - 3 x/day. These sprouting lids make it super easy to sprout any grains/seeds. They fit on any wide mouth mason jar.

 

[Then I Will]

Give the egg shells in larger pieces so they don't pass through their system as quickly. I simply toss the shells on the ground, give them a stamp with my foot, and walk away. No need to heat sterilize them if they are from your own flock. What are you using for your normal feed ration? What is the mill date of it? You can also sprout whole grains for them. I buy Barley (feed grade) by the 50# bag, but you could buy a couple pounds of whole wheat at the health food store, or green lentils, and sprout them for instant greens.

The idea of toasting and grinding them was to prevent them from recognizing their own eggs as a food source or treat. Same goes for cooking any egg yolks and whites that are fed to them. Toasting them also makes them easier to grind, I find.

My feed is a mix of cracked corn and layer mash from the local feed mill, along with various leftovers from my father-in-laws feed truck. (He works at the mill) and from time to time brings the sweepings of his last run when he cleans his truck out. Sometimes it's horse feed, sometimes lamb chow... depends. I've been mixing a little from each bag lately, and one of the bags is truck-sweepings of grow-chick feed so I know its higher in calcium.

 

[rebrascora]

Totally unnecessary to grind the shells. Just stamp on them or crush them in your hand. They do not recognise them as an egg once they have been crushed and indeed even if they do, it doesn't make them egg eaters. I had a hen laying weak shelled eggs which easily got broken when the next hen got into the nest box. The egg and shell were eaten but non of the other eggs were broken even though they were covered in egg. It went on for over a year and they never resorted to deliberately breaking open other eggs.

I would be concerned about the diet that your hens are getting. That is not a nutritionally balanced diet. They will be lacking in key nutrients and at risk of ill health as a result. Too much cracked corn or grains can lead to obesity, reproductive problems and even cause sudden death. If you are not emotionally attached to your chickens and will not be overly concerned if they die prematurely, then I can understand wanting to utilise the free feed opportunities you have but please be aware that there are real risks with such a diet.

 

[lazy gardener]

The idea of toasting and grinding them was to prevent them from recognizing their own eggs as a food source or treat. Same goes for cooking any egg yolks and whites that are fed to them. Toasting them also makes them easier to grind, I find.

My feed is a mix of cracked corn and layer mash from the local feed mill, along with various leftovers from my father-in-laws feed truck. (He works at the mill) and from time to time brings the sweepings of his last run when he cleans his truck out. Sometimes it's horse feed, sometimes lamb chow... depends. I've been mixing a little from each bag lately, and one of the bags is truck-sweepings of grow-chick feed so I know its higher in calcium.

It is really not an issue regarding the birds "recognizing their eggs" when served up! IMO, this is an old wives tale, and if you increase their protein and calcium content, the shell quality will be improved, thus preventing weak shelled eggs in the nest which ARE the primary reason why chickens eat eggs in the first place. My flock has recently ramped up laying, and last week, there were half a dozen eggs which the girls did eat. No issues this week. This is common when a flock returns to productive laying. Usually it's a transient thing, is not habitual, and once their reproductive tracts get geared up, the problem goes away.

Beekissed has been raising poultry for decades. She will smash a whole egg in the chicken yard for them to eat, and they fall on it like piranha on a wounded animal. Yet, she has NEVER had an egg eater in her flock aside from the occasional "returning to lay" issues when birds are coming back on line after a winter break.

Chick feed has only .8% calcium, compared to layer which has 3.3 - 4.3% calcium in it. If they are getting much cracked corn, that would also be cutting the amount of calcium and protein in their total diet.

 

[Christii]

I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I found one of my gals with a similar issue, though I have not found her laying down looking lethargic. I am so glad your baby is okay so far & hope thing work out well so she is happy & healthy.

I found a HUMUNGO egg (had 2 yokes) & thought the big hen (Ziggy) was just getting adjusted to laying larger eggs. Then another day, I found a huge one that the shell was so fragile it was just barely held together and was leaking. Then she layed another really, really huge egg, good and solid. Then skipped a day, so I thought.

Last night I went into panic mode because she was up late & was standing & pushing. I looked and saw all red & thought for sure it was a prolapse .

While I was panicking & calling everyone I could think of, she passed the egg. It was HUGE & shelless. It passed like it was tubular shaped. We could see through it & it looked like a big yoke was in it. We opened it up & honestly thought it was one huge yoke & a smaller one. On closer examination, it was a shellless egg inside her shelless egg. How does that happen???

I am so worried about her having problems . I started giving her some calcium supplement after the first one. But now that I know it is the smaller of the two hens, I am worried about our big girl getting too much calcium that it could harm her, so I started feeding Dolly (the smaller hen) outside of the coop.

Please have a look & share any opinions or advice you might have.

I don't want to sound completely crazy, but I love my chickens so much (like puppy love crazy, wish they could sleep in my bed with me kind of crazy love). I would rather Dolly didn't lay any eggs at all if it could end up killing her one day. Is it possible to "fix" a hen so she doesn't produce eggs? Or would that just be a bad idea even if possible.?

 

[Then I Will]

It is really not an issue regarding the birds "recognizing their eggs" when served up! IMO, this is an old wives tale, and if you increase their protein and calcium content, the shell quality will be improved, thus preventing weak shelled eggs in the nest which ARE the primary reason why chickens eat eggs in the first place. My flock has recently ramped up laying, and last week, there were half a dozen eggs which the girls did eat. No issues this week. This is common when a flock returns to productive laying. Usually it's a transient thing, is not habitual, and once their reproductive tracts get geared up, the problem goes away.

Beekissed has been raising poultry for decades. She will smash a whole egg in the chicken yard for them to eat, and they fall on it like piranha on a wounded animal. Yet, she has NEVER had an egg eater in her flock aside from the occasional "returning to lay" issues when birds are coming back on line after a winter break.

Chick feed has only .8% calcium, compared to layer which has 3.3 - 4.3% calcium in it. If they are getting much cracked corn, that would also be cutting the amount of calcium and protein in their total diet.

That's interesting! I agree! Weak shelled eggs are the primary reason chickens end up eating the eggs.
Keep in mind, I only have two to three lying right now. They just started January 29th.
They also get a very even mixture (per scoop) of layer mash, cracked corn, and truck scrapings. Often a little less of the latter because I don't want other livestock feed to take up a larger part of their diet.

 

[Then I Will]

If your hen is looking lethargic, Christii, then you may want to try to give her a boost. Some yogurt or ACV or any form of TLC. Take a look at her poo and try to see what is going on with her, parasites and the like.

I highly doubt neutering a hen has been done before... I understand how much you care about your girls. I love mine to pieces too. But I think the chances of you smothering them to death with your lovings are higher than any one of them dying from trying to lay.

 

[Christii]

I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I found one of my gals with a similar issue, though I have not found her laying down looking lethargic. I am so glad your baby is okay so far & hope thing work out well so she is happy & healthy.

I found a HUMUNGO egg (had 2 yokes) & thought the big hen (Ziggy) was just getting adjusted to laying larger eggs. Then another day, I found a huge one that the shell was so fragile it was just barely held together and was leaking. Then she layed another really, really huge egg, good and solid. Then skipped a day, so I thought.

Last night I went into panic mode because she was up late & was standing & pushing. I looked and saw all red & thought for sure it was a prolapse .

While I was panicking & calling everyone I could think of, she passed the egg. It was HUGE & shelless. It passed like it was tubular shaped. We could see through it & it looked like a big yoke was in it. We opened it up & honestly thought it was one huge yoke & a smaller one. On closer examination, it was a shellless egg inside her shelless egg. How does that happen???

I am so worried about her having problems . I started giving her some calcium supplement after the first one. But now that I know it is the smaller of the two hens, I am worried about our big girl getting too much calcium that it could harm her, so I started feeding Dolly (the smaller hen) outside of the coop.

Please have a look & share any opinions or advice you might have.

I don't want to sound completely crazy, but I love my chickens so much (like puppy love crazy, wish they could sleep in my bed with me kind of crazy love). I would rather Dolly didn't lay any eggs at all if it could end up killing her one day. Is it possible to "fix" a hen so she doesn't produce eggs? Or would that just be a bad idea even if possible.?

If your hen is looking lethargic, Christii, then you may want to try to give her a boost. Some yogurt or ACV or any form of TLC. Take a look at her poo and try to see what is going on with her, parasites and the like.

I highly doubt neutering a hen has been done before... I understand how much you care about your girls. I love mine to pieces too. But I think the chances of you smothering them to death with your lovings are higher than any one of them dying from trying to lay.

Not lethargic at all. Very lucky. She did go up in her nesting box for a while today, but did not produce an egg yet & no signs of discomfort or pushing. I am checking every hour.

She is her lovie self, sitting on my lap for hugs & giving nose kisses, etc. These two hens are so sweet I just cannot explain it .

Poo all looks very normal. Every now and again 1 of the 4 will have a little watery poo, but never anything major & no blood or anything else.

The reason we noticed something was up was because she wasn't pacing around all excited with the other girls. Then noticed the pushing attempts.

We did not bring her inside to rest because she & Ziggy are so attached to each other that they sleep all squished in the same box even though there are 4 available to them. Thought bringing her in & away from Ziggy might be more stressful.

Checked her bottom & it is not hard like last night after she passed that crazy egg. She is all squishy like normal. I am hoping her body gives her a day off from laying. I just hope it doesnt cause another "double egg"

How is your girl doing now?

 

[lazy gardener]

That's interesting! I agree! Weak shelled eggs are the primary reason chickens end up eating the eggs.
Keep in mind, I only have two to three lying right now. They just started January 29th.
They also get a very even mixture (per scoop) of layer mash, cracked corn, and truck scrapings. Often a little less of the latter because I don't want other livestock feed to take up a larger part of their diet.

Corn is less than 10% protein. Something to think about when making it part of their daily ration.

 

[Kiki]

Here is a good article about feed/feeding.
It's short and simple and to the point and I think this is worth reading:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production