Shell-less eggs, rough shells, and diarrhea? Egg Drop Syndrome???

chickenmomma16

Crowing
12 Years
Jul 16, 2012
1,024
806
336
Buckley, Washington
I keep ending up with all these weird situations :confused:

So, I have been having issues with a few things in my flock. One is, a few hens have messy bums, soft poop/diarrhea. I thought this was a separate issue from the shell less eggs I have been getting. I also have one hen that lays very rough shelled eggs.

So the other night, I was out in the coop after dark collecting eggs, locking up and there was an egg on the poop board. I have been getting eggs on the floor, in the run, and on the poop board. They were all roosted for the night so I made a mental note of what hen was directly over the egg on the roost as it was a very rough shell and I was interested in knowing who was doing the rough egg shells. I slipped it in my pocket and went about my things in the coop and that same hen laid a shell less egg right in front of me! Just plopped out!

I know EDS (Egg Drop Syndrome) is rare in the US but hear me out. We live on/around some wet lands. And recently the ducks have been back from their winter homes. They are said to be asymptotic but carriers of EDS. I’m nervous this is what I May have in my flock now. Could it be? Has anyone heard of this before? It seems to fit my current issues minus the rough shells (I think).

FYI My hens diet is this:
Nutrena All Flock pellets
Free choice Oyster shell and Grit offered in 2 separate containers
I switch off with adding ACV, Molasses, (equine)RedCell, and a electrolyte/probiotic Mix, in their water and also offer plain water.
Minimal free range currently but I have been getting them out more the last couple days. (Its really high predator traffic right now)
Minimal snacks, maybe once a week if that.
 
How was this diagnosed?


I haven't.....there can be several reasons for a bird laying softshell eggs.
These few may know, or know who knows.
@casportpony @Wyorp Rock @Pyxis
Ducks carrying it was mentioned in a couple articals I read in the subject. I literally have wild ducks that walk right by my coop. Maybe I’m just panicking :oops:
 
Ducks carrying it was mentioned in a couple articals I read in the subject. I literally have wild ducks that walk right by my coop. Maybe I’m just panicking :oops:
Yeah, not good to speculate the worst case scenario.
First thing I'd do is cut out all the water additives, just plain water for a couple weeks.
See what that does to their poops.

How many birds(and how old) in how much space???
Dimensions of coop and run, and some pics, might offer some clues.

Are they eating the oyster shells?
 
I used molasses one time and it made the hen's poop SO runny for almost a week after I stopped. I don't know about any of the other stuff, but I would completely cut out the molasses. It's not good to give unless there's a problem IMO. I agree with the plain water for several weeks. If I start being too nice to my birds they always die. I've never had one due from not being nice enough. I just do layer crumbles and grit. And of course fresh water. I hope you figure everything out, I'm sorry you're having trouble.
 
Yeah, not good to speculate the worst case scenario.
First thing I'd do is cut out all the water additives, just plain water for a couple weeks.
See what that does to their poops.

How many birds(and how old) in how much space???
Dimensions of coop and run, and some pics, might offer some clues.

Are they eating the oyster shells?
They seem to be eating the oyster shells. I have to buy a small bag almost monthly. Same with grit. I’m actually right in the middle of gutting my coop so I’ll get pictures and dimensions in a bit.
 

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