shell-less premature eggs, whats going on?

[SlipperyGoose]

Since no one else has posted yet- I thought I'd suggest to give her crushed oyster shell as well as her layer feed. She can eat as much calcium as she needs. If you haven't already, go back and read the earlier posts on this thread as they have specific suggestions for liquid calcium supplements that you can add right to her food if the oyster shell doesn't help. Good luck!

 

[RainmansGirl]

Thank you! I will try those things, I am so worried about her. We rescued her during hatch and there was so much involved to save her, we didn't know if she would make it and I am scared to death that something is wrong with my baby!

 

[RainmansGirl]

So this has continued to the point that she is laying only yolk, she is behaving like she would be depressed or in pain, I have been giving her warm baths, boiled eggs with the shell, oyster shell mixed with her layer feed. After she passes the yolk she seems to feel a bit better and able to eat, after she's eaten she seems to have a boost of energy and behaves normally. The premature laying started this past Friday everything else started on Sunday evening into Monday, she was ok yesterday in the evening but was back to being extremely quiet and slow moving until after her warm bath and eating the eggs. It's so stressful and overwhelming seeing her this way. Yesterday she also started having gooey clear/white liquid coming from her eyes, thinking maybe an infection? I just don't know anymore. I'd take her to a vet if we had one that sees "exotic" pets. I don't know how far I'd have to go to find one.

 

[casportpony]

Have you given her any calcium? How much? How often? Would be best to get her to a vet, 'cause she might have an infection. My signature has an avian vet search link, so check the link there and find a vet.

-Kathy

 

[RainmansGirl]

I have given her layer feed with oyster shell, and eggs with the shell. We purchased some antibiotics in case of infection, since we do not have any vets down here that we can take her to. I will check New Orleans, maybe they have someone. It's like 3 hours round trip for us. She is eating a good deal more this afternoon than she has been. I didn't see any Calcium Supplements when we were at the Tractor Supply, is that something I can pick up anywhere?

 

[RainmansGirl]

I have been doing what I've been told by other duck moms and also the wonderful rescue farm I got her egg from. This seems to be helping her to feel better for a time but I don't want to keep putting a bandaid on this if there is more that needs to be done.

 

[casportpony]

I have been doing what I've been told by other duck moms and also the wonderful rescue farm I got her egg from. This seems to be helping her to feel better for a time but I don't want to keep putting a bandaid on this if there is more that needs to be done.

If she has an infection of her repro tract she will need an antibiotic othe than the ones you can get at the feed store... Do you have any human antibiotics? Something like Augmentin, Cipro, or a sulfa?

Calcium... Just adding oyster shell to her feed probably isn't gonna help. If she were mine I would try giving her some calcium gluconate from the feed store (23% injectable in the cattle section), or I would give her human calcium citrate tablets. The dose I shoot for is 50 mg per pound per day.

I fear that if she has an infection that your best bet is to get her started on proper antibiotics sooner rather than later. If you think she has an infection you might want to look into overnighting some Baytril. Google "baytril for birds" and there are a few links that should pop up.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048640/avian-vet-search-links

-Kathy

 

[junebuggena]

It is completely normal for new layers to lay shell less eggs. It has nothing to do with their calcium intake. It is because their egg laying system just needs a bit more time to mature. If it continues past a month, then she likely has a defective shell gland and will never lay properly shelled eggs.

 

[casportpony]

It is completely normal for new layers to lay shell less eggs. It has nothing to do with their calcium intake. It is because their egg laying system just needs a bit more time to mature. If it continues past a month, then she likely has a defective shell gland and will never lay properly shelled eggs.

Did you miss the part about her acting sick? I personally have many many young peafowl, chickens, pigeons and ducks. Out of all of the "new layers", I had zero shell less eggs this year, so I gonna have to say that it's not all that normal.

Giving a little calcium sure won't hurt. Not sure I'd start antibiotics unless I was pretty darn sure she had an infection.

-Kathy