Shellless eggs

[chickensandcamo]

First post here, so sorry if its in the wrong place. This sounds similar to my situation and I'm beside myself worrying about my girl. I only have a flock of 4, so I'm very attached! Last week we found our first thing that resembled an egg in the nesting box. It was yolky, and there was an open see through soft shell. One girl has been walking around the yard clucking and screaming all morning. My husband said she looked like she was trying to get out, then went missing for half an hour. We found her wedged under a spare tire behind our shed. She had piled leaves and was sitting on it like a nest. We have a nice large coop with two nesting boxes, roosting bars, and run. The girls are only locked in at night and have all day to roam 2 acres of fenced in area. I am just concerned if she is sick or will try to run away from home. I'm totally new to raising chickens so I appreciate any advice!

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

It is not unusual for new layers to lay shell less, soft shell, or otherwise odd eggs at first while they sort out their reproductive systems. Make sure she gets enough calcium, either through layer feed or crushed oystershell/egg shells on the side. She should start laying normal, shelled eggs soon.

 

[chickensandcamo]

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better! She was acting so strangely this morning I was worried there was something wrong with her. I will be sure to update when we another egg, or egg like object!

 

[aggiemae]

chickensandcamo, It's normal as long as it's just occasional. Read this entire thread and post again if you still have questions.

I don't think you will have to wait long for a normal egg. Some hens will lay every 2nd (or 3rd) day at first but will get on a 24-36 hour schedule pretty quick. They they will slow down again as the nights get longer and start up again in the Spring.

 

[Shabana]

Hello there

I rescued 3 hens roughly 10-12 weeks ago and one of them (Lilly) is a leghorn. She is roughly 18 months old. They were all in a state and had worms, and had really bad dihorrea and severe red mite problem. Lilly was very underweight and most of her tummy and underside feathers were missing. Ive got all these things sorted and they are all really happy hens.
Lilly has always laid soft shelled eggs if she does lay a 'proper' egg its shell is delicate. She lays every day sometimes every 12-14 hours and in a week we get roughly 2 good eggs and the rest are below the perch or where they range.

Their food is a good quality layers pellet, poultry spice, mixed seeds, grit and oyster shell. Now we have got the worms sorted I,ve also got a calcium additive in the water but its not seeming to help up to now. They get treats now (kept it to a minimum while they were ill but now i give them in the afternoon).

Is there anything I,m missing ? I,ve read that some birds cant absorb certain vitamins and so is there a supplement worth trying ?
Is it possible that its down to the conditions they were kept in and its just a time thing ?

I let them out at sunrise (6am here at the mo in the UK) and they go to bed at sunset (8.30 ish) and I need a shoe horn to get them in lol so they do have a long period of sunlight at the moment but I wouldnt want to consider keeping her in longer because she is almost 'tutting' at me if I,m even 5 mins late hehe !

Would be grateful for any advice. I dont mind if she never lays a proper egg as long as she is healthy but if I can I would like to get her 100% right

Many thanks x

 

[sumi]

How long has she been laying now? It sounds like she's having all sorts of kinks in her reproductive system. It could be part of the recovery process, after going through so much. Hopefully over time she will get herself sorted and lay "proper" eggs for you. In the meantime, looking over the list of feeds and supplements you are giving them, I'd suggest stop with the calcium in the water. Layer pellets and oystershell offered free choice is enough, especially for a young hen who still has a good calcium store. Too much calcium in a hen's diet can actually cause problems with their egg quality too. It suppresses the other nutrient's absorption. Keep up with the layer pellets, the odd treat (not too much!) and the TLC and give her a bit more time. If the problem doesn't clear up you can look into supplements and maybe talk to a vet and see what he/she recommends. Here's some more on causes of soft shell, shell less and other odd eggs and causes, if you're interested:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Good luck with her!

 

[appps]

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better! She was acting so strangely this morning I was worried there was something wrong with her. I will be sure to update when we another egg, or egg like object!

One of ours did that. She ran up and down the fenceline trying to get out to me and spent the day making sooo much noise . Finally she laid an egg so think she was just al stressed not sure what was going on. Has been laying about three weeks now and while still pretty noisy at times the other behaviour has stopped. Sure yours will settle down too

 

[Shabana]

Hey
Thanks so much for the advice. I'm not sure how long she's been laying the info they gave me was pretty sketchy at best.
I will stop with the calcium in her water and give her more time
Thanks for the link too
In my heart I do think she will get there, if you could have seen the state of her when I first took her to what she's like now.. She's come a long way already
Best wishes xx

 

[chickensandcamo]

Update: my husband went out to check them today and there was our first egg! I'm so happy she seems calmer now. She reminded me of my feelings right before my son was born LOL you know something is about happen but it's a little scary! Haha

 

[aggiemae]

It's a good ideal to give hens baby vitamins with iron for anemia after a mite or lice infestation.