Soft shell Egg? Feeling worried!

[Emilysclukscluks]

It’s me again but it’s not Regina this time! It’s her sister Valerie. She is active, eating, pooping normally, and laying everyday. So Monday she laid a completely normal egg, thick shell, dark yolk. Then I found she had laid a very thin shelled egg during the night Tuesday (found where she roosts). And then last night she laid a virtually Shelless egg also in the night! I’ve attached pictures of all eggs. She is acting completely normal but I’m still feeling quite worried, is it normal in calcium deficiency to lay a strong egg one day and shelless egg a couple days later? She is eating a layer mash, with access to grit and forages in the backyard a few hours each day. @azygous would love your help once again!

Normal egg (are the white speckles normal?)

thin bumpy egg

The basically shelless egg!

 

[azygous]

Please help me verify the timing of these eggs. Was the first thin shell egg within 25 hours of the normal egg? If so, this is the issue.

Over the past few years, I've dealt with a couple of hens cycling two eggs within the same 25 hour egg cycle. This often results in the subsequent eggs being thin shelled or shell-less because the shell gland wasn't able to secrete enough calcium for so many eggs so close together. The most serious danger is one of the poor quality eggs will rupture and get stuck inside and cause infection.

You were partially correct when you asked if this was a calcium issue because calcium is what our Miss Valerie needs to reset her egg cycle. At this point, there is no need for worry. Give her one calcium tablet each day until she's producing good quality eggs again spaced out 25 hours apart.

The calcium plus D3 and magnesium will shore up Valerie's egg assembly line and she should be back to normal in no time. Well, actually, it could take a week or so, maybe less. One hen I treated took a month to get back on track, and then she laid normally for the rest of last season. This season, she has not had this issue, so Valerie stands an excellent chance of this being a singular event.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

Thanks so much @azygous!! I did exactly what you said, calcium tablet everyday and she went 2 days with no egg at all but she has laid a normal egg yesterday and today!

 

[mrla2205]

Please help me verify the timing of these eggs. Was the first thin shell egg within 25 hours of the normal egg? If so, this is the issue.

Over the past few years, I've dealt with a couple of hens cycling two eggs within the same 25 hour egg cycle. This often results in the subsequent eggs being thin shelled or shell-less because the shell gland wasn't able to secrete enough calcium for so many eggs so close together. The most serious danger is one of the poor quality eggs will rupture and get stuck inside and cause infection.

You were partially correct when you asked if this was a calcium issue because calcium is what our Miss Valerie needs to reset her egg cycle. At this point, there is no need for worry. Give her one calcium tablet each day until she's producing good quality eggs again spaced out 25 hours apart.

The calcium plus D3 and magnesium will shore up Valerie's egg assembly line and she should be back to normal in no time. Well, actually, it could take a week or so, maybe less. One hen I treated took a month to get back on track, and then she laid normally for the rest of last season. This season, she has not had this issue, so Valerie stands an excellent chance of this being a singular event.

What size calcium tablet ? human ? i was breaking and giving mine 1/4 but it is not enough nothing changed every night I get no shell egg

 

[mrla2205]

Thanks so much @azygous!! I did exactly what you said, calcium tablet everyday and she went 2 days with no egg at all but she has laid a normal egg yesterday and today!

how big is the calcium tablet ? human dose ?

 

[azygous]

The calcium is human dose size, between 400mg to 600mg. You need a good heavy dose so the entire whole tablet should be used for each day's dose.

 

[Emilysclukscluks]

I used just like @azygous said a whole human dose with calcium and vitamin D together. She has laid a normal egg everyday!

 

[Jkaighin]

Please help me verify the timing of these eggs. Was the first thin shell egg within 25 hours of the normal egg? If so, this is the issue.

Over the past few years, I've dealt with a couple of hens cycling two eggs within the same 25 hour egg cycle. This often results in the subsequent eggs being thin shelled or shell-less because the shell gland wasn't able to secrete enough calcium for so many eggs so close together. The most serious danger is one of the poor quality eggs will rupture and get stuck inside and cause infection.

You were partially correct when you asked if this was a calcium issue because calcium is what our Miss Valerie needs to reset her egg cycle. At this point, there is no need for worry. Give her one calcium tablet each day until she's producing good quality eggs again spaced out 25 hours apart.

The calcium plus D3 and magnesium will shore up Valerie's egg assembly line and she should be back to normal in no time. Well, actually, it could take a week or so, maybe less. One hen I treated took a month to get back on track, and then she laid normally for the rest of last season. This season, she has not had this issue, so Valerie stands an excellent chance of this being a singular event.

Do you just pop the calcium tablet down their throat?

 

[azygous]

You pry the beak open and place in on the tongue, as you would a cat or dog, far enough back so they won't fire it back out like a bullet in a gun. If that happens, retrieve it and place it farther back on the tongue, and close the beak so she can swallow.

 

[mrla2205]

The calcium is human dose size, between 400mg to 600mg. You need a good heavy dose so the entire whole tablet should be used for each day's dose.

Thank you