soft shell egg, hunched posture question

[NorthwoodsChick]

one of my bielefelder pullets 24 wks old, never laid an egg looked off yesterday evening. Eating, drinking, pooping fine all day. Vent exam (gloved) revealed no palpable egg but a sml amt of thin pale yellow fluid was expelled. My concern was ruptured egg so I popped a calcium tab into her mouth. After the exam she foraged, drank fine, just slow with a hunched up tail (see pic). Got to roost on her own so I did not isolate her. This morning there was a soft shell egg on poop board, the yoke was intact but the shell was ripped with albumen extruding. Pullet is still hunched but otherwise doing normal morning chicken routine. Bielefelder normal stance is more straight out tail or flat-backed. Hers is hunched or would you call that down?
I got my eye on her. Should I re-dose her with calcium? Should I be worried about infection due to the ripped shell??

I feed All flock pellets, oyster shell on the side. They forage all day on bugs, yard greens and get rare scratch grains 1-2x week. The flock did get to a couple very small immature ears of sweet corn as I was mucking out the garden, otherwise nothing new.
I’m being extra cautious, I know. I just fear things like peritonitis. thx for reading

 

[azygous]

As long as the yolk was intact, you don't need to worry about infection. However, just because she managed to get one egg out, it doesn't mean there isn't another one coming down close behind. Two eggs are often the reason for an egg binding episode.

So, yes, continue the calcium which should be around 600mg. If there's another egg, it should come out sometime today. She may still be feeling the discomfort from the first stuck egg, and if there isn't a second one, you will see her return to normal behavior soon.

But continue the calcium until you see her eggs are coming out with normal shells.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

As long as the yolk was intact, you don't need to worry about infection. However, just because she managed to get one egg out, it doesn't mean there isn't another one coming down close behind. Two eggs are often the reason for an egg binding episode.

So, yes, continue the calcium which should be around 600mg. If there's another egg, it should come out sometime today. She may still be feeling the discomfort from the first stuck egg, and if there isn't a second one, you will see her return to normal behavior soon.

But continue the calcium until you see her eggs are coming out with normal shells.

Thanks! She is doing Ok so far. Has gone to the next boxes twice without laying. I re-examined her and do not see/feel anything larming. I will keep up with calcium until she lays a god egg.
The oyster shell doesn't seem to appeal to most of my girls AEB not having to add to the container since I put it out over a month ago. I started today with crushed egg shell and they seemed to like it much better...possible it is a size issue. Will still offer oyster shell freely.

 

[azygous]

If your oyster shell is reduced to fine powder, it's pretty much useless. Larger particles of calcium are utilized more thoroughly as it takes longer for them to pass through the intestines. If your shell is good size particles, the hens are likely taking what they need.

The purpose of the concentrated calcium supplement in the form of tablets is to address a calcium issue that crops up suddenly and mysteriously. It's not meant to replace the oyster shell.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

If your oyster shell is reduced to fine powder, it's pretty much useless. Larger particles of calcium are utilized more thoroughly as it takes longer for them to pass through the intestines. If your shell is good size particles, the hens are likely taking what they need.

The purpose of the concentrated calcium supplement in the form of tablets is to address a calcium issue that crops up suddenly and mysteriously. It's not meant to replace the oyster shell.

Good to know about particle size and absorption rate. That makes sense when thinking about it.
To clarify, I don't intent to continue supplementing with calcium tabs long term--just to address immediate needs. Thanks for the reminder though...I'm sure that will help others as well.