Soft shell egg sticking out of hen's bottom *help*

[bloom_ss]

I have a girl that just started laying...she's 38 weeks old and she is an Easter Egger. All of my other girls (also EEs) started laying between 27 and 32 weeks. I was wondering why this one was taking so long to start, but maybe she just never had the right equipment to deal with egg laying. This is her third egg...the first two came out just fine. This time she layed just a yolk with no white or shell, but then I noticed what looks like a soft stringy shell hanging from her bottom with some pink sticking out around it. Has she prolapsed, or is it just stuck in there because it is a soft shell? What can I do for her to help her out?? I'll see if I can get a picture to post...she's in my tub with some blankets and food and water right now. Any help is much appreciated. I can't afford to take her to the vet, and if I can't save her then we will be putting her down ourselves. I just want to try my best to save her first if I can.

 

[teach1rusl]

I wouldn't assume the worst at this point. Many new layers have egg issues those first few weeks. I've had many new layers give me "oops" eggs during their early laying weeks - everything from runny yolks/whites/no shell to tissue paper shelled eggs to jello like eggs.
Without a picture it's hard to tell for sure, but it doesn't sound like a prolapse to me. That stringy stuff hanging out maybe be exactly what you suggested, a membrane type shell. Not sure about the pinkish stuff you mentioned??? Prolapse - the lining pokes out, like turning itself inside out. I would gently wipe her vent area with a warm wet rag to see if it will guide it out (I wouldn't pull). Is her vent area pulsing noticeably, like she's trying to expel something???

 

[bloom_ss]

Well, she was able to get the shell out while sitting quietly in the bathtub. Her bum looks ok now...I just freaked out because none of the other 5 girls had any problems laying before. This is the yolk I found laying in the yard next to her (they were out free ranging when I noticed her laying on the grass) and the shell that she was able to expel while in the house. Crazy looking thing! I hope she doesn't have any more problems like that! Do you think it was just a fluke, or is she going to keep laying like this? Oh, also, the yolk was completely dry and by itself on the grass, and the rest of the runny egg white came out with the shell in the tub.

 

[dawg53]

Gently and slowly pull the soft shell out. To prevent a bacterial infection; mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 quart of water. Use a large syringe without a needle to withdraw the mixture (syringeful.) Insert the syringe into her vent and flush. Flush it about 3 times. The liquid may or may not drain from her vent, that is normal.
Teach1rusl is correct. Your EE's eggs will eventually be ok in time.
Great!! Glad it all came out. But I'd still flush her with the vinegar/water solution.

 

[mkcolls]

Thank you for this post. I just came in from gently massaging and helping to expel a tissue paper thin, no yoke egg from one of our Favorelles. I cleaned her vent and continued to massage until no more discharge came from her vent. I stayed in the barn until she had eaten, had several passes at the waterer, and was moving up on the roost without trouble or complaint. She is a very vocal complainer.

Dawg:
Should I flush her tonight before another egg forms?