Soft shell egg

[Dtuggle111]

I have a hen who is 1 year and tonight when I was putting everyone to bed i noticed she had something hanging halfway out of her vent. Upon closer inspection it is a soft egg shell. I gently pulled and she started pushing and I got it out along with some liquid. She's eating, drinking and roasting but she's still contracting her vent. Is there something else I should do?

 

[Debbie292d]

I would give her a calcium pill. You can give it whole. You can gently pull down on her wattles and she'll open her beak.

Also, do you have oyster shells in a separate dish for the hens? If not, may want to get some as that'll help in the future.

BTW, I had a hen do this. I couldn't catch her and she was walking around the yard. A few hours later, I checked and it was gone.

 

[coach723]

I agree with the calcium. I would give it once a day until you see her lay normally. It could just be a glitch, sometimes it happens. The calcium will help with contractions to pass anything else, and it will help get levels up to get shell quality improved. Hopefully that's all it is. Calcium citrate +D is the best absorbed, you can get that as Citracal or a generic equivalent. Brand doesn't matter, just form.