Soft Shelled Eggs

[Chickens5433]

I am really hoping someone here will be able to provide useful information. Please take the time to read the entire posting.

I have 2 hens that I purchased last April from a feed store that are vaccinated for Mareks Diease
I have 1 hen who is broody and just hatched 5 chicks. She was purchased from a farmer
I have 2 other hens that I got from my friends farm as hatchlings

I recently had to cull one of my hens due to multiple soft shell/egg bound issued.

This hen I believe was an Austalorp I had never seen her lay a hard shelled egg. She routinely laid soft shell eggs back in March however, she was a brand new layer so I didn't think anything of it. The hen then started laying double soft shell eggs that were still bound together by what appeared to look like a little twist tie that comes on a loaf of bread. (photos attached). I would soak her in a tub of warm water and after straining she would pass the egg. I did as many suggested adding extra calcium. The hens are already fed Layena Layer Feed Pellets, they have access to oyster shell 24/7 they have two containers of water that are changed and freshened up daily . I even got a calcium supplement and began pilling her twice per day one in the A.M and once in the P.M.

After a week of supplementation she still became egg bound and could not pass the eggs. I did not want her to be in any pain and have her die a slow death so my husband culled her. I believed at the time it was something genetically going on wit her.

Fast forward a week and another hen (which is her sister) from the same Rooster is now laying soft shelled eggs. She has always laid hard eggs She even laid a hard egg yesterday and then showed symptoms of being egg bound last night around 8PM. She was waddling like a penguin, standing around, not pecking at the ground and her tail was pulsating.

At this point I have no idea what to do or what is causing these issues. My other 3 hens are laying normally. I don't know what to do I am wondering if they have a parasite/worm infection or egg drop syndrome 76. Can anyone please help me other then telling me they need more calcium as I do not believe that is the issue.

This is what they typically have access to:
Fresh water
Electroyltes in water on hot days
Mealworms
Scratch
Latyer Feed
oyster shell

I have removed everything minus water and layer feed as of this morning.

Someone please help me. I am literally desperate.

 

[Eggcessive]

You are right, calcium may not be the reason for the egg shell issues. The shells are formed in the oviduct by the shell gland. Shell gland issues can be caused by past exposure to a mild case of infectious bronchitis, an infection or other reproductive disorder, and with severe stress or in my hen’s case, an injury from a dog attack. She was shaken up and injured, stopped laying for several months, and laid eggs regularly after that but all were shell-less or vert thin shelled. She had the strongest shells before the attack. Infectious bronchitis is responsible for many different egg shell issues. Soft shell eggs can more easily become egg bound, and make make the hen feel very weak when having this problem. The best thing that could happen if she doesn’t improve, is that she would stop laying, but some vets can treat with a hormone implant to stop laying for 4-6 months.
Here is a good article showing many of the common egg shell problems and possible causes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/