Thin wrinkly shells

[Shaste]

One of our 1 year old hens started laying wrinkly shelled eggs a few weeks ago. On layer crumble, about an hour of free range a day, and a teaspoon of mealworms.

It progressed to shell-less eggs laid while roosting overnight and I started on 400mg calcium citrate daily. That seemed to help, but the shells are still wrinkly and very thin in the wrinkly band across the middle. When I stop the calcium it gets worse, but we're on week 3 and I've read that we should stop at this point.

She has had no other symptoms, healthy and perky throughout.

Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you ever noticed any frequent sneezing in this or any others? One common cause of wrinkled or other egg shell problems is a virus called infectious bronchitis, which causes sneezing for around a month. Stress is another common cause. A reproductive disease called salpingitis can cause a lot of problems with shells and laying issues. Here is a good link about egg shell problems with possible causes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[Shaste]

Have you ever noticed any frequent sneezing in this or any others? One common cause of wrinkled or other egg shell problems is a virus called infectious bronchitis, which causes sneezing for around a month. Stress is another common cause. A reproductive disease called salpingitis can cause a lot of problems with shells and laying issues. Here is a good link about egg shell problems with possible causes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Thanks, that's a really good article. She had shown no other symptoms at all. The only change to how they're living is the addition of free range access a couple months ago (used to be in the chicken tractor). I'm wondering if she maybe picked up a bird germ with the broader access to the world.

I it safe to keep going on the calcium citrate? If the shell is mostly calcium carbonate, would that be a better choice?

 

[dawg53]

I recommend that you stop the calcium citrate and give her Vitamin D which helps with calcium absorption.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks, that's a really good article. She had shown no other symptoms at all. The only change to how they're living is the addition of free range access a couple months ago (used to be in the chicken tractor). I'm wondering if she maybe picked up a bird germ with the broader access to the world.

I it safe to keep going on the calcium citrate? If the shell is mostly calcium carbonate, would that be a better choice?

Calcium carbonate is used as well, but the calcium citrate is better and quicker absorbed. Most of those have vitamin D added. Tums has calcium carbonate but no D. Most people have posted not to give calcium more than 7 days. If there is no response to calcium, it may not be a calcium deficiency. Are you feeding a balanced layer or all flock feed?

 

[Shaste]

Calcium carbonate is used as well, but the calcium citrate is better and quicker absorbed. Most of those have vitamin D added. Tums has calcium carbonate but no D. Most people have posted not to give calcium more than 7 days. If there is no response to calcium, it may not be a calcium deficiency. Are you feeding a balanced layer or all flock feed?

I've been feeding a balanced layer crumble since they started laying late last summer. Plus free choice grit and oyster shells. We were giving fruit and veggies scraps as well until the shell problem started.

The calcium citrate I was giving did have vitamin D, but the suggestion to add vitamin D got me thinking .. when they were in the chicken tractor they were in the middle of the yard so getting more sun. When they free range they tend to hug the edges of the house and woods in the shade (we have hawks and the girls seem to instinctively know to stay close to cover). Maybe the lack of sun (and vitamin d) is the issue?

 

[Eggcessive]

Hard to know the answer. They need shade when outside though, as well as some sunlight. You could try the extra D for a bit, but it is one of the fat soluble vitamins that can be overdosed. Since it is in their feed, I wouldn’t use it for more than a week.

 

[Shaste]

Thanks! Yes their chicken tractor has a tarp on half of it for shade and temps here have only been in the 70s so not hot yet. But you can see with their run covered how little direct sun they get when confined.

 

[Shaste]

So I stopped the calcium and Sunny's eggs were fine for about a week, then started getting noticeable body checking, then thinner and more wrinkly again. Yesterday I think she had an egg break inside her which is what I've been worried about. I found a poop mixed with shell and egg material in their run, and she was acting sluggish last night. Gave her a calcium and did the bath routine that had been recommended on here, and squeezed some plain water into her vent using a baby nose syringe (I knew I was keeping that for a reason!)

Anything else we can do for her? Would mineral oil into her vent be a good idea? This morning she is hunched up and fluffed, looking unwell.

 

[Shaste]

Another quick update, I let the girls out for a walk and she's definitely unwell, mostly standing hunched by herself. She did however pass a pretty normal looking poo. Does that mean she's passed wherever egg was inside her and things are moving again? I don't want to stress her with more vent flushing if it's not needed.