We had a chicken who passed a weird squishy egg but she's still acting cathartic. Advise?

[DavyNobles]

One of our hens was standing in the corner of the run and staring off into the distance so we brought her inside and gave her a salt bath, some water, and a scrambled egg with a crushed up calcium citrate pill in it. We put her in a basket lined with a towel and after maybe 30 minutes, she passed this weird squishy egg (see pic). She seemed to be feeling better. She was grooming her feathers inside the basket after the egg passed so I put her out in the coop to get some rest for the night (it's pretty large so she has plenty of space). I checked on her about 3 hours later and she's standing in the coop with that same look as before. Staring off into the distance and not laying down. Does anyone know what happened to cause this egg and how it can be prevented? Also, does antics have advise to help our girl get feeling better?

 

[GoosesGeeses]

Possible causes for soft shelled egg:​

1. Calcium Deficiency – Even though you're providing calcium (like the citrate pill), she may not be absorbing it well. Lack of vitamin D3 can also impact calcium absorption.
2. Age & Hormonal Imbalance – Young layers and older hens sometimes have trouble regulating egg production, leading to soft eggs.
3. Illness or Infection – Infections like egg yolk peritonitis or salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct) can cause abnormal eggs and make a hen lethargic.
4. Stress or Disruption – If something scared or stressed her (predators, changes in the coop, bullying from other hens), it could interfere with proper eggshell formation.
5. Overproduction – Some hens push eggs through their system too fast, meaning the shell doesn't have time to fully form.

How to Help Her Recover:​

• Keep Her Warm and Comfortable – Bringing her inside or isolating her in a quiet, low-stress space could help.
• Hydration & Electrolytes – Offer water with electrolytes (or sugar + a pinch of salt) to keep her energy up.
• Extra Calcium & Vitamin D3 – Continue giving her calcium, but make sure she’s also getting enough vitamin D3 (through sunlight, enriched feed, or a supplement).
• Nutritious Diet – Give her high-protein foods like scrambled eggs, mealworms, or a bit of tuna, and ensure she has a good quality layer feed.
• Check for More Issues – If she’s straining, she might have another egg stuck (egg binding). Feel gently around her vent/lower belly to check.

Prevention Tips:​

• Free-Choice Oyster Shell or Crushed Eggshells – Keep a separate dish of calcium available at all times.
• Limit Treats – Too many low-nutrient snacks (like scratch grains) can throw off her diet.
• Reduce Stress – Make sure she has a calm environment and isn’t being bullied by other hens.
• Monitor for Illness – If she keeps acting off, consider checking for other symptoms like swelling, discharge, or odd droppings.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of our hens was standing in the corner of the run and staring off into the distance so we brought her inside and gave her a salt bath, some water, and a scrambled egg with a crushed up calcium citrate pill in it. We put her in a basket lined with a towel and after maybe 30 minutes, she passed this weird squishy egg (see pic). She seemed to be feeling better. She was grooming her feathers inside the basket after the egg passed so I put her out in the coop to get some rest for the night (it's pretty large so she has plenty of space). I checked on her about 3 hours later and she's standing in the coop with that same look as before. Staring off into the distance and not laying down. Does anyone know what happened to cause this egg and how it can be prevented? Also, does antics have advise to help our girl get feeling better?

It looks like s shell membrane, likely she has another egg on the way.

I'd continue with the Calcium Citrate for 5 days, see if the shell quality improves.