Weird “water balloon” eggshell?

[tickens33]

When I went to collect eggs today, one of the hens was nesting in the coop. I picked her up to do a quick butt inspection like usual, and I saw she had a watery, slimy substance (like egg white) dripping down her bum fluff.

In the spot where she had been sitting, there was an eggshell-colored membrane with what I can best describe as the consistency of a water balloon. Like, it was a consistent light brown like an eggshell, but it was floppy and rubbery. It was lightly covered in the same egg-white-esque substance.

I didn’t get a picture because one of the other chickens grabbed the membrane and slurped it down The chicken who ate it then laid her own egg shortly after, and didn’t try to eat it or peck at it or anything, so hopefully that was a one-and-done behavior!

As far as the hen who laid the rubbery egg-shell, is she okay? I can’t say for sure, but I’m fairly confident that was her first or second time laying. So I assume her body is just figuring out how to do its thing. She was acting totally normal.

If it’s relevant, they are on all-flock feed with oyster shell on the side. Our hens have started laying over the course of the last few weeks, and this is the first weird occurance we’ve been aware of.

I wish I had a picture of this thing to add to my post!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sounds like her body is just working out how to lay lol but if it continues, make sure she’s getting enough calcium and actually eating the oyster shell etc. But I think a weird egg or two at the beginning is normal. But again, keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn’t continue long term.

 

[Ecarroll]

It sounds like a shell less egg, just the membrane over the white and yolk, she is probably just working everything out if it is her first time laying, or maybe she needs more calcium.

 

[tickens33]

It sounds like a shell less egg, just the membrane over the white and yolk, she is probably just working everything out if it is her first time laying, or maybe she needs more calcium.

It didn’t look quite like the pictures of shell-less eggs I’ve seen, although I’m certainly no expert. But it was more like a floppy eggshell.

 

[Ecarroll]

It didn’t look quite like the pictures of shell-less eggs I’ve seen, although I’m certainly no expert. But it was more like a floppy eggshell.

Was it full of egg and egg shaped? Was it slightly crunchy? A shell less egg matches your discription of water balloon, and they are typically just the membrane, which is like a thin floppy egg shell. If it was slightly crunchy on the outside it could have a very thin shell over the membrane. Either way should be nothing to worry about as it’s a first egg!