Weird Egg - symptom?

[MichelleT]

So, I'm thinking, based on a few symptoms that a three (of five) of my girls are showing, that I may have the beginning of a respiratory illness/infection going on. Today a symtom-less hen laid this (at least I think it was her). Long, thin-shelled and bumpy, with the dent at one end. It has shell over 100% of the egg, it's just misshapen. Would this be another symptom of a possible respiratory illness? Or maybe something else? It's been warm and they've been scratching in the yard a lot and finding worms (of course) and I haven't treated for worms yet this season...

 

[Majd]

It might be infectious bronchitis... It can damage the unterus of the hens and that causes changes in the eggs shape... However in our flock of many many birds, only a few showed any symptoms, one had symptoms for longer and her uterus got so danaged she couldn't produce eggs(she can release yolks but those can't travel to the oviduct and fall in the body cavity and get absorbed by the body), just an occasional shell-less egg i caught her laying from the roost. Others had a slight change in the shape- texture of the shell but not noticeable, and the majority nothing at all. Symptoms subside in a short while, and the hen will live normally afterwards, but her eggs usually be different if damage has occured.... However now after the hens moulted and started laying like machines now in the beginning of spring, one of the hens that supposedly had a damaged uterus and frequently layed softshelled, mal-coloured eggs, and often laid them whereever she was standing, but now after her winter break, she's laying perfect eggs like the ones she layed before getting IB, and on the other hand, on hen that had the symptoms and recovered and her eggs were not affected, now is laying washed out eggs, with lots of bumps and a thinner shell....
So as you can see it's just my personal experience I'm talking about.... Hope all goes well with you and your birds!
There's a thread over here that covers all the reasons for a weird egg... Update us!

 

[MichelleT]

That's actually what I was thinking with the other birds. I am on my way to get some Tylan-50 injectable and start them all on it today. Thanks for your input!

 

[Majd]

You're welcome! Hope they get better soon!

 

[MichelleT]

While the respiratory symptoms are subsiding, the egg symptom continues...

1. Two days ago Henrietta laid an egg that's shell was so thin it was like fabric. It broke on the way out. I gave her some extra calcium that night. Yesterday (or early this morning maybe) an egg was laid out off the nesting boxes on the floor of the coop. This one had a thin shell and was broken. It may have been Henrietta's but I'm not sure. Right now H is in the nesting box, appearing to be working on another one. I am keeping an eye on her.

2. They don't eat oyster shell. Ever. They will eat their own shells, but that can't possibly be enough calcium. I have given TUMS, but I don't like giving them all the extra junk in those. I am looking for the best possible supplement (the most 'bang for the buck', so to speak. Which lead me to...

3. Calcium gluconate from TSC (23%): given the possibility of eggs breaking in transit for at least one hen (Henrietta), how aggressive should I be? Inject or just oral? I found the dosages and am comfortable doing either. H is my best little buddy, and I feel like since she may forever have egg laying problems due to
A) this possible IB infection
B) her breed (red sex link)
I want to be as diligent and proactive as possible.

Inject or orally dose?

 

[Majd]

I'm not expert in that area, but i guess both injection and orally would work, i would have given orally if it's the same... As for the oyster shells, they might needa change, or if they still won't touch fresh oyster shell, then there is a calcium fortified kind of feed that gives them all the calcium they need....
Hope she gets better soon!

Majd

 

[Eggcessive]

I have that problem with 1 or 2 older hens. Here are some good articles to read about egg problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems
https://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

 

[MichelleT]

Thank you very much for the link Kim. I found pictures of several odd-looking eggs and am more convinced (without a vet diagnosis) that the girls have been fighting a round of infectious bronchitis, as all three odd eggs have that as a symptom for IB. I am posting another question about how to proceed with this flock at this point as I'd like to do everything humanly possible to keep them as healthy as possible - and laying eggs as long as they can. Thanks again!