what has happened? no shell, just raw egg, no yolk. (PIC)

[ging3rhoffman]

I dont know what has happened. My SLW has laid several nice eggs so far and today she was puffed up and still had the white membrane of an egg hanging out of her and i found the clear, no yolk, in the run. I have oyster shell offered at all times and feed the layena crumble. Is this a comon thing to happen??

She is 20 weeks old and she has laid about 5 perfect eggs so far.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Not to worry they do this sometimes when they first start laying. Ours have laid some miss shaped eggs and soft shell. Have seen other posts about this same thing and people always say not to worry when they are just starting out.

Sandee

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Whee...thank goodness. Thanks for responding ! I was worried about her. She is such a sweet hen.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

OMGosh I can't believe it. Got home just now and went out to say hi to the girls. Our Light Brahma was sitting there kind of puffed up. So I watched her and she passed something that looked like pee. The other hens ran over there and starting pecking at it. Gross.

Then she squatted and passed some egg without a shell. Then one hen started running around with something in her beak and the other hens trying to get it. I went in and took it away from her to see what it was. It was a a leather type egg shell. Our hens are about the same age as yours - so we both had the same thing happen. She was happy after and was running around - so may be she get on with laying hard shell eggs again.

Sandee

 

[c_soto1990]

if it was a leather type egg,make sure its not a snakes!

 

[threehorses]

I would do this...

First, only once, I'd take the "flour" from the oyster shell (the powdered part) and put some aside. Then to help with a possible vitamin D problem, get a little fortified wheat germ oil (Horse aisle, feedstores, make sure it says fortified with ADE) and put it in a misting bottle (like for gardening, cleaning, travel size is best). On your good laying feed, spritz the wheat germ oil well. Stir, and spritz again a couple of times. Then mix the oyster shell flour - just a bit (1/4th a cup for a bucket of feed) into the feed.

Giving just the wheat germ once or twice a month helps the D vitamins which are necessary for calcium absorbtion.

And Dragonfly, you didn't mention feed, but if your gals are getting more than 10% of their diet in grains, reduce it. That can help.

Alternately, using yogurt weekly (or more often) for the first few weeks helps them get those first eggs off better.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Thats unreal that it happen to both of our hens. Im just glad its a normal thing. As far as the wheat...my husband brought home 2 - 50 lb bags of wheat germ seed. They get alot of it, probably to much each day.

I think that the Layena that i feed is also suppose to have all the calcium they need, but i have oyster shell out at all times. So...hmmm.

 

[dlhunicorn]

As far as the wheat...my husband brought home 2 - 50 lb bags of wheat germ seed. They get alot of it, probably to much each day.

Dont give them anymore.... this may indeed play a role in your problem.
On the up side you can sprout it and give the sprouts to them in the afternoon as a treat (the form of the feed can make all the difference)
... in the meantime I would get some P0lyvisol enfamil
(this is a liquid childrens A-B-D vitamin) and give three drops in beak once a day for a week then taper off the next and offer free choice live culture yogurt.​

 

[dhelin]

OK--DITTO!

I've been reading all about shell-less eggs and "egg-bound" pullets here all week!
Started on Tues PM with my Red sex link (now 19+ weeks old)--she was likely the first layer two+ weeks ago...even a pretty BIG beautiful egg last week. Tues eve she was NOT herself--squatting in the yard and in a daze. I felt ?an egg? in her lower abdomen (they never lay after midday) so put her in the infirmary and gave her water and a little plain yogurt...she drank heartily and ate up the yogurt...I massage gently and left her/...an hour later she laid a LARGE leathery/no shell intact egg...roosted and went to sleep....look totally normal Wed and Thurs until last noc---same behavior...
(oh, after reading all of threehorses advice, I gave her 1/2 tab Tums in yogurt Wed AM)...
she went back in the infirmary and I couldn't feel anything at first, then a ?soft smaller egg/massage gently and POP out came a yolk and white--then a broken leathery shell WHICH LOOKED OLD--the edges were dry and shriveled..like it broke a while ago!

Does this mean the large egg two days before had blocked things? Did I hurt her?
I did the gloved/oiled finger exam of the vent, and it was clean...

FYI--they've had an increasing mix of grower/layer feed for three weeks+ (from 50 % to now 100% this week) plus oyster shell for 10 days....they get a little scratch daily (like a cup for 14 pullets) and lots of garden greens this month...just started evening free ranging in the yard last week...

Sorry for the long post...big question...do I give her antibiotics now??
Looks fine again this AM--
My first flock!
Sorry if I hijacked this thread--but it sounds like similar issues..
threehorses, are you online today?

Thanks....

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
We have them on what we think are good layer crumbles and I'll have to check the bag to see what the grain ratios are. They have been on the feed for a while. This seems to be the first time that this has happen and they all have been laying well since they were 15.3 weeks old. They are now 25 weeks old. Regardless, I will take your advice and do the wheat germ thing. I have given them regular wheat germ in the past.

Also, I make my own yogurt (haven't for a while) so will make a batch this weekend for them and myself. How much do you give them, how often and assume just put in a bowl.

Thanks for all your great advice it is always appreciated

Sandee