What's wrong with our gal?? Strange Eggs - Photos Included

[montana_katie]

Hello all,
We've had this hen, Stella, for approximately 8 months. She's a red sex-linked, approximately 1 1/2 and 2 years old. We got her and another (same breed) from friends in the area who had too many hens last fall. They were both laying regularly almost every day. Over winter Stella molted and when she started laying again, in mid-January, the eggs were ridiculously large, like double size and more elongated. None were double yolks and all appeared normal on the inside. They often had strange raised ridges on them. Over the course of a week or so, the eggs started having softer spots on one end, often with a hole.
We were hoping that it was just her getting back into the rhythm after molting. The egg shells progressed to get softer and softer, with almost every egg broken in the box. Every once in a while she will lay an egg like the one pictured, that is still intact, but has an obvious discolored end which is softer and often has a hole at this end. It's been going on now for about 2 months. As of now, we're having to clean out the nest box with every broken egg, which is about 5 times a week and a complete pain.
Our chickens, we have 4, are open range on our 1/2 acre and have open access to commercial layer feed, oyster shell and lots of bugs, worms, veggie scraps, etc. They all appear perfectly normal and healthy and follow us around the yard happily. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Our chickens are pets as well and we really don't want to cull unless it's absolutely necessary.

Here are some photos of the egg this morning. This is currently as good as they get now, as most are broken in the box.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/katie_gaut/P1020215.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/katie_gaut/P1020213-1.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/katie_gaut/P1020212-1.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/katie_gaut/P1020210-1.jpg

 

[BarefootMom]

what kind of feed are you giving? is she getting enough calcium? do you offer oyster shells?

 

[montana_katie]

We are giving Nutrena laying bird pellets in addition to oyster shell. They are also free-range and have lots of bugs to eat.

 

[crazygoatlady915]

Make sure that your chickens have a enough calcium in their diet

 

[briteday]

I had a red sexlink that had funny eggs like that since she started laying. I chalked it up to a problem in the shell gland area. Eventually she prolapsed and died.

 

[montana_katie]

That's depressing.

What else could we give to increase calcium besides the commercial feed and oyster shells?

 

[Judy]

That should be enough, but Tums in the water will add some.

 

[Darlasmum]

Chop them up some spinach or broccoli, spoonfuls of yogurt, cottage or shredded cheese! My girls get cakepans of these goodies three or four times a week.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Wow, Montana! I have the exact same problem, right down to a 2 year old red sex-linked hen named Stella. How funny is that?

You can try mixing the oyster shell right in with their food for a while. Mine had stopped eating the calcium until I did this. Then they started back up.
I also make my girls a bowl of oatmeal each morning with milk or powdered milk for a little extra calcium. Darlasmum had a lot of other good treat suggestions. Anything to add a little more calcium to their diet.
If it is any consolation, I have 5 red sex-links that laid an egg a day each for almost 2 years straight, and now I only get 2 a day after the soft shell issue. They are healthy and active, just not as productive, but that doesn't matter to me. I will have my girls around for as long as they will live.
Good luck, and I hope this helps!

 

[jossanne]

Also you can dry the egg shells that you cook with, crumble them up and feed them back to them as a treat for added calcium. Mine go crazy for them.