Why am I getting these misshapen eggs consistently?

[Weeg]

I do have experience with infectious bronchitis, in ducks, and diagnosed by an avian vet. My ducks have never had respiratory symptoms, except for unrelated respiratory fungal infections.

I have one duck, Nettle, who is now 8 years old and always lays oddly shaped eggs. My other duck, Pigweed, gives perfectly normal appearing eggs. Nettle has been tested for egg drop, and it was negative.

Interesting, so they may not show respiratory symptoms.
How would I go about getting testing done if I wanted to look into that? Assuming I would need to get it done through an avian vet?

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

 

[KaleIAm]

Interesting, so they may not show respiratory symptoms.
How would I go about getting testing done if I wanted to look into that? Assuming I would need to get it done through an avian vet?

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

I believe it was a blood test, and yes we use avian vets. It was... Maybe 6 years ago so the specifics are a little fuzzy. I think it cost about $90-$150 plus the exam cost.

Since 4 of my ducks were rescued as adults it's possible that they had respiratory symptoms before coming to me. Nettle, who has the odd eggs, came to me at about a year of age. She was living with wild mallards for many months and I have no idea what she experienced before that. But for the last 7 years she hasn't had any respiratory issues.

 

[Weeg]

Update: Still have not seen any respiratory symptoms from any of the birds as far as I can tell. Still considering getting testing done, but haven't pursued that yet.
As for eggs, she's starting to molt so hasn't been laying quite as consistently.
These are two of her eggs over the past 4 days, the only ones she's laid.

The first one is still pretty wonky, but the second is pretty circular, and small. Still not a normal egg, but headed in the right direction.
She is broody, so I might try to kill two birds with one stone and let her hatch. If none of her eggs hatch, than I can consider Infectious Bronchitis because usually eggs don't hatch from infected birds? If they do hatch, I might be able to rule it out? If they hatch and when she starts laying again she lays normal eggs, than maybe just a glitch. If she continues to lay wonky eggs after that, than maybe something else? Still haven't decided if I will let her hatch yet.

 

[Weeg]

Update: Still have not seen any respiratory symptoms from any of the birds as far as I can tell. Still considering getting testing done, but haven't pursued that yet.
As for eggs, she's starting to molt so hasn't been laying quite as consistently.
These are two of her eggs over the past 4 days, the only ones she's laid.
View attachment 3090842
The first one is still pretty wonky, but the second is pretty circular, and small. Still not a normal egg, but headed in the right direction.
She is broody, so I might try to kill two birds with one stone and let her hatch. If none of her eggs hatch, than I can consider Infectious Bronchitis because usually eggs don't hatch from infected birds? If they do hatch, I might be able to rule it out? If they hatch and when she starts laying again she lays normal eggs, than maybe just a glitch. If she continues to lay wonky eggs after that, than maybe something else? Still haven't decided if I will let her hatch yet.

Also, both of these are hard shelled.

 

[Weeg]

Pinecone is molting currently, or at least thats what I'm blaming it on, so I haven't been getting consistent eggs from her.
The last get I got a few days ago was smaller than normal, and tear drop shaped. All the eggs I get from her are continuously oddly shaped, now been going on since she started laying a month ago I believe. I haven noticed that here egg shells are also thiner than the others, and her egg yolks are slightly paler. Still showing no respiratory signs, and neither are the chickens.
I read about Egg Drop Syndrome, and it does seem to fit. I'm interested in getting testing, is there any way to do it other than a vet? Probably not, unless I had a dead bird to send in I'm assuming. I'll have to look around and see about finding a poultry vet in the area.

 

[Weeg]

Update:
I haven't gotten any eggs from Pinecone lately. Not one in 2 weeks? She was molting, so not sure if she's still molting, or if this is another symptom. She doesn't look like she's molting, though maybe she's coming out of it, I'm not sure.
With that, I still haven't seen any respitory symptoms in any of the birds. Aside from the occasional sneeze, nothing concerning or out of the ordinary.
Though one of my Serama hens I belive, has started laying massive eggs about once a week. I think I've been able to narrow it down to her, though I might try to move the run cam into the the coop and check it out. They're the same size as standard fowl eggs. Either way, it's definitely one of my bantams.
Anyone who why that would happen? I saw nothing about it in the Egg Quality article. I know its common in new layers, but she's over a year old now.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Update:
I haven't gotten any eggs from Pinecone lately. Not one in 2 weeks? She was molting, so not sure if she's still molting, or if this is another symptom. She doesn't look like she's molting, though maybe she's coming out of it, I'm not sure.
With that, I still haven't seen any respitory symptoms in any of the birds. Aside from the occasional sneeze, nothing concerning or out of the ordinary.
Though one of my Serama hens I belive, has started laying massive eggs about once a week. I think I've been able to narrow it down to her, though I might try to move the run cam into the the coop and check it out. They're the same size as standard fowl eggs. Either way, it's definitely one of my bantams.
Anyone who why that would happen? I saw nothing about it in the Egg Quality article. I know its common in new layers, but she's over a year old now.

Dang, sorry to hear that you can’t figure out the cause Weeg.

For the large laying serama: Is she very old, or a very young and new layer? And how long has this been going on for? Are you giving her a lot of protein?

 

[Weeg]

Dang, sorry to hear that you can’t figure out the cause Weeg.

For the large laying serama: Is she very old, or a very young and new layer? And how long has this been going on for? Are you giving her a lot of protein?

She's a little over a year. Not a new layer, and not old. Thats whats puzzling me. I've gotten 3 so far, so about 3 weeks. They get 20% protein Scratch and Peck starter. I don't think its an unreasonable about of protein. Also wanted to mention, the eggs aren't double yolk.

I have started to look around a bit for a good avian vet. As much as I would love to avoid a vet appointment, mostly for poor Pinecone who is very skittish, I might have to look into it. Unless there's another way to get testing. Since she's so scared of people, I'd love to keep her on the property for any testing, thats why I've been hesitant.

@azygous @Wyorp Rock Thoughts on the large eggs?

 

[azygous]

Go here https://vet.uga.edu/education/acade...ealth/poultry-diagnostic-and-research-center/ to find out about testing for viruses.

 

[Weeg]

Go here https://vet.uga.edu/education/acade...ealth/poultry-diagnostic-and-research-center/ to find out about testing for viruses.

Awesome, thank you!
I tried to Google and see if I could get testing done without going to a vet and couldn't find anything. Thanks for the link!