4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Clur]

I picked up Milly earlier today and saw she had egg yolk down her leg and in her feathers. I checked her vent and it she was either trying to pass something or poo on me! I washed her down and checked the nesting box in case she'd laid a softy, but there wasn't any sign of any egg.

 

She seems perfectly fine in herself and is eating and drinking, so I'm not unduly worried at this stage, but how likely is it that she's got a broken egg in her and what should I look for? Am I right in thinking she'd be feeling pretty rough if that was the case and it would be obvious?

 

Am hoping it's a more simple explanation, but nothing's evident yet and I'm keeping a close eye on her.

[Egluntyne]

All you can do is observe her at this stage.

 

If she has shell left inside her, she may well pass it over the next day or so.

 

If she seems perky, you probably have nothing to worry about, but if she seems unwell hunched, off her food etc, it might be worth taking her to a vet.

 

I'd be very careful about tinkering about inside her to remove any shell, in the unlikely event that there should be some there.

 

She could have laid a softie with only a rubbery shell, which might have broken as she laid it. She or her pals will have removed the evidence pretty quickly.

[sandyhas3chucks]

All you can do is observe her at this stage.

 

If she has shell left inside her, she may well pass it over the next day or so.

 

If she seems perky, you probably have nothing to worry about, but if she seems unwell hunched, off her food etc, it might be worth taking her to a vet.

 

I'd be very careful about tinkering about inside her to remove any shell, in the unlikely event that there should be some there.

 

She could have laid a softie with only a rubbery shell, which might have broken as she laid it. She or her pals will have removed the evidence pretty quickly.

 

Do as Egluntine says, justr watch her carefully, you will know if she is poorly by morning, mine would have passed it all by then.

[emmaw298]

one of mine once laid a shell-less egg that came out as a runny broken yolk. she stopped hunching up as soon as all the yolk was out. i took it as a sign they needed a bit more calcium in their diet and it hasn't happened since. in fact, a few weeks ago the vet commented on their very good bone health!

a one-off softy/shell-less egg wouldn't necessarily mean insufficient calcium, particularly if it is a one-off, but its worth considering....

[Clur]

Thanks all, I regularly give them limestone flour and they have access to grit at all times, but she is prone to laying eggs with thinner shells.

 

I've kept an eye on her this weekend and she seems ok, but still think she's trying to pass something - her vent is still going like the clappers, and there was evidence of more yolk down her leg. It had crossed my mind that she may have eaten the egg if she's laid a softy, so really just keeping my eyes peeled. I am going to 'up' their calcium intake as well.

 

If she looks like she's not well, I will take her to the vets - may do some investigating of chicken-friendly vets in the area today.

[The Dogmother]

Fingers crossed for her... are you reasonably happy that it's egg yolk and not yellow diarrhoea?

[sandyhas3chucks]

Egluntine swears by Zolcal D as it has D3 in it and this is needed for absorbtion of calcium. It has helped but I dose each girl separately, still getting softees from one who has really slowed down this weather and is moulting. Cod liver oil helps too but you know this sounds weird and may be coincidence but had 3 good eggs on consecutive days from her & I gave codliver oil just once & she laid too softees & nothing since.

Oh, they will all have eaten the softee maybe as it was coming out & on her bum too. (well mine do)