Solitary chicken - need advice

[Martin KT]

Elsie, my 1.5 year old Gingernut Ranger has been laying soft eggs, many of which seem to have had no membrane either, for the last 6 weeks. This started in early July when she started moulting, and I thought that was probably the cause. However, she finished moulting after 2-3 weeks, but her eggs have remained soft ever since. Since the beginning of July, she has only laid 1 or 2 normal eggs.

 

I feed her layer pellets (which she's eating OK) and have tried supplementing with grit, crushed oyster shells, and crushed up egg shells, but nothing seems to have made any difference. We fed chicken spice for the duration of the moult. I am now getting worried that there is something else wrong with her, although she shows no outward signs of being ill. She eats and drinks OK, her comb is nice and red and firm, and she seems to be her usual perky self.

 

I don't know if it's relevant, but before the problem started, she used to regularly lay very large eggs, which were sometimes a little misshapen (although the shells were intact).

 

Has anyone any idea what could be causing her to continue laying the softies and how we can get her laying normal eggs again?

[sjp]

try puting lifguard in the drinking water http://www.life-guard.co.uk/.

and a slug of cod liver oil in the feed a couple of times a week

[Martin KT]

Thanks for the suggestions sjp. I haven't come across Lifeguard before. How long did you find it took to solve the soft egg problem and where can I get it from?

[Ygerna]

I've been gettting my lifeguard from the farm where I get all my chicken feed etc from. Try your normal supplier, they may get it in if they dont stock it.

[sjp]

it takes a couple of days, but you need to give it for 7 days not stop after 2 like I did this week