amos Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 I have had my Gingernut Ranger and Miss Pepperpot for about 4 months. For the first couple of months they both laid most days and then one of them stopped laying (I think the Miss Pepoerpot as the slightly browner shelled eggs are the Gingernut's, but could be wrong?). And then yesterday and today I have had the strangest looking 'eggs' in the nesting boxes. The first was very large and dense with a dark lumpy shell that looked like dinosaur skin and today's was smaller and soft on one side, but with the same dark lumpy shell on the other side. Both turned my stomach! Clearly something is not right but I don't know what. I wondered if the non-layer's system is starting to work again and this could be the result of some sort of backlog or build up? They both seem well and happy otherwise and eat Omlet organic complete food, supplemented with grit and corn, and they free range for a few hours most days. Has anyone had anything similar or such awful looking eggs?? I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 Here are some pics of these strange creations: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134841462@N07/shares/6axz6q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I'm at a complete loss with those Amos. Never seen anything like that at all. They look more like a 'lash', which is shed oviduct lining, than an egg. Was there a yolk inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Wow, those are pretty horrendous looking things . Never seen anything like those before either . Hopefully just a blip and normal service will resume soon. You must be nervous looking in the nestbox . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Thanks for replying. I didn't crack open the larger one - but didn't see any yolk in the smaller one with the soft side. Weirdly, I also found a shell-less egg in their poop tray yesterday. Just one normal-looking egg today but my poor Gingernut looks a bit mucky around her rear end, so now I'm wondering if she's got the problem rather than the Pepperpot. They are still both very lively and look well enough, apart from the mucky bottom. I'm nervous about looking in the next box every day, wondering what I might find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Oh my what a werid looking eggs. Hope both hens are well now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Well it seems to be my Gingernut with the problem as I watched her lay half a soft-shelled egg today in the run (with no yolk). I don't know what I should do to help her as the Pepperpot is fine and lays perfect eggs every day. They both eat the same food and have the same lifestyle - maybe she'll just never be a good layer? Any suggestions welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
