[ReaderRabbit]

Hi all

Had a wierd one today - Tori our white wyanodotte hadn't laid for about a week and we'd noticed that every now and then she would stoop as if she was constipated (although she wasn't - plenty of poo as usual ).

We didn't worry too much as she has been eating and drinking as usual, looks perky, nice red crown and wattle, etc.

Came home from work today to find an 'alien' in the nest box.  It was an egg inside a sac that also contained a yolk.  I'm guessing she must have got backed up at some point over the past week.  Has anyone else had this or does anyone know what could have caused it?

RR

[poultrygeist]

I'd go with the alien hypothesis 

...I think you're right abotu her being slightly out of synch. Some strange things can happen between releasing a new yolk and laying. Empty shells, shell-less eggs, etc.

Wouldn't worry unless it keeps happening.

Rob

[Roughlee Handled]

PHOTOS?

[ReaderRabbit]

PHOTOS?

Sorry - it's gone in the bin 

It looked a bit rank and the bin men come tomorrow.  I know the law about photos but even I draw the line at rummaging about in our bin

RR

[Roughlee Handled]

 

[SnooziSuzi]

was it not just a shell-less egg?  If you pick it up it's just like a waterballoon full of egg;

If your birds are old or not getting enough calcium they can lay eggs with no shells and it is rather uncomfortable for them to lay.

hope this helps

[ReaderRabbit]

was it not just a shell-less egg?  If you pick it up it's just like a waterballoon full of egg;

If your birds are old or not getting enough calcium they can lay eggs with no shells and it is rather uncomfortable for them to lay.

hope this helps

TBH I thought it was just an shell-less egg when I first saw it but when I picked it up there was a whole, normal sized egg inside the sac, along with a normal sized yolk.  It was all quite a size and the poor chook's eyes must have watered when she laid it.

She's still a youngster and has only been laying since December.  She is one of three and they all have good quality layers pellets and grit ad lib plus they free range around the garden for a minimum of 3 hours a day (all day at week ends and school hols).

The only thing we don't give them is shell,but if she doesn't go back to normal laying we'll give them some when we can get to the pet supplies shop at the weekend.

Luckily they all lay different coloured eggs so it's easy to monitor who's doing what. 

RR

[poultrygeist]

It's a very good idea to give them some extra calcium to avoid depletion from their bones. The sooner the better.

Rob

[SnooziSuzi]

Oh... you mean like a shell-less egg with a shelled egg inside it  :blink:

I would imagine that if it had developed propery then it would have been a fairly rare egg within an egg 

If mine are running low on calcium I feed their old eggshell back to them after it's been baked for 20 minutes and then ground to powder with a mortar & pestle.  works a treat!  If you do feed shell back to yours make sure it's not recognisable to them as eggshell otherwise when she's laying properly she might take to eating eggs 

[shiatsusu]

What temp do you bake the shell at Snoozi?

[SnooziSuzi]

   not completely sure; my cooker is so old that the temperatures have been washed off over the years    I think it's about 120-150 c and I leave them there for about 15-20 mins, until the shells are brittle and the membrane left inside has browned.

 

[Roughlee Handled]

I save my eggs and microwave them.  Full power for 5 mins.   But be warned after 1 plastic bowl and one porcelain one (melted/broken). I now put a small glass of water in. I means your bowls do not get nuked as much  but the shells come out hot. After leaving the shells to cool I then crush them in a pestle and mortar.  The shell does change consistency after being nuked.

[shiatsusu]

I don't like microwaves so will use the oven and try trial and error  Love the idea of an oven with no obvious temp settings left!!  :blink:

[Roughlee Handled]

You really trying to kill all nasties with heat.

[shiatsusu]

So as long as they've had a good blast they should be fine? Does that mean that you can't really overcook them?