egg sacks

weedo · « **on:** August 28, 2008, 15:48 »

HI, Can anyone give me some advice. Had 3 hens for about couple of months now. All laying well. An egg each nearly every day. But 2 days ago about teatime noticed one very quiet and subdued under a shrub, seeming to be straining and looking very peeky. About an hour later an egg sack was produced and seemed to perk up. No egg next day but fine the day after. Last night same thing happened again. She is eating and drinking but seems to not be herself. Is this normal now and again or should I be worried?

poultrygeist · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:12 »

Hi weedo. Welcome to the forums.

It is normal to have the occasional soft egg, especially in older birds.

If the hen has a shock (loud noise, sudden rain, fright,etc) it can upset the timing of her egg production and the synchronisation gets mixed up.

It can also be a sign of lack of calcium in their diet. They should have access to crushed oyster shell or some source of calcium (limestone flour, etc).

How old is your hen ?

Rob

weedo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:17 »

Hi. Shes about 5 months old. Shes sitting in the garden looking very down at the moment whilst the other 2 are chasing flies and feeding etc.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:19 »

What's your feeding regime ?

And do they have access to oyster shell or similar ?

Rob

weedo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:22 »

I put out the shell grit. Gets knocked over quite alot but I assume they peck it from the ground. Another thing I have noticed is that her tail is not perky. She has it bent down quite alot

poultrygeist · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:23 »

Are they on layers pellets ?

weedo · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:28 »

Yes. They have pellets and they also free range the garden.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:37 »

Give them some crushed oyster shell too. Free range hens need it !

Foxy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:43 »

sounds like her laying mechanism is a bit wonky as she is laying soft shelled eggs. It is very uncomfortable and hard to lay a soft shelled compared to a hard shelled egg.
Calcium as well as being needed for the shell is also needed to help her muscles push the egg out. Sounds like he is struggling a bit and off her food therefore not picking up oyster grit. I would mix a teaspoon of cod liver oil into some mixed corn and scatter for them. Another tip is to bake their egg shells crush them finely and offer back to them.
Good luck with her!

poultrygeist · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2008, 17:45 »

I did wonder if the tail down is due to the misery of having to push out soft eggs.

Seems as if once that's sorted, she'll probably be a happy little layer again

Rob

weedo · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2008, 18:00 »

Thanks everyone for all the tips. I will follow them all and hopefully she will perk up. Its not nice to see an unhappy girl :cry:

weedo · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2008, 18:29 »

She has just produced another very very soft egg in the garden after about 2 hours of looking peeky aand has now perked up again. Back to scratching and feeding a little. I'll see how she is tomorrow

egg sacks

poultrygeist

poultrygeist

poultrygeist

Foxy

poultrygeist