Chickens Laying Rubber Eggs...

[Gentlebreeze]

A few months ago one of my three-year old Leghorn/Dominique mixed hens started laying rubber eggs. Other than not having a shell, the egg looked completely normal when I cut it open. The hen didn’t show any other symptoms other than the rubber egg. She was eating and drinking normally and wasn’t wheezing, sneezing, or vomiting. Her comb and wattle looked normal and were not pale. There was no sign of bleeding, trauma or stress. I decided to add more calcium to all of my hens diets, in addition to the normal layer feed that I had been feeding them. After a week, she started to walk to a penguin when she wanted to lay an egg. So, I gave her a warm bath, to help her out, and checked on her very carefully to make sure there were no other symptoms. I put her in a cage, to separate her from the other hens, and she quickly laid another rubber egg. After a few days, she was back to normal. So, I put her back in with the others and started giving her regular baths. She would normally lay the soft shelled egg right after I gave her the warm baths.
Last week she stopped laying altogether and developed a swollen back end, that almost felt like a filled water balloon. I also noticed that she was leaking clear fluid and white stuff out of her vent. When I picked her up clear fluid also came out from her mouth. I gave her another warm bath thinking that she was egg bound, since she could not walk properly. I put her in a separate cage away from the other hens. She was very tired and very lethargic. Her comb and wattle were still red and not paled. However, she refused to eat her regular layer feed and would not even perk up for mealworms. She ended up dying a few days ago. I thought it was just an internal problem and she had developed tumors or cysts.
Now, what concerns me is that another one of my hens is also now laying rubber eggs. She has been laying rubber eggs for almost a month now. She does not walk like a penguin yet or have any other symptoms. In fact, she is one of my more energetic birds. She eats and drinks normally and eagerly comes when I call her. I called a doctor, specializing in poultry, at Cornell and they recommend that I treat her with antibiotics. However, I cannot find any stores that will sell me any antibiotics due to a new law that was passed at the beginning of this year. No veterinarians in my area will treat chickens and I am concerned about what to do...Does any one know of a place I could buy meds for her? Or do you have any other recommendations or home remedies that I could try? Also, should I separate the rubber laying hen?

I have seven hens that live together in a tall, 8X12ft, coop with a run that is also 8X12ft. Last week I also moved some "baby" (7-8 week old) chicks into the coop. However, they are separated by secured fencing, so that the bigger birds can get used to the younger birds through the wire first. The coop was just built in November and all of the chickens settled nicely into it. I plan to add a bit more space to the run, when the "chicks" get a little older. All of my full grown chickens have free access layer feed. I will also sometimes mix a tad bit of corn/scratch mixed into their normal layer feed for a treat. Also, on occasion, I will feed them mealworms, as a treat. My full grown hens also have free access to oyster shells that I keep out for them in a separate food container. They also have a flock block in their coop, to keep them busy and to provide a bit of extra nutrients for the molt that they are currently going through. I also clean the coop and nesting boxes on a regular basis and always make sure they have clean fresh water. I also checked all my hens over for mites and flees.

I am very worried about my hens and I would love any help in this matter.
Thanks!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Have you checked with your feed store for antibiotic?
I'm not experienced but thinking possible reproductive issues, egg peritonitis/egg binding. If you have some Tums, crush it up and give to the older girls.

@azygous @casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. Internal laying and egg yolk peritonitis are common in hens over 2. The symptoms you are describing sound like the. Antibiotics such as amoxicillin can be used to treat internal layers, but they will eventually die from the disease. Fish Mox and enrofloxacin are available online if you really want to treat with antibiotics, but they may or may not help and you cannot eat the eggs. It helps to do a necropsy when you lose a hen, since it helps us to know what was going on inside. This past year, I have necropsied hens who died from salpingitis, ascites, and crop problems. If you do a necropsy, post some pictures for help.

 

[azygous]

Don't jump right to the conclusion that, just because this hen is laying shell-less eggs, she's suffering from the same thing the other hen was.

If shell-less eggs get stuck, because they're harder to move through the oviduct, it can eventually cause inflammation and that can lead to infection. Therefore, you want to try to give her body the calcium it needs to lay down a solid shell as her egg passes through the shell gland.

I and many others here have had good luck correcting the problem of rubber eggs by giving calcium citrate with D3 or calcium carbonate with D3- just regular women's calcium found in the vitamin aisle. You can cut the tablet in half and give twice a day or just give it whole once a day until the eggs come out with hard shells consistently.

 

[Gentlebreeze]

Have you checked with your feed store for antibiotic?
I'm not experienced but thinking possible reproductive issues, egg peritonitis/egg binding. If you have some Tums, crush it up and give to the older girls.

@azygous @casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

Thank you for replying.

Have you checked with your feed store for antibiotic?
I'm not experienced but thinking possible reproductive issues, egg peritonitis/egg binding. If you have some Tums, crush it up and give to the older girls.

@azygous @casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

Thanks for responding! I checked at a few different Tractor Supply stores, Agway, and other few local stores, but no one will sell it to me due to that new law. Thank you for suggesting the Tums. Do you suggest giving them Tums in replace of the Oyster Shells that I normally have out for them? Or should I give them Tums, in addition to leaving the Oyster shells out?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Keep the Oyster Shells available, the Tums, Calcium Citrate w/D3 or Calcium Carbonate w/D3 as an extra.

 

[Gentlebreeze]

Do chickens have a preference for the flavor of Tums that I use?
Thanks for all the help!

 

[Gentlebreeze]

Don't jump right to the conclusion that, just because this hen is laying shell-less eggs, she's suffering from the same thing the other hen was.

If shell-less eggs get stuck, because they're harder to move through the oviduct, it can eventually cause inflammation and that can lead to infection. Therefore, you want to try to give her body the calcium it needs to lay down a solid shell as her egg passes through the shell gland.

I and many others here have had good luck correcting the problem of rubber eggs by giving calcium citrate with D3 or calcium carbonate with D3- just regular women's calcium found in the vitamin aisle. You can cut the tablet in half and give twice a day or just give it whole once a day until the eggs come out with hard shells consistently.

Do chickens prefer one flavor of these over another? Do you think they eat mint, fruit, or berry flavored ones?

 

[Kiki]

Poor thing...I too think she was laying internally at this point.
I am sorry for your loss.

laying rubber eggs

The hen didn’t show any other symptoms other than the rubber egg.

Did you get any pictures of these rubber eggs?

I am wondering if you are seeing "lash eggs" or what exactly a rubber eggs looks like.

 

[azygous]

Are you talking about flavored calcium? I think it would probably be best to just buy the unflavored calcium so your chicken isn't getting artificial (chemical) flavoring and sugar it doesn't need.