Concerning eggs from a sapphire gem

[ejohnston7]

I have three wonderful hens, after losing one suddenly at 9 months a few weeks ago. One of my ladies, a large light sapphire gem, has been laying terrible eggs for about 2 months now. Cracks, folds, bulged out, rough texture.. and HUGE. Wanting to know if it’s illness based, or anatomy based, and if there’s anything I can do. She gets a well rounded diet of layer mix, scratch, grubs, oyster shell…she free ranges as well. Coop is clean and ventilated. Any advice??

 

[Weeg]

This is a fantastic article that talks about egg abnormalities.
How often do you get eggs like this?
Article 'Common egg quality problems'
To me this resembles a body checked egg. How big is your coop and run? Dimensions? How many chickens do you have in that space?

 

[ejohnston7]

This is a fantastic article that talks about egg abnormalities.
How often do you get eggs like this?
Article 'Common egg quality problems'
To me this resembles a body checked egg. How big is your coop and run? Dimensions? How many chickens do you have in that space?

Great article! I read one similar trying to figure this all out before asking. My hens basically have a 1,200 sf fenced in back yard to free range all day. Their coop and run is open 24/7 (no predators here!). I have three birds with access to this coop. They’re only in it to lay and sleep. I modified/widened the perch, and added ventilation. I clean it weekly. I can’t believe they’d be crowded or stressed? I did have one drop dead one day-zero sign of disease or distress, so it does make me wonder?

Just about every day it’s an egg like this, very watery albumen also.

 

[Kiki]

Dropping dead.... Could possibly be from fatty liver disease from the treats you feed.
A well-rounded diet would be an age appropriate crumble or pelleted poultry feed.

Not daily scratch and or treats.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Hmm, I’m not sure. I know my Sapphire Gem, Safaia, layed a double yolked, shelles egg.

It may be too many treats. Are you feeding them daily, and how much at a time? Giving too many treats isn’t good for them, even though they love it. I only give my birds a handful of scratch every couple weeks (I have 17 chickens)

 

[ejohnston7]

They just get a little handful, mostly cracked corn and fly larva in the morning. Is that really too much? Most of their diet is just pelleted layer feed. Occasionally they’ll get some sunflower seeds and raisins. I’ll certainly stop the scratch if it’s too much.

 

[Weeg]

Great article! I read one similar trying to figure this all out before asking. My hens basically have a 1,200 sf fenced in back yard to free range all day. Their coop and run is open 24/7 (no predators here!). I have three birds with access to this coop. They’re only in it to lay and sleep. I modified/widened the perch, and added ventilation. I clean it weekly. I can’t believe they’d be crowded or stressed? I did have one drop dead one day-zero sign of disease or distress, so it does make me wonder?

Just about every day it’s an egg like this, very watery albumen also.

That coop isn't large enough for 3 hens. Unfortunately, expensive prefab coops aren't built with the chickens best interest. I would think that overcrowding could be an issue. Maybe not in all situations, but since your seeing these eggs I would think this might be the cause. Just about the only things prefabs can be used well for are-

A) Temporary breeding pens inside a predator proofed space
B) Brooders or grow out pens inside a predator proofed space.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

They just get a little handful, mostly cracked corn and fly larva in the morning. Is that really too much? Most of their diet is just pelleted layer feed. Occasionally they’ll get some sunflower seeds and raisins. I’ll certainly stop the scratch if it’s too much.

I think that might be a little much for 3 hens, but I could be wrong.

I personally find it hard to not give the hens unlimited treats-but I try to substitute with fodder or lettuce instead.

 

[Weeg]

They just get a little handful, mostly cracked corn and fly larva in the morning. Is that really too much? Most of their diet is just pelleted layer feed. Occasionally they’ll get some sunflower seeds and raisins. I’ll certainly stop the scratch if it’s too much.

Some birds do fine on it, some don't. I give my birds treats occasionally, 1-2 times a week tops. Sometimes none.
Corn is very high in fat, so I would definitely cut that out. It's not beneficial to the diet, and only dilutes the nutrients in a complete feed.
You could try other treats such as grass, weeds, fruits or veggies. Those are very low in fat and have nutritional value. Just make sure to keep them in the treat category, thats about 1 tbsp per hen per day.

 

[Weeg]

I think that might be a little much for 3 hens, but I could be wrong.

I personally find it hard to not give the hens unlimited treats-but I try to substitute with fodder or lettuce instead.

Good post, well said.
My hens love veggie/forage treats! I think it would be a perfect alternative to the high fat low nutrient treats OP is currently feeding.