Shell-less, yolkless egg looks like scrambled whites

[starleta]

Hen is 18 month old We have been treating her for bumblefoot the last three days and had her in a dog cage. She was limping, which prompted our attention. In the last week, she laid two normal eggs, followed by two eggs with membrane only that just fell from the roosting bar. For 36 hours she didn’t lay again - both feet hurt, so she mostly laid down in the cage. She is eating and drinking normally and we put her back in with the flock today and she’s running around on her little bandaged feet, no problem. But she made a beeline for the nesting box when we reintroduced her, and her egg was frightening. I do not have a picture, unfortunately. It had absolutely no shell, no yolk, and was like a flat disk of scrambled egg whites.



I have already begun feeding calcium citrate and will do 1/8 tsp twice daily. My question is: must I put her on antibiotics now? Anything else I can do? I’m scared the yolk has broken all over inside her. She had an epsom bath this morning prior to laying…does she need another? Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hen is 18 month old We have been treating her for bumblefoot the last three days and had her in a dog cage. She was limping, which prompted our attention. In the last week, she laid two normal eggs, followed by two eggs with membrane only that just fell from the roosting bar. For 36 hours she didn’t lay again - both feet hurt, so she mostly laid down in the cage. She is eating and drinking normally and we put her back in with the flock today and she’s running around on her little bandaged feet, no problem. But she made a beeline for the nesting box when we reintroduced her, and her egg was frightening. I do not have a picture, unfortunately. It had absolutely no shell, no yolk, and was like a flat disk of scrambled egg whites.



I have already begun feeding calcium citrate and will do 1/8 tsp twice daily. My question is: must I put her on antibiotics now? Anything else I can do? I’m scared the yolk has broken all over inside her. She had an epsom bath this morning prior to laying…does she need another? Thank you!

Is your calcium citrate a powder? I'd aim to get at least 300mg into her daily.

If you do see another egg like you describe, take a picture if you can.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things.

 

[starleta]

Thank you so much for your reply. Unfortunately she has taken a turn for the worse very suddenly! She is now laying down with eyes closed and will not respond even to treats.

Yes, calcium is powdered and I am giving 300mg daily in two servings with D3.

Getting the epsom bath ready for her now. Anything else I can do? Should I start fish antibiotics? So scared right now for her! She has been hunching a bit, tail down, but no penguin walk; mostly just wants to lay down. Thank you for any insights at all!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's declining.

I would suspect that she has a reproductive problem - which one would be hard to know unless you lose her and investigate further with necropsy through your state lab or do an informal one yourself.

As a last ditch you could deworm and give an antibiotic. What do you have on hand?

 

[starleta]

I'm sorry she's declining.

I would suspect that she has a reproductive problem - which one would be hard to know unless you lose her and investigate further with necropsy through your state lab or do an informal one yourself.

As a last ditch you could deworm and give an antibiotic. What do you have on hand?

Oh goodness

Thank you for that feedback. I have tetracycline for antibiotic; with ivermectin for deworming. She seems very perky this morning after last nights bath, but still hasn’t laid. Hopefully she’s just taking some time off from all the stress! I appreciate your replies!

 

[starleta]

Oh goodness

Thank you for that feedback. I have tetracycline for antibiotic; with ivermectin for deworming. She seems very perky this morning after last nights bath, but still hasn’t laid. Hopefully she’s just taking some time off from all the stress! I appreciate your replies!

We have figured out that she perks up after an epsom bath and it seems to be because it allows her to poop. She gets out and has a big poop within a few minutes, and then feels great for hours afterward. But then she eats and cannot poop and starts to feel ill again.

She sat in the nesting box for over an hour this morning and did not manage to lay her egg. She is now standing like a penguin with eyes closed. I think we have a serious reproductive issue on our hands.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh goodness

Thank you for that feedback. I have tetracycline for antibiotic; with ivermectin for deworming. She seems very perky this morning after last nights bath, but still hasn’t laid. Hopefully she’s just taking some time off from all the stress! I appreciate your replies!

We have figured out that she perks up after an epsom bath and it seems to be because it allows her to poop. She gets out and has a big poop within a few minutes, and then feels great for hours afterward. But then she eats and cannot poop and starts to feel ill again.

She sat in the nesting box for over an hour this morning and did not manage to lay her egg. She is now standing like a penguin with eyes closed. I think we have a serious reproductive issue on our hands.

Oh, I see. Yes, so the bath is helping move her bowels and she's getting some relief.

You can try the Tetracycline to see if that helps with inflammation and infection to help calm things down. Sometimes medications can give some comfort/relief for a short period of time.

I'm very sorry that she's not doing well, it's really the pits to see hens in this kind of shape.