Soft shell/no shell eggs

[Nessie]

Hallo grapevine
I am sorry not to have been on lately. Busy with work, animals, garden, wine, fishing etc. I will make an effort to come back as lots of new recipes and things to share since I was here last year.

Anyway, I have a problem and wondered if any of you chook experts can help. I did speak to our vet today but the advice was limited because of our tribe I can't identify which one is laying the soft shelled/sometimes no shell (?) eggs. I asked about antibiotics as last year one of the others suffered from this and was very poorly and died despite antibiotics (a nasty infection set in). Despite my best efforts I don't know which of our ladies is affected and we are reluctant to treat the whole gang with abs as will reduce resistance if needed in future plus no evidence of infection as all birds lively and eating well. The vet said about diet/calcium etc but they are all eating well, fed good quality layers pellets, mixed corn, grit, greens and have poultry spice when moulting/cold/rainy weather.

If you have any advice as to how to identify the poorly bird (I have been oustide for hours checking/inspecting bums but no clues yet) or what I can supplement the diet with to help I would be really grateful.

They are free-range, live rurally and they have lots of space and our wee flock is 3 pedigree, 3 hybrid, a socts grey cockerel and 4 wee call ducks.

Hope you can help me please, thank u

[Suechooks]

I think it just hapens sometimes if they're maybe going to moult or just unwell for some reason. My ex-batts do this but they're usually at the end of their laying life when it happens. I usually give them some cod liver oil in their food to boost the vitamin d to help utilise the calcium. Or you could try some live yoghurt. Have they been wormed recently? If they have a heavy worm burden this can debilitate them.

[frias]

I get this with a couple of my ex-batts and despite all efforts to add extra calcium to the diet I don't seem to be able to sort the problem. I have asked my vet if the girls could have a calcium injection but he says it would only have a temporary effect and the problem is that they are ex-batts and have used up their calcuim store. Mine have access to oyster shell and I also add limestone flour and cod liver oil to their food. Also baked crushed eggshells, marmite occasionally and an expensive calcium suppliment. Laying softies doesn't always make them unwell but sometimes they drink a lot afterwards.

[Nessie]

Thank you Suechooks, that is great advice.
I will try the codliver oil and live yogurt. They were wormed with the green and white packet one beginning with F (can't remember name!) end of Oct last year so could well be worth doing again. I'm guessing like most dog wormers it will kill any burden present but doesn't offer protection? They eat a lot of slugs and snails, but we are very rural. However this is definitely worth doing and thank you again.

[Nessie]

Thank u also frias, sorry I just saw your relpy after doing one to sue. More great advice, and much appreciated.

[frias]

That's OK, Sue posted her reply while I was still typing mine! Was the wormer Flubenvet? I have to use monthly as my girls pick up infected snails and worms constantly.

[frias]

Not sure but you probably have to throw away eggs (or feed back to chooks as also good calcium) if you use a dog wormer. My vet gave me a sheep wormer to try with my lot but although he had to advise not to eat eggs he said he would if they were his. No need to dispose of eggs if you use Flubenvet.

[Nessie]

Yes that's the one. I'll repeat the dose tomorrow. I am so worried about my ladies they just look run down, the 3 red girls have been pecking at their necks and look so scruffy. We use red mite treatment and clean out weekley completely so I am quite upset at how bad they look. I guess on a positive note they are very active, eating well and alert and don't seem any the worse for wear for their raggedy condition. The non reds are all super for some reason. I thought the hybrids would be healthier, but I guess they are bred to have a limited laying season and kept the way they'd normally be, they'd be in my dog food by now ( Well, we will keep them going and try the helpful advice, and hopefully I will report with some good progress soon x

[frias]

You have to dose for 7 days. No idea why your girls would look scruffy. Lice maybe? There's lots of grapes on here with loads more experience than me, one will be along soon with any luck.