The Poultry Keeper

ramshackle · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

Hi,

one of our chooks (all >6 month old hybrids) started laying eggs with small calcium? deposits about a month ago. At first there were just a few circles of tiny little specks, then gradually these increased in number and the narrow end of the egg was encrusted with these deposits. Our hens get layers' pellets plus a few extra oats each day and the occasional handful of bird seed, green waste etc. but their run (being winter) doesn't offer much in the way of extras just now. We have changed the feed (different brad) thinking it must be excess calcium, but this hasn't changed anything. The calcium deposits are now also in the egg white but not in the yolk. All other hens are fine scratch

...have any of you had this before?

While on eggs, our copper maran layed an absolutely enormous Russian doll egg a week ago. The inner egg was vaguely normal but the two together weighed 180(!!!) grams - 9 cm in length. Poor hen was totally away with it for a day - we took her inside for observation but she pulled through fine and is now back with her pals apparently without damage.... Very Happy

Any suggestions gratefully received!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Sorry, I can't help you but hopefully someone will be along soon with more knowledge to help

CP · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:17 am Post subject:

We occasionally get calcium deposits on the shell of an egg, but never had them inside before! Shocked

Don't know what to suggest for that. Confused

Your poor hen! She must've been walking round bow-legged after laying that one! Did you take a pic by any chance? Rolling Eyes

ramshackle · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

Ta very much! I don't have any pics yet, but we've kept the egg so I will post pics once I can manage to get hold of a digital camera.

Lisa · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject:

hmmm... I've never heard of calcium deposits inside the egg either. What are they like? Are they hard little white chalky blobs in actual egg white Confused

Interesting...

ramshackle · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

Hi again,

ta to all of you for your interest first of all! The deposits inside the egg white are exactly the same as on the outside. The hen's egg shells are a light brown colour and the deposits are the same colour but they occur as clusters of perfectly spherical tiny (less than 1 mm) dots. We've quite often seen them near or attached to the chords/strands (what do you call these?) suspending the yolk.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I've never heard of this at all, but will read the thread with interest for other people's knowledge

Lisa · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:50 am Post subject:

ramshackle · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

Thanks for the info Lisa,

bit late in replying but checking up on the bird flu fife case this morning! Hen itself is absolutely fine - got some limestone grit which appeared to make a bit of a difference for about a week but back to her old tricks now. Making preparations to move the hens under cover pending confirmation of the strain ....

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Let's hope it's another false alarm, ramshackle

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject:

iam afraid ive looked everywhere and talked to several professionals and have no advice........try the royal vetinanary college

ramshackle · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 16

thanks mojo - I'll look into it!