Chicken laying poor eggs/mucus and blood

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by Span
(Wales,UK)

Question

Chicken laying poor eggs/mucus and blood: About 6 months ago I adopted two chickens. They are probably Warrens, estimated about 2 years old but I do not know their history.

This is the first time I have kept poultry. One month ago I got 2 more chickens, a Black Rock and a Leghorn, I keep them partitioned from the original 2 as they are smaller, they are not yet laying and are about 20 weeks old.

That's the background. My problem is with 1 of the original hens. I can only assume they are the same age but 1 lays beautiful, large eggs and the other at first produced none, then started producing sporadically, small, thin shelled eggs.

I noticed at some point that she was prone to eating them and in retrospect think this has been going on a long time as I often find a wet patch on her.

This chicken is smaller than her sister yet seems to eat well. They have a large run in the shade of trees and dig in the dirt.

I am told eating slugs and worms may be a cause of runny poo - this is also something I have noticed.

So basically: runny poo may be a factor on top of egg eating, producing small, inferior eggs at odd times of day/night.

Mucus/egg white puddles - the latest of which seemed to be a pool of thick, dark blood accompanied by an egg sack?

I should say they eat layers pellets, are given extra grit/oyster shell, fresh greens and occasional mixed corn.

The others all seem healthy and the younger ones are growing well.

I have checked this chicken’s vent and there may be a tear on the inside.

Answer
The health of this chicken in question is poor. From the sound of her she is layed out and run down from the life she led before you took her in.

Egg eating is often caused by deficiencies of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals; all the good nutrients found in eggs.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell that a hen is under weight, if she has good feathering. I wish I could encourage you that she will recover, but she may not.

Due to her poor health, she is a risk to the other hen with her. Being run down she could become ill and contagious. Her egg eating habit could be passed on to other chickens observing her.

You might be able to save her with a round of antibiotics and vitamin/mineral supplements. Feeding her a good rich chick start or conditioning feed may help her.

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