Marmite has been having an egg laying problem. It isn’t actually about the laying so much it’s about the shell forming.
After her soft shelled eggs and then the really weird shaped one she has improved but the egg shells are still a little odd.
Marmite lays, on average, every three days and she sometimes has the humped shape before she lays and doesn’t look happy although she isn’t looking as miserable as when she was laying soft shelled eggs.
Her last two eggs have had firm shells but are just slightly misshaped. They have a band around them rather than a smooth oval shape.
It’s difficult to show in a photo but there are slight bands/ridges running around the middle of the eggs.
Marmite has also been doing watery poops on the patio area just before laying. There is obviously something not quite right with her.
The good news is that Marmite is eating well and looks fine in between laying. She has been dust bathing and sun bathing when it was sunny. She is lively and quick to the treats. I am not too worried about her at the moment.
I hope that her eggs will continue to improve and she will stay well. I keep hoping that this will pass. Only time will tell.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I can see they look odd but perhaps she’s progressing from softies to funny shaped eggs and then to normal! xx
That’s exactly what I am hoping. It seems that they are gradually improving and with that she is looking less unwell before laying. xx
The ridge, or band, in the cengtral part of the egg is not that uncommon and can appear with even very firm shells. Although she is nothing like as bad, Marmite does remind me a little of the problems you had with Amber several years ago. With Marmite, though, this seems much more of a blip and it is good that she is inclined to broodiness, which provides a natural break.
I think Marmite is improving. Amber had egg laying problems from the start and mostly soft shelled, the odd thing with Marmite, is that she was fine last year and it has only started this year. That’s what puzzles me. As you say she does go broody so at some stage she may take a break and perhaps that will help sort her out. I am encouraged that she seems to be improving. They do like to keep us on our toes don’t they!
Never a dull moment, but the main thing is that she is well.
That’s what I keep thinking.
God Bless Marmite! I am praying for her!
Thank you. Marmite looks bright in herself so I think she will be okay and hopefully her eggs will return to normal soon.