Another stopped laying question....

[Mandasue24]

I apologize, I'm sure there is an answer somewhere on this website to my question but I can't find a direct one easily... One of my Red Stars has been laying regularly for the past month then last Friday she laid a shell-less egg (randomly, at night on the porch not in her usual laying spot) and hasn't laid since. I've looked EVERYWHERE for an new laying spot and haven't found anything. I haven't changed any food or added any strange treats, the only change has been the weather, we've been getting a lot of rain. Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions to fix it? Thank you so much!

 

[DTchickens]

The rain will sometimes throw a bird off, that in turn can effect egg quality at times. Usually shell-less eggs are suggested to be the result of a lack of calcium but I have found when you give a bird laying pellets that isn't the issue usually due to the calcium being added to the feed and many people supplement with baked egg shell or oyster shell. Still, shell-less eggs can happen for other reasons; a young pullet that just started laying, a hens first egg of the season, and I presume maybe even the last egg she plans on laying for awhile (though I have never experienced it personally). Try supplementing calcium if you don't already and think that may be the issue, but I wouldn't worry about it myself unless it continued or the shells are weak.

If you want to know if she is laying, try checking her pelvic bones (pick the bird up and feel around the vent, you'll feel two bones. Normally if you can fit two fingers between them she's laying or is about to lay. If you can't she isn't ready yet). Its getting about time for the hens to take a break anyway, other than the rain, most birds I imagine are probably in the molt or coming into a molt soon.

God bless,
Daniel.