Buff Orpington infrequent egg laying

[dadimari]

We have a buff orp that is also a dud of a layer. She's a nice chicken and will live here forever but she started laying fairy eggs this year (a welcome respite from the soft shelled eggs she's been known for in the past!). All our other hens lay well and eggs are healthy so we think it's just a glitch in her system. I do wonder if they are known for this or not.

My buff's "sister" buff who I got at the same time is still laying one egg every other day. So I guess they are individuals just like us. This one in question has still only laid 2 eggs so far this year. It's a very quick drop off from her usual 3 eggs per week. I thought it might be a gradual slow down. I'm constantly learning and they keep me on my toes!

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

I need to piggy back on this question in search of my own answers. My older hen ( from my sil, so I’m not sure of age, possibly 4?years old)
She had a few rubber eggs this winter. Or gelatin like eggs. As is warming up now, she laid for a few weeks, some very bumpy eggs… but not the last two weeks. Zero blue eggs. (The other girls lay brown) It does look like she has dropped a yolk from the roost, judging by the yellow stains on the pine shavings. ( the cluckers apparently ate it)

She otherwise looks healthy, eats well, goes grubbing. Keeps up with the young hens running around.

Her friend /contemporary went egg bound last year and we put her down. (After epsom salt baths and other attempts.)
Any ideas if this is normal? She’s a sweet girl, she’ll be able to stick around.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I need to piggy back on this question in search of my own answers. My older hen ( from my sil, so I’m not sure of age, possibly 4?years old)
She had a few rubber eggs this winter. Or gelatin like eggs. As is warming up now, she laid for a few weeks, some very bumpy eggs… but not the last two weeks. Zero blue eggs. (The other girls lay brown) It does look like she has dropped a yolk from the roost, judging by the yellow stains on the pine shavings. ( the cluckers apparently ate it)

She otherwise looks healthy, eats well, goes grubbing. Keeps up with the young hens running around.

Older birds can have shelling issues, where their shelling gland just doesn't work so well anymore. If she's still actively trying to lay (not sure how recent the most recent "no shell" event was) then supplementing extra calcium directly (via calcium citrate tablets) will help strengthen the shell a bit so that she can at least safely pass the eggs.

 

[dadimari]

I need to piggy back on this question in search of my own answers. My older hen ( from my sil, so I’m not sure of age, possibly 4?years old)
She had a few rubber eggs this winter. Or gelatin like eggs. As is warming up now, she laid for a few weeks, some very bumpy eggs… but not the last two weeks. Zero blue eggs. (The other girls lay brown) It does look like she has dropped a yolk from the roost, judging by the yellow stains on the pine shavings. ( the cluckers apparently ate it)

She otherwise looks healthy, eats well, goes grubbing. Keeps up with the young hens running around.

Her friend /contemporary went egg bound last year and we put her down. (After epsom salt baths and other attempts.)
Any ideas if this is normal? She’s a sweet girl, she’ll be able to stick around.

Does she have access to free feed on calcium? Either crushed oyster shells or their own eggshells will do. Some chickens need more than others and they self regulate.
I've found this helpful to figuring out eggshell issues: https://www.poultryproducer.com/common-egg-quality-problems/

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

Older birds can have shelling issues, where their shelling gland just doesn't work so well anymore. If she's still actively trying to lay (not sure how recent the most recent "no shell" event was) then supplementing extra calcium directly (via calcium citrate tablets) will help strengthen the shell a bit so that she can at least safely pass the eggs.

Thank you!!

 

[ChicksofHeaven]

Does she have access to free feed on calcium? Either crushed oyster shells or their own eggshells will do. Some chickens need more than others and they self regulate.
I've found this helpful to figuring out eggshell issues: https://www.poultryproducer.com/common-egg-quality-problems/

They do all have access to oyster shells. I’ve noticed they are a bit more picked over lately, it doesn’t seem like they choose them too often.
I’ll get them some calcium citrate too.