Egg changes?

[LaurenRitz]

My single Marans either started hiding her eggs or stopped laying for a few weeks. No signs of discomfort, her comb remained red, and she was still letting the roosters mount. No apparent behavior changes.

I assumed she was hiding her eggs. Then yesterday I found the first of these.

They're the right shape to be hers, but very much the wrong color, and the shells are very thin. They have access to oyster shell and today I gave them eggshells to make sure. She ate the eggshell just like the others.

Any idea what's going on?

 

[GodLovesU]

Article 'Common egg quality problems'

Hope that can help!

 

[LaurenRitz]

Thank you.

No drugs
No sign of disease or parasites, although these are always possible
She's less than a year old

By process of elimination, most likely malnutrition or stress. Malnutrition is possible, if unlikely. They have access to a complete food but spend most of their time free ranging. She shows less interest in the commercial food than the others.

Of the items on the list, stress is more likely, as we've had 6 randy teenagers out there which I finally got into their bachelor pad two days ago. That corresponds with the resumption of laying.

The bachelor pad was previously occupied by another set of misbehaving boys, which was the reason for the delay.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not expect malnutrition if feed is available. Animals do not put themselves in starvation and malnutrition if food is available. Yes the eat different amounts of different stuff on different days...but in no way, will they not meet their daily needs unless that feed is not being offered.

So if you free range and do not offer other feed, then it is a possibility. If you keep them contained, and do not offer enough feed or feed of good quality, a possibility over a great deal of time. A couple of days of only feeding scratch, they will just be fine.

Malnutrition is long term inadequate nutrition. After all most of us have had a day eating junk food, and lived to tell tale.

Mrs K

 

[LaurenRitz]

She's still laying an egg about every week to 2 weeks. Henopause?