Egg laying issues

[Maryqueenofchickens]

Dorothy

Tiny egg

The three brown eggs are Dorothy’s eggs.

Help! My Cuckoo Marans (Dorothy) who is normally an excellent layer (5-6 per week) of normal, speckled Marans eggs, laid a teeny tiny egg on Monday, and then stopped laying completely! All of my other chickens are laying just fine. Dorothy is about a year and a half, no sign of prolapse, normal feces, eating well, normal energy, no sign of molting, no recent stresses, has a bright red comb with no indication of broodiness. I haven’t changed their food. They eat an organic layer feed with a bit of grit, calcium, capsicum, and alfalfa mixed in. They always have fresh water with ACV and a bit of trace minerals mixed in. Her belly is nice and soft like it should be, but no eggs. She can’t hid them because I keep them in a very large but very open pen with no hiding spots and they free range in a mobile pen with no hiding spots.

What else could be the issue? Or is it normal behavior for hens to suddenly stop laying? I’ve attached pictures of Dorothy and the tiny egg she laid and her normal eggs. Any advice you guys can give is much appreciated!

 

[Helloworld]

Is it really hot?

 

[Maryqueenofchickens]

Yeah it’s been in the 90’s most of this week but it spiked to 105 yesterday. She is usually a late morning layer and it’s been in the 80’s in the morning. I do have a mister in their pen and it keeps it significantly cooler in there. They are also shaded by a large tree and the roof.

 

[aart]

Lose the ACV, just plain water.

That could just be a glitch.
Fairy, fart, wind, rooster eggs are usually from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract, or an immature ova(yolk) and the body forms an egg around it. Color can be darker than 'normal' as the pigment coating released has to cover a much smaller area so is thicker. Can happen with any age layer, but more common with new or older layers.
I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

How weather notes.
Deep all day shade is best but....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves. It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place. Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!