egg quality gone down lately

[Cheyenne2929]

Usually, with the exception of one of my girls, I get nice eggs. Firm yolks, good consistency, nice hard shells. Lately they are not as good. shells appear fine, if lighter in color, but are slightly more brittle. When I crack them open they seem less firm, the yolks tend to break, the "white" tends to be more watery. Not much has changed with my girls. I did change to a different feed over the winter, but have since switched back to my nutrena layer pellets that they have always been on. They dont get to forage as much as Id like, but it has always been that way. They do get scraps from the kitchen and I try to give them greens as much as possible. They also have access to oyster shell grit. They must be low/missing something. I'm just not sure what. They are approx 3 yrs old. The one laid huge eggs till she was about a year old and since has had deformed brittle or shellless eggs or has even stopped laying for up to 6 months. Have never had any problems with my NH red or my Buff orp though.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Could be a couple different things. The one with the deformed/shellless, no eggs could have had a respiratory illness (usually the cause) that damages the reproductive tract from which they don't usually recover. Most of the rest of the issues, thin/brittle shells, poor quality yolks/albumen is most likely nutritional. They're kind of like old computer technology, GIGO. What comes out depends on what goes in.
Egg shell quality is dependent on the proper ratio of calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D3.

ETA
http://www.nutrecocanada.com/docs/s...-formation-and-eggshell-quality-in-layers.pdf

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=odd+eggs

http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/li...eggs-and-your-small-flock-of-laying-hens.html

http://broadleys.org/chickens/egg-problems.php

You also mentioned oyster shell grit. Crushed oyster shell and grit are two different things.
Oyster shell is soluble and will be absorbed in the small intestine and is an excellent source of calcium.
Insoluble grit gets lodged in the gizzard and helps grind food.
Are you also providing insoluble grit? Since they aren't out foraging and they're getting kitchen scraps and greens, they'll need grit to help them grind their feed.

Probiotics and grit will help them get more nutrition from the food they eat.

I thought of something else. Is it hot where you are?
Albumen quality will degrade in very hot weather.

 

[Cheyenne2929]

We have lots of gravel where they are kept. I figured that that would be fine for grit. Do they need store bought insoluble grit as well? Maybe I will try some probiotics too. It has been hot but they are in constant shade and I have not had issues in the past two years with the watery albumen. (forgot what that was called)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If the gravel has appropriately sized sharp edged stone it will work just fine. If they are too large, too small or too smooth, it will be less effective. Usually granite is used since it lasts longer in the acidic environment of the gut. #3 adult chicken grit is around 5/16". #2 for adolescents is around 3/16" and may suffice for bantams.

The stones have to be small enough to make it down the esophagus but large enough to lodge in the gizzard.