Egg Quality

[r2catco]

I have seven Red Star or sex-link hens 2 1/2 years of age. I keep pellets out for eating as much as they want. I also give them approximately 8-12 oz. of hen scratch daily. They are penned, coop and two extra pens 150+ s.f.. I usually let them out for free range after about 3:00 pm. My problem is the quality of eggs. they would be considered grade B. They are different sizes, different shapes and the eggwhites are sometime loose and watery, sometime the yolks burst as they are cracked open into a skillett or bowl. Sometimes the eggshell seems to be rather thin (easy to break). It seems in all catagories, my eggs are poor quality and it seems like I am doing everything I should for my hens. Production ranges from 2-5 eggs per day.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have seven Red Star or sex-link hens 2 1/2 years of age. I keep pellets out for eating as much as they want. I also give them approximately 8-12 oz. of hen scratch daily. They are penned, coop and two extra pens 150+ s.f.. I usually let them out for free range after about 3:00 pm. My problem is the quality of eggs. they would be considered grade B. They are different sizes, different shapes and the eggwhites are sometime loose and watery, sometime the yolks burst as they are cracked open into a skillett or bowl. Sometimes the eggshell seems to be rather thin (easy to break). It seems in all catagories, my eggs are poor quality and it seems like I am doing everything I should for my hens.

Welcome to BYC!
What pellet - brand and formula - are you using? How much of the pellet feed are they consuming on a daily or weekly basis between the seven of them? What is the current condition of the birds - are they well filled out or thin, are their feathers shiny and healthy looking or dull and scraggly? Do you offer additional calcium (ie oyster shell) or rely solely on the calcium content of the pelleted feed?
You mention they are 2 1/2 - how long have you had them? If you've had them the entire time, has the egg quality always been poor or is this a recent development?

 

[r2catco]

The only feed provided is what I stated in my thread.

 

[Blackberry18]

The feed should be Layer feed ration, with 16-18% protein, 3% calcium, and 0.5% phosphorus.

 

[r2catco]

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention my hens are very robust, filled out and appear to be very healthy.

 

[r2catco]

My feed is fine and meets their daily required elements.

 

[r2catco]

I have had them about a year. The previous owner quite often had the same number of eggs per day as the number of hens, even through the fall and winter. One day he had 27 eggs from 26 hens. My experience with these hens after acquiring them during molt and experiencing some tramatic experiences, with the most recent a couple of weeks ago when a neighbors dog attacked them, killing one, has been eratic. Before the dog killed one while chasing them, I was up to seven eggs per day. The egg quality seems to have been more of a gradual occurance. I am feeding the same ration as the previous owner with pellets made available free choice and scratch as described earlier.

 

[Blackberry18]

Do you give them any treats, and if so how much? Oddly formed eggs are caused by stress or pressure when the incomplete in egg is in the shell gland. High ammonia levels or high temperatures can cause a watery albumen, but chicken egg often have watery albumen in the summer (even though it's not summer yet). A thin eggshell is caused by too little calcium; but if you're adding extra calcium to the feed then it should be all right.

I'm also wondering about the hens. You said they are Red Sex-Links, but I'm wondering if they have differences in appearance, light or darker feather, shape, etc.

 

[r2catco]

The Red Star or sex-link hen will vary in color and shade from light Red to a near solid Red. They are usually a White/Red mix. They are a hybird developed from a White Leghorn and Rhoade Island Red.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My feed is fine and meets their daily required elements.

Because you are seeing issues with egg quality and seeking assistance in determining possible causes, it would be more helpful to answer with the specific details as to the brand and formulation of the feed.

One thing to consider is that these are birds bred for maximum production - they are the go to choice for laying houses that produce brown eggs for commercial distribution. The reason that is something to consider is that they are bred for production, not longevity - they are look at, essentially, as disposable/one-time-use producers that are geared for hard-core production during the first laying cycle, after which they are replaced with a new batch of first cycle layers. The high production lines currently available often burn out after the first cycle or two - the age of your birds would put them at the point at which many folks start to see an overall decline.