egg so brittle and thin its crushed by hen.

[dlhunicorn]

There may be genetic issues (not all chickens are good layers and that is why you will find many extension articles advising you on what to look for to cull :
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/culling.html

The most common source of reproductive problems (so when your bird has no genetic issues per se) is Infectious Bronchitis which will damage the reproductive tract :
http://www.afn.org/~poultry/flkman4.htm

After a winter period (the dark days can cause dificiency of vit D3) POLYVISOL Enfamil (childrens liquid A-B-D vitamins) can be given at three drops a day once a day for a week then taper off the next to address any eventual D3 deficiency. That having been said, calcium absorption is dependent not only on the amount of D3 or calcium but also the ratio between them and the available phosphorus ...(too many treats for instance can disrupt this)
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206913.htm

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1003/factors-influencing-shell-quality

 

[DandelionYolks]

Oh.....

I think it might be my "RIR" that lays thin thin shell, but I'd have to sit out there and watch to see.

 

[DandelionYolks]

Hello again,,,
I've been watching the coop intenteviely today, and I think it's my 2yr old Barred Plymouth Rock aka Miss Speckles that lays the thinshelled egg. Does anybody know if BPRs have a genetic predisposition for this sorta thing?

 

[John T]

I am having that SAME problem only my hen that lays green eggs has a thin shell. Some times the shell looks like it has sand clumps on it. Sunday night I went in the coop and a green egg was in the nest box, the shell was cracked in a few places but the membrane was still in tact. It’s weird. She eats the same as the other hens, free ranges, has oyster shell…next one I get I'll take a photo.

 

[DandelionYolks]

After a winter period (the dark days can cause dificiency of vit D3) POLYVISOL Enfamil (childrens liquid A-B-D vitamins) can be given at three drops a day once a day for a week then taper off the next to address any eventual D3 deficiency. That having been said, calcium absorption is dependent not only on the amount of D3 or calcium but also the ratio between them and the available phosphorus ...(too many treats for instance can disrupt this)

Treats such as?

Also, if my BPR had bronchitis, wouldn't she be sneezing? I just talked to my feed supplier, (she has many more chickens than I do) and she said that since it's my 2yr old that was laying fine last year, it might be genetic, that since her eggs got bigger her calcium level "shell production" didn't adjust accordingly,,, She also said that if this is the case that she might never lay normal shelled eggs again​

 

[dlhunicorn]

treats=anything outside their boring ole feed.....chickens arent dumb and I know mine will starve themselves waiting for treats ... in this way their overall nutrition is affected (and shell quality)...
I give treats sparingly therfore and never at a regular set time .

If it is genetic then she never would have laid proper eggs or very very occasionally.

 

[kristinaluna]

Hello,

I know this is an older thread but I found it useful as we are currently experiencing this "brittle" shell problem with our 2yo Buff Orpington. Up until this month she had been a regular, daily layer of "normal" eggs (smaller size compared to my other hens), but now every egg is brittle and breaks very easily. Sometimes they are broken in the nest but mostly they just break at the slightest handling and make a mess in the kitchen.

Our hens free-range during the day, have 24/7 access to organic layer feed (with oyster shell already in), and have 24/7 access to a separate feeder containing just oyster shell. As far as "treats" are concerned, they receive a serving of shredded carrot or greens (lettuce, arugula) and black oil sunflower seeds once/day.

Also, we are in SoCal, so sunlight is definitely not an issue, but I understand that this could potentially still be vitamin D related if it's an internal/genetic issue.

Anyone experienced here care to place their bets on whether they think this is a genetic issue vs. feed/supplements issue?

Thanks!

 

[Messipaw]

Same issue here. Following

 

[Folly's place]

As hens get older, issues develop. Nearly nobody selects of longevity or extended production in chickens; breeders are generally one year old, not older. Some birds still manage to have long healthy lives, but many will start to fall apart after that age. A balanced diet, few treats, and separate oyster shell; check for external and internal parasites; and practice good biosecurity, so you don't introduce any nasty diseases to your flock. Mary