I've got a couple of hens that are relatively young, (approximately 2 years old), that have been good, consistent layers ever since they started laying until recently. They both normally lay an egg that is more brown in color and has a good sturdy shell, but not too hard or thick. We feed oystershell mixed with their scratch and crumbles. We've fed this way for many years with all our hens. One of these two hens all of a sudden one day layed a very thin egg that was quite a bit lighter in color than normal. Not only that, she ate the egg. She has been doing this "routine" each day she lays an egg for about 2 weeks now. Also, she lays the eggs on the floor of the coop. Today, the hen in the pen next to her layed an egg much thinner and lighter in color than she normally lays as well. It almost seems like the 2nd hen has "caught" something from the 1st hen, but we just don't know what it could be. The 2nd hen did not eat her egg, but she did lay it on the floor of her coop just like the 1st hen does. We've been thinking that maybe the 1st hen just hasn't been eating the oystershell that she gets in her daily feed, but now that the hen next to her seems to be doing the same thing, we thought we should ask for some ideas here on the forum. Has anybody experienced anything like this before? Please let us know if you have. Thanks in advance.
