First-time chicken keeper with 4 Delawares in South Bend Washington.

[southbend chick]

I got my girls in April 2021 and by August they were laying eggs. They kept going right through winter - down to 18 degrees weather (cold for our neck of the woods). They do love to forage - also escape and explore! Very friendly, but not cuddly. Definite personality differences. Cassandra is a mama's girl, Edith is Edith the Bold, Spot is independent, and Penelope is quiet but persistent. We just dealt with Northern fowl mites - sprayed with Elector twice. The coop is tiny, with 2 nest boxes, a covered run 4'x10', and a fenced yard of 20'x15'. Free choice grit, layena pellets, water in drip bucket and pan, and oystershell with ground dry eggshell. Cucumber/kale/lettuce/salad trimmings morning, Dried grubs/Harvest Delight at night. 2 hrs free range in afternoon.
2 Problems: They love to eat paint chips, particularly Edith. Main problem: shell-less egg laid on coop floor. First time October 5th, but now happening almost once a week. Does anyone else have shell-less eggs at this rate? Otherwise they seem healthy.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. You might want to reduce the treats to 10% or less of diet.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a really great place to hang out and explore. I agree less treats.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I got my girls in April 2021 and by August they were laying eggs. They kept going right through winter - down to 18 degrees weather (cold for our neck of the woods)

Welcome to BYC!

It's quite common for first season layer to lay through the winter. Don't expect the same thing next year.. as the second year and every year thereafter most birds will molt out at least some if not all of their old feathers ro be replaced with new ones. This takes a ton of energy and is when most chickens will take a break from laying.. usually returning to lay after daylight is increasing again.

Also please note that laying hormone is effected by light transmission not temperature. Some folks use artificial lighting to prolong their laying season.

A decent article of things that happen with eggs (including shell-less)and POSSIBLE causes..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[Dr Evy]

Welcome to BYC. We’re so glad you joined!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Where are they getting the paint chips?

 

[N F C]

Thanks for joining us.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska!

 

[Fuchsia]

Hello
Welcome to BYC!

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you. Best wishes with your problem egglayer. You have good advice from Sourland. I give my girls extra protein: chopped cooked egg or mealworms or red wigglers from my composter, only once a week. I do let them have some greens every day. In season, I will give them a tiny bit of black raspberries from my yard or tomato or cherries, etc. But not every day, and not regularly. (they get the runs, just like people do, from too much fruit)