From weird to no-shell eggs to nothing

[katieladyland]

Hi there,

I've had my chickens about a year and a half (they were given to me by a friend at about a year old). There are 3 of them and my dominant hen (she's red) is my big time egg layer. She hasn't quit since day one, even laying throughout the winter. And her eggs are very big, and sometimes all wrinkled at one end or real fat in the middle. Anyway, in the last few months, I noticed the shells seemed really thin. A week or so ago, she laid a few that broke and all I found were the paper-feeling remnant of the shell. Then I found nothing but liquid where an egg would be. Now, I'm not seeing any trace of her laying anything. Found some watery poo today, but it was 90 degrees, so I'm hoping that's the reason for that.

I've added more oyster shell and grit to their food. I'll admit I was lazy making sure they got enough. They free range and barely eat their food anyway. I was putting it in the coop when I remembered. No real frequency. I have a black and white speckled hen whose eggs are fine. I have a golden (Buff?) who is so broody, she rarely lays anything.

Do you think my red is sick or just going through a phase, or not getting enough nutrients. Worried about her. Oh yeah, I have gotten a black snake out of the coop twice in the last week, but Red's eggs started weirding out on me before his arrival.

Hope you guys can help! This is my first time on here.

Katie

 

[donrae]

I don't know what kind of red hen you have, but my red sex links seem to have consistent issues with thinner shells as they age. Once they're over say 2 years old they still lay like champs, and nice large eggs, but fragile. I offer oyster shell and egg shells also, and it's just them. Not sure if it's because they're higher production birds or what.

 

[sumi]

Have a look here for egg problem causes: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems