How to tell if hen is at the end of their laying days

[SuperMurshy]

Will a hen's egg look a certain way when they are nearing the end of their laying days? I know it slows down quite a bit to only every few days, but will the egg itself show any signs of an old hen?

 

[nuthatched]

There might be some oddities but I don't think they'd indicate anything.

 

[Yardmom]

I have noticed that some of my older hens will have thinner shelled eggs than before. I have also noticed an egg shape change in a few as well. On the other hand I have an 8 year old hen whose eggs appear the same as they always have, but she has more non laying streaks.

 

[aart]

Maybe, but usually nothing definitive.

Why, are you getting odd eggs from an older bird?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I find that the quality of eggs from older birds tend to decrease. Thinner shell, more incident of soft shells, odder pigmentation or shapes, like more elongated eggs. The whites seem runnier and the yolks more fragile.

Honestly I don't eat the eggs from my oldest gals (7 yrs), I find them to be unappetizing because of the reasons above. But the dogs certainly enjoy them.