Hello Wise Chicken People, we have three 1.5yr old girls. One Americauna who went into molt for a short while, began to lay again for a week only to stop all together. I am guessing for winter months but not really sure. The other two are Buff Orpingtons, they both became erratic in their laying about the same time as Willow and have not gotten back into a routine as before however we are getting a couple a week from Pooh. We are also getting a couple a week from Honey except that they are lacking a shell. I have offered oyster-shell in their scratch and or treats since they were little. They have laying pellets for their primary feed. They 'free-range over the yard--that they have utterly decimated this year--I have increased their calcium in scrambled eggs or yogurt with fruit/veg, Frequently I will crush either egg shells or the oyster shell very fine and stir into whatever I give them beyond their pellets. They do not get scratch daily but do generally get something, often dairy with natural calcium. I try to offer AVC in their water but it gets gunky so fast, they do get natural kefir...Oh, she does not go into the nesting box with these eggs, I will find them in the night hutch as if they just fell out of her. I've seen it twice now, once was on the "grass" in the yard while she was just doin' her thing. Any ideas? This isn't a sign of disease is it?? All three appear fine although Willow still has little tiny white spots on her comb which showed up about the time she went to molt. We thought maybe dry pox. But she appears to be feeling well, just not laying. I just don't know... thank you in advance for your time and wisdom~~ oh! this has been going on for about two months.
Does Honey also lay regular eggs, or only the soft shelled? Older birds will do it occasionally , especially when they are coming back into lay after molting or something and getting their egg laying system back in gear. If she has not been laying shelled eggs at all she may have a problem with her shell gland. There are a list of other causes, but if she only one doing it, it is probably something specific to her. If she only does it once in awhile, it is probably just a glitch in the egg laying system where an egg went through too fast. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs http://www.avianweb.com/eggproblems.html
She has not layed any regular shelled eggs for a couple of weeks or more. Thank you for the links, I will check into them. We are at a loss.
I had this happen during the summer, and it appears that coccidiosis was the culprit. Two of my hens were laying thin-shelled or no-shelled eggs. Within a week most of the flock was lethargic, and I lost a couple of birds. Treatment with amprolium turned things around, and I haven't had any issues since. I guess that the long, damp spring played a role.
