Older hen keeps laying fart eggs

[gophert]

I have gotten 3 "fart eggs" (teeny tiny) from one of my 3yo Barred Rocks in the past month. Otherwise I think she may not be laying much. Is this something to be concerned about or just an issue of age?

 

[Beekissed]

This is peak laying season, so if she isn't laying much and is misfiring when she does, it could mean she is winding down her productive life. If she were mine she'd be gone.

 

[gophert]

Yeah, it could be that she is just not going to be productive anymore. That is okay; my kids want to hang onto her as a pet. However, if she has something wrong with her that I might be able to fix and get her laying again, or if this is a sign of illness/imminent problems, I'd like to know...

 

[Beekissed]

Probably not...but, is she really fat? A fat hen can have reproductive problems and become infertile because of it. If she isn't too fat, there probably isn't anything you can do to help this...some chickens just taper off around that age.

 

[gophert]

Hmmm. She IS rather fat. Not sure how I would skinny her down, though? One of my other hens is too skinny, ironically. They all eat together...