One hen consistently lays thin shells

[All_my_peeps]

I’m hoping someone has some tips on how (or if I can) correct an issue with one of my hens eggs. She consistently lays very weak shelled eggs. They often break in the nesting box and make a mess . They are sometimes almost paper thin shells.

Some info about the hen, she’s about a year old. Healthy and active. Free range daily and gets a quality layer feed.

She was dewormed about 3 weeks ago, with little to no improvement to her shell quality.

I have attempted adding calcium to her diet and electrolytes to the water.

There isn’t anything else unusual about her eggs. Beautiful Deep yellow yolk! Just very thin shells.

So I guess my question is could this just be a genetic issue with this hens or does anyone have any other suggestions to improve the toughness of her eggs. If they don’t end up smashed, I usually end up having to scramble her eggs as a healthy treat for the flock. As they are usually cracked.

 

[Folly's place]

It's likely a genetic issue, unless there's a diet problem.
What are you feeding?
Mary

 

[All_my_peeps]

It's likely a genetic issue, unless there's a diet problem.
What are you feeding?
Mary

They are fed a layer feed as their main ration and a variety of healthy treats (fresh corn, scrambled egg, fruits/veggies) and have oyster shells and grit at choice, and they free range most of the day. All my other birds lay very strong shells with no issues. This hen has me stumped.

 

[Folly's place]

Is it possible that she's eating mostly treats, and not her balanced diet? Is it a crumble or pelleted feed, or a grain mix? Some individuals will be 'fussy' and eat the yummy stuff instead of the balanced diet.
Otherwise, it's all about her, and her reproductive system, not working as it should.
Mary

 

[All_my_peeps]

Is it possible that she's eating mostly treats, and not her balanced diet? Is it a crumble or pelleted feed, or a grain mix? Some individuals will be 'fussy' and eat the yummy stuff instead of the balanced diet.
Otherwise, it's all about her, and her reproductive system, not working as it should.
Mary

She is definitely a good eater. She is lower in the pecking order but she visits the feed frequently through the day, and isn’t bullied. They are also getting balance to their diet as the free range. There food is a pellet with added calcium for layers. I have doubts that it is diet related as she gets a good variety of healthy food. But consistently lays thin shells. None of my other hens have any issues with their egg quality.

She seems healthy nice pink comb and wattles, spunky energy etc. so I may have to accept the fact that she may never lay a good strong egg. And hers will be added protein to the flocks diet as a scrambled treat!

 

[staceyj]

I’d trial cutting out all treats.
Feed is precisely formulated for a reason.
Even healthy treats can knock off this balance.

I too offer oyster shell and grit on the side but for some reason one of my birds never touches it that I can see while the others love to gobble it when I am adding fresh to the bowl.
This hens shells aren’t nearly as strong as the others.

However..... I’m a gardener and I save all the egg shells I have in a gallon size ziplock bag in the fridge and bake them at 250 degrees for 1/2 hr or so or until dry and crispy.

I smash them and use them around tomato plants but some I give to the girls.

They even love to eat them plain. Especially the one with thinner shells. I’m seeing an improvement since I’ve made a point to see that she has frequent access to them.

It’s worth a try I’d think.

Or using a layer feed that has extra calcium. Purina has one called oyster strong.
Or a dollop of plain no fat Greek yogurt daily.

Other than that, it’s just her.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I had a Buff Orpington years ago that laid a thin sand papery shell from first lay until the end. Must have been genetic. Hope you have better luck!

 

[Olivekat07]

I’d trial cutting out all treats.
Feed is precisely formulated for a reason.
Even healthy treats can knock off this balance.

I too offer oyster shell and grit on the side but for some reason one of my birds never touches it that I can see while the others love to gobble it when I am adding fresh to the bowl.
This hens shells aren’t nearly as strong as the others.

However..... I’m a gardener and I save all the egg shells I have in a gallon size ziplock bag in the fridge and bake them at 250 degrees for 1/2 hr or so or until dry and crispy.

I smash them and use them around tomato plants but some I give to the girls.

They even love to eat them plain. Especially the one with thinner shells. I’m seeing an improvement since I’ve made a point to see that she has frequent access to them.

It’s worth a try I’d think.

Or using a layer feed that has extra calcium. Purina has one called oyster strong.
Or a dollop of plain no fat Greek yogurt daily.

Other than that, it’s just her.

Yes, just like she said, I give baked egg shells to my chickens too. I had an Americana (sorry for spelling) who had very thin egg shells when she laid. Then I cut out all the treats, and gave her layer feed (crumbles) and some egg shells (egg shells maybe 1-2 times a month) and then she started laying normal!

 

[aart]

If only one bird in the flock is laying wonky eggs,
it's most likely the bird and not the diet.
Had one like that, tried all the calcium supps, her shell gland was just defective.
She's gone now, soon to be stew...
....and not cleaning broken eggs out of the nests, priceless!

 

[Saaniya]

Thin eggs always a warning I've seen a lot of cases nowadays hens who Laid thin or weird eggs have oviduct infection we suggest them to impant hormonal control or surgery to remove the oviduct

Better to take her to vet and investigate