Posting mainly to bump.
I was having a discussion with my neighbour, who buys my eggs, and we find some of our yolks break very easily while some are quite tough. I can't say it is a storage issue since I find it can happen within the same dozen, so, collected within 2 day period. I was wondering if it is an individual hen issue? I find my "paler" eggs tend to break more.(not sure which mixed breed I have lays which eggs, I have never bothered to find out lol).
For me it is not a problem. I really don't care. But, I have one chef who has stopped buying eggs from me because of this. She just wastes too many (I'd say 2-3/dozen).
I feed layer pellets, oyster shells and they free range for a few hours daily. I do have one "picked on" chicken who doesn't get out and I have to feed separate from the rest. She just gets layer feed and some oyster shell mixed in every couple of days and has access to the run while the others are ranging. (She has free access to oyster shell then, and I also toss some grit in the run every few days).
I have almost totally cut out "treats" except for about 1/2 cup of corn when I need to put them back in their run. I have been having a feather picking problem for months and tried increasing their protein, and didn't notice any changes in them or their eggs really. I'd love them to have more variety but, I also don't want them to have so many treats they don't eat enough layer and, therefore, don't get enough protein.
I am anxiously awaiting cooler weather to see if the yolks break less! I am very intrigued by the "hot weather" theory!