Thin Eggs no Matter What I Try

[Appleby2003]

I have a particular hen that has been laying thin eggs for about the last 4 months now. It is starting to become a rough situation. Breaken eggs in the nesting box daily as warm weather approaches.......gross. She's only 2 years old this April so age shouldn't be an issue. There are 6 total chickens and all the rest lay normal eggs. They all get a quality layer pellet feed, they all get oyster shells. She was VERY ratty looking with dropping sticking to her vent area so we suspected mites may be giving her issues (couldnt see a mite or lice to save my life though) so we dusted her and the entire flock and coop. This was about 5 weeks ago and still the thin Eggs that are breaking in the nesting box keep coming. After we dusted her the dropping fell off at the vent and she started a molt. I hoped that would improve things but it hasn't. With broody season coming I've got a choice to make unfortunately. I need to get her laying normal stronger eggs or I need to unfortunately dispatch her and get her out of the flock. Otherwise it will be a total mess daily with broody hens smashing her eggs and laying on them. Are there just certain birds that are ''broken" and lay bad eggs or does anyone have any better idea on a plan of attack?

Here's a few pics of her a month ago. She looks improved now but you can see she doesn't look very pretty here. You can see a normal bird behind her. Healthy looking.

 

[Cyprus]

She's a high production breed experiencing 'burnout'. It happens. My White Leghorn did the same.

 

[casportpony]

You could try a few things.

• De-worming
• Treat for coccidiosis
• Anitibiotics
• Oral calcium supplements

 

[Appleby2003]

Hmmmm, does burnout go away or that's that? It's ok if it is, just gotta do what ya gotta do. I don't intend to treat for worms though. Cheaper and easier just to get a new chicken as mean as that sounds.

 

[aart]

Are there just certain birds that are ''broken" and lay bad eggs or does anyone have any better idea on a plan of attack?

Yes..have had a few birds with wonky shell glands.
High production breeds are more likely to develop reproductive tract, and overall health, issues.
Dispatch her if you don't want to assess her ills and treat them(which will be time consuming with no guarantee of a 'fix').

 

[Appleby2003]

Bummer. I suppose I'll get to that in this coming weekend. Always a disappointment to lose what should be a productive bird. This is what every eggs looks like. Hard on the bottom and soft on top. I was lucky to get this one before it broke.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Crush up the hard shells and put it in their feed. Also, maybe boil some eggs and feed them to her. Boil so they don't know it's eggs otherwise you'll be seeing them eating eggs right out of the nest.

 

[aart]

Bummer. I suppose I'll get to that in this coming weekend. Always a disappointment to lose what should be a productive bird. This is what every eggs looks like. Hard on the bottom and soft on top. I was lucky to get this one before it broke.

'Thinshellers' are indeed disappointing and frustrating.

 

[WindingRoad]

I have a particular hen that has been laying thin eggs for about the last 4 months now. It is starting to become a rough situation. Breaken eggs in the nesting box daily as warm weather approaches.......gross. She's only 2 years old this April so age shouldn't be an issue. There are 6 total chickens and all the rest lay normal eggs. They all get a quality layer pellet feed, they all get oyster shells. She was VERY ratty looking with dropping sticking to her vent area so we suspected mites may be giving her issues (couldnt see a mite or lice to save my life though) so we dusted her and the entire flock and coop. This was about 5 weeks ago and still the thin Eggs that are breaking in the nesting box keep coming. After we dusted her the dropping fell off at the vent and she started a molt. I hoped that would improve things but it hasn't. With broody season coming I've got a choice to make unfortunately. I need to get her laying normal stronger eggs or I need to unfortunately dispatch her and get her out of the flock. Otherwise it will be a total mess daily with broody hens smashing her eggs and laying on them. Are there just certain birds that are ''broken" and lay bad eggs or does anyone have any better idea on a plan of attack?

Here's a few pics of her a month ago. She looks improved now but you can see she doesn't look very pretty here. You can see a normal bird behind her. Healthy looking.

View attachment 1712527 View attachment 1712528 View attachment 1712529

Do you know for sure that she is eating the OS? Some birds won't eat it on the side.

 

[WindingRoad]

Hmmmm, does burnout go away or that's that? It's ok if it is, just gotta do what ya gotta do. I don't intend to treat for worms though. Cheaper and easier just to get a new chicken as mean as that sounds.

Why wouldn't you treat for worms? How many chickens do you have. Worms tend to multiply right into your whole flock.