Thin shelled egg from only 1 hen?

[3H Homestead]

I chevy have 15 laying hens. I started noticing about 2 weeks ago, only 1 hen has started laying very thin shelled eggs. They are getting layer feed, oyster shells, and I live in the Rocky Mountains, so grit is ALWAYS available to them. What could I be missing out on here? Do some hens lay thin shelled eggs when they begin molting?

 

[LathropChickens22]

I’m not an expert at all! But I have the same issue, I ready that if it is not a feed and nutrients problem it could be worms.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Have you seen her eat the oyster shell? How old is she? What layer feed are you using, and what type/how many treats do they get? Do you ever feed them their eggshells in addition to the oyster shell?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Beginning of molt can cause a slow down in laying and wonky eggs, so if this is a recent issue, that could be it.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I chevy have 15 laying hens. I started noticing about 2 weeks ago, only 1 hen has started laying very thin shelled eggs. They are getting layer feed, oyster shells, and I live in the Rocky Mountains, so grit is ALWAYS available to them. What could I be missing out on here? Do some hens lay thin shelled eggs when they begin molting?

I hope you problem resolved itself I found mine were helped by increasing their protein.

 

[dc95123]

Is she a factory breed? If she is, the poor girl may have a reproductive problem like EYP. No amount of calcium in her diet will fix this.

One of my hens started laying terrible eggs at 2 yrs old because of chronic EYP and the only treatment apart from putting her down was a hormone implant to stop her laying. This was very expensive though ($300 in Australia), not sure if I'd do it again.

 

[WingsysRoost]

I would specifically make sure that the hen laying the thin eggs is getting calcium. If she is getting calcium (you've seen her actually take and eat either the oyster shell or some other form of calcium) and there is no improvement in the eggs, you may unfortunately be looking at either infection of some kind or possibly even cancer.

It's also possible that she could be getting bullied and isn't able to get to the oyster shell at all, in which case offering her the calcium should help.

 

[Ritasfeatheredfriends]

I would specifically make sure that the hen laying the thin eggs is getting calcium. If she is getting calcium (you've seen her actually take and eat either the oyster shell or some other form of calcium) and there is no improvement in the eggs, you may unfortunately be looking at either infection of some kind or possibly even cancer.

It's also possible that she could be getting bullied and isn't able to get to the oyster shell at all, in which case offering her the calcium should help.

I also have one hen that lays very thin shell eggs. They are usually x large eggs and sometimes break when I try to pick them up. Sometimes there is an egg with just the membrane, no shell at all. If this chicken (I do not know which one it is} has an infection or (God forbid) cancer, are these eggs safe to eat?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I also have one hen that lays very thin shell eggs. They are usually x large eggs and sometimes break when I try to pick them up. Sometimes there is an egg with just the membrane, no shell at all. If this chicken (I do not know which one it is} has an infection or (God forbid) cancer, are these eggs safe to eat?

Have you tried separating the birds to see if you can ID which one it is? Like you can lock each one up for 2-3 days in a dog crate in the coop or run, and see what eggs they lay.

She likely just needs supplemental calcium to fix it. Unlikely this is the result of an infection or cancer and more likely that she's not intaking enough calcium or has a faulty shelling gland (which can be determined by giving her more calcium).

Most likely the eggs are safe to eat, I've never had an issue eating thin shelled eggs, but if it bothers you you can always feed them back to the chickens, to a dog, etc.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I had an older hen that started laying soft shelled eggs. I would grab her off roost , put in crate till she laid so that I was positive she was the one. ( My young pullets that were just laying were getting used to pecking eggs and eating them) ! I was afraid one egg would brake in her so I made the decision to cull her. She was 2 years old.