Thin shells, weak, off-center yolks, from every hen

[Lilion]

I have 3, 2-year old, Rhode Island Red hens. Their eggs are all the same, and always have been like this. They have thin-ish shells and when you break them in a bowl or pan the yolks break 60% of the time. Now, it's remotely possible that they break because they clip a jagged piece of shell as the shells crumble so much. My husband says he puts a thumb thru them half the time, but I'm better at it and don'tgenerally do that. Also, the yolks are always off-center. Boil any egg and the yolks is ALWAYS at the side. No deviled eggs for me. I have tried storing point down and point up, it doesn't matter. I don't refrigerate them, if that matters.

I have them on layer food, I've tried several brands, and I always have extra oyster shell out in addition to feeding the shells back. For added protein they get meat scraps and meal worm/soldier fly etc, most every day. I do not free range due to predators but they have a large run.

I do have a barnyard mix hen that has stopped laying, but prior, her eggs were thicker shelled and more "normal" though I've never gotten nice, firm yolks from her either, at least not in the last year.

My neighbor, who's mixed flock is literally 20 feet away from mine, doesn't have this problem. We both feed layer feed and she doesn't give the added shells! She has no RIR hens. Is this a breed issue? I've never heard oft that being the case.

I'm obviously in search of any wisdom here. I want sunny side up or deviled eggs! Thanks in advance!

 

[nuthatched]

What have you fed?

 

[Lilion]

What have you fed?

Layer feed. Purina, MFA, Producers Pride from Tractor Supply...I'm sure there has been others.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have you tried refrigerating some eggs to see if it makes a difference? My guess is probably not, but might as well try.

As far as yolks being centered it really depends on the egg as some birds seem to lay eggs that work better for hard boiling (more centered yolks, easier to peel, fewer inclusions), so I'll put aside eggs specifically for that purpose. I can still make deviled eggs even with the lopsided ones but they're just a little harder to eat.

It's normal that overall egg quality starts declining as birds age, but if the RIRs always had the issue of thin shells and weak yolks it could be something genetic in the batch they came from.