Thin shells

[AliC]

Hi everyone . I am new on here and have came on here to ask questions and share my love of chickens and maybe make friends. One of my hens is laying eggs with very thin shells and the egg brakes once laid . My hens have access to grit and oyster shell so why is this happening ?

 

[Free Feather]

I had a Black American Game Bantam hen who laid shelless, thin shelled, or calcium deposit - speckled eggs. I think she had something wrong with her shell glands or something. It just kept getting worse and worse until the eggs had no shells all the time and she would lay them while on the roost at night. She died of a prolapse last week at 15 months old.
Is this hen always laying thin shelled eggs?

 

[mymilliefleur]

Glad you joined us!

How old is your hen? I have a couple hens that lay very thin shelled eggs. They are older hens (4+ years) so I'm guessing so I'm sure that has something to do with it, since everyone else is laying nice sturdy shells. Good luck with your flock!

 

[AliC]

My hen is one year and 3 months old . She has only just started laying thin shelled eggs. I have recently extended their pen and two of my hens where broody so hatched 3 chicks . I thought with the change it may be just stress making her lay thin shelled eggs ??

 

[Free Feather]

My hen is one year and 3 months old . She has only just started laying thin shelled eggs. I have recently extended their pen and two of my hens where broody so hatched 3 chicks . I thought with the change it may be just stress making her lay thin shelled eggs ??

I hope it is just stress, and that it does not turn into something serious.

 

[drumstick diva]

Are you giving her layer feed?

 

[AliC]

yes she is on layrs pellets and mixed corn with treats such as spring greens, meal worms, watermelon,grapes,cucumber.....all my hen's (4 adults and 3 chicks) come out of their pen so they have accsess to grass .. is their calcium in a powder form that i can sprinkle on their food maybe ???

 

[AliC]

i will let you know x

 

[AliC]

I hope it is just stress, and that it does not turn into something serious.

i will let you know x

 

[AliC]

today my hen has laied a hard shelled egg but she has pecked at the egg and made a fine crack . when she laid a thin shelled egg before that broke she had eaten some of the egg. i have heard of hens doing this but why do they eat their own eggs ???