Weak Shells and Decreased Production

[shandiane78]

I don't know what's going on with my hens. 2 of 6 have stopped laying, and the ones that are laying, the eggs have thin weak shells. They have organic layer pellets, plus forage, oyster shell, and grit. Any ideas?!

*edit*
They are about 1 yr old. Besides the egg-laying issue, behavior is normal. One even laid a very weak shelled egg form the roost. She's never done that before, and been laying since last summer.

Thanks!

 

[gallina man]

Mine Did It Last Week; 1 Soft Egg On The Roost Then 3 Days Later 2 Eggs On The Roost But Since Then It Has Gone Back To Normal. I Laid Off The Treats So That Might Have Had Something To Do With It.

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks gallina man. I haven't been giving too many treats, since I've been somewhat obsessed with the new chicks.

Also, two have stopped laying completely. I've been wondering if I should suspect worms or some other parasite? Or maybe vit D deficiency?

 

[trunkman]

I'm going through the same thing, mine have slowed to about 50 percent from normal this past week, maybe its something in the spring air. I'm only getting 2 or 3 eggs a day from 6 hens!

 

[shandiane78]

Trunkman, how strange! That's my situation too, and I don't understand it. Today I got only 2 eggs from 6 hens, and they both had thin shells. Not super thin, but definitely not strong like they used to be.

 

[Dutchess]

Wow! The same thing happend to me! 9 month old hens, 4 RIRs, 2 eggs. Normally I can expect at least 3 but most of the time 4. Last week, and up until yesterday, I was only gathering 2 eggs a day and I found 2 (throughout the week) that were very thin, transparent, and flimsy.
I agree with Truckman, it must be the spring thing? Yesterday, I gathered 4 eggs so I'm hoping it was only temporary.

 

[shandiane78]

Wow...Now I'm starting to wonder if it does have something to do with the change in the season? Seems like springtime should get their egg production up, if anything, right?! I don't get it. I keep thinking it must be some kind of parasite, though as far as I can tell there's no evidence of that.

 

[lmblackburn]

Too Crazy! I had a very similar issue. I have 7 hens and 1 roo that are 10 months old with oyster shells freely available. A few weeks back, I actually lost 2 of my hens to hawks, I think. Then production went way down, I found a nest of eggs hiding underneath my coop. So, I thought the girls needed to learn where to lay again, so they were locked in for a day or two...and I only found 3 eggs a day from 7 hens. Then a few days later I found an egg under the roost and it was so soft shelled that I couldn't even pick it up for fear that it would ooze all over. Yesterday, I did get 6 eggs...so that's all but one hen laying. And, a few of the hens' backs/shoulders are pretty sad looking from our over zealous rooster...so I think I'll be buying the chicken saddles soon.

Maybe they are approaching molt??? I just found it very weird that others are currently having the same issue...maybe it was the recent frost that threw the hens off...who knows

 

[shandiane78]

Well, mine didn't molt in the fall, except for one had a partial molt. Actually, she's the only one who has ever molted! So maybe that's an idea? I haven't seen any feather loss, but maybe the other "symptoms" of molt can start first??? They could be saving up protein to make new feathers? If it is time to molt, I hope they hurry up and make it obvious. Getting an explanation to the problem would sure help me stop worrying.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My 2 chickens that molted in the winter quit laying for 2 weeks before I saw them losing any feathers. Then their combs started looking pale. So it is possible that they could be starting the molt.