Yesterday late afternoon I witnessed my 5 year old EE push out (while standing up) a very rubbery jello like egg. Thin light blue membrane. The day before, this same hen laid a normal hard shelled egg. She lays about 5 beautiful eggs per week. I only have one EE so this is easy to report. There is abundant oyster shell available and free range at least 4 hours a day. My questions are: Is this a sign of decreased production due to age? Or, is there something I could be doing for her? She doesn't seem to be uncomfortable, but this morning she has hunkered down under the nesting boxes (where she sleeps and lays) and has not joined the others free range. Could she be laying another egg so soon? I appreciate your experience. Of the 4 older hens I have, only 2, inlcuding this one are laying eggs. The others stopped some months ago. Anne
I'd say probably due to age. Most hens have a missed or weird egg from time to time, but as their production slows down they get more 'skips' as they age. Just like when they first start laying, you get more shell less, small, yolkless, etc eggs. Edit to add: If you didn't already offer calcium suppliment (oyster shell) then I'd say that might be the problem, but since she is getting adequate calcium, I'd 'chalk' it up to age.
My EE Penny laid rubbery eggs when she first started laying, but not since. One of my silkies has been laying shell-less eggs, membrane only. i kept finding bits of the rubbery shell in the pen and didn't know who was doing it, until i saw her walking around with part of a membrane stuck to her bum. i provide plenty of crushed oyster shell and yogurt, but recently started adding more protein, like canned cat food (in extreme moderation), scrambled eggs, and mealworms. Haven't seen a soft shell since then. But it could also be caused by the fact that she's molting. Also, we had several weeks of extreme heat which brought most all egg production to an abrupt halt. It's just now slowly picking up again. Sorry i don't have a good answer for you. i think it's great that you have a five year old still laying. i thought they stopped at around two years.
I'm not sure about the age thing because all my pullets are under a year and every once in awhile I'll get one of the rubber eggs. And mine have a good diet and oyster shell all the time. But I was told it was not anything to worry about.
Thank you for the responses. I had no idea that rubbery/thin eggs proceed a hen going broody. I think in my EE's case, it may be an age thing so that is good news, she is just getting older....aren't we all? Thanks. Anne