year old production hen no longer 'producing'

[FarmerJoe411]

our a little over a year old production hen is having difficulty laying. every day she is either laying a "soft egg" or leaving a wet spot in the nest box. she is overall in healthy spirits.
she is in a coop with 2 other laying hens (a Delaware and a EE) and a rooster. they are kept in a coop half the day then are let out and free to roam for the rest.

they are given special Purina "hen laying" food as well as a constant supply of crushed shells.

this problem started about 2 months ago.

what could be her issue?

thanks

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps020
scroll down to table 2

 

[terryg]

The production hens (hybrids like the Golden Comets) have very productive, but also very short lives. They are designed to have one good laying year. By the age of 2 production will drop dramatically and you'll see a lot of soft eggs and then no eggs at all. By the age of three many die. Free ranging and laying hen pellets with free-choice oyster shell is the best diet for them. Avoid carbs like scratch grains and treats like bread - if she has been getting such things and you eliminate them I think you'll see an improvement. Also, with this heat she needs a lot of water. Make sure that there is water in the shade where she likes to free-range. Good luck with her. I have a number of old hens and blog about them frequently, so as she ages you might want to check my blog archives with specific concerns.