Calcium issues

[virginia bear]

Hi everyone! I've had my sweet flock since last March (4 girls: dominique, buff orpington, australorpe and an ameraucana). The dom, buff, and australorpe are happy, healthy, and great egg layers.

Heres my problem: the Ameraucana (about year and 1/2 old) now lays one very thin-shelled egg MAYBE once a week. The rest of the time its either no egg or a soft-shelled egg. She's pretty skinny, seems to have broken feathers around her ears/neck, doesn't like being picked up, and despite being at the top of the pecking order, does not like going into the coop at night. She, along with the other girls, free range on 1/4 acre all day, eat everything in our compost bin, and get a really great organic supplemental diet. I know she needs calcium, but even after putting dishes of oyster shells and egg shells out, she won't eat them. I have tried mixing with yogurt, but then all of the girls eat it and i don't want the others to have a calcium overload. I though she had a prolapsed vent for a hot second, but that proved to be a false alarm. I'm kind of at a loss. Any tips would be awesome. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Kiki]

Have you ever had your flocks poop tested?
Pretty much all dog vets will test poop for worm loads.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some hens just get worn out laying, especially those laying blue or green eggs which actually have a component of their blood used to color the egg, so laying is taxing on them. They also will pull calcium from their bones to make the eggshells. My better layers are starting to looking ratty and tired.

Some of my birds are starting to shut down as far as egg laying and I have seen the signs of molt in some. Could be your girl is shutting down too for the season to refresh and replenish. Some get touchy when they start molting.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

get a really great organic supplemental diet

What exactly is this?

Calcium is needed, but so are the vitamins/minerals/amino acids to effectively assimilate that calcium into bones, egg shells, and for peristalsis.

Ameraucana, or more likely an Easter Egger, can be notoriously inconsistent layers.
Would you post a pic of her?

Pics and dimensions of coop and run might offer some clues too.

What is your climate/location(put it in your profile)?
If you are in the northern hemisphere she may very well be slowing down to molt.
Can get some funky eggs at that time. Check for new pin feathers growing.

A fecal float test to determine internal parasite load is a good idea.
A good lab will report species and numbers found, if any.

Would be good to check for external parasites also.
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

If you do find some...check out this thread:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134783/permethrin-spray

 

[casportpony]

Warning flag to me is her reluctance to go into the coop and the feather issue, that says to me you might have a mite/lice problem. Do as @aart and @oldhenlikesdogs suggested and rule out external parasites.

When I have one that's laying soft shelled egg or eggs without shells I give them human calcium pills once a day a few days in a row and that usually does the trick.

@KikisGirls mentions worms, so you might want to consider having her poop tested for worms. If that's not an option you could worm her with Valbazen or Safeguard.