Our three laying hens are having egg quality issues. It seems like our new flock members always start out laying quality eggs, then things go down hill from there.
PBE - currently laying (blue) misshaped eggs with calcium deposits and wrinkles or striations along the side. She is almost 2 years old, otherwise healthy and a calm bird. She did have a run of thin shelled eggs early on, corrected with a week long run of Calcium Citrate + D3.
Welbar-ish Hen - has been laying oblong, sometimes misshaped eggs. She is an odd one, very standoffish and acts broody while in the nesting boxes or on the roost, but once she lays, goes right back out to the run and is back to normal. Almost permanently faux broody in behavior when it comes to laying. Little over a year old.
Some sort of Mix - ok, this hen is an absolute neurotic freak
Started laying small, perfectly smooth brown eggs, has since started to lay sandpaper eggs, occasionally without much pigmentation. The eggs are not thin shelled, though the one pictured does have what appears to be a thin spot, this has not been the norm. Little over a year old.
Food: have had the flock on Nutrena Hearty Hen Layer or All Flock at any given time with free choice oyster shells, always plenty of clean fresh water. No change in eggs between all flock and layer.
Snacks are occasional leafy greens or garden scraps.
Living Conditions: plenty of room in very clean coop + four nesting boxes, though they always fight over just one
Large fenced run with cover if needed.
I’ve read all of the egg quality articles over the years, IB is mentioned as a potential common cause almost across the board, however none of our hens have ever displayed symptoms. I do know it can run in flocks without showing symptoms though.
Egg issues seem to kick in about one-two months after first lay with new flock members.
We did have two EEs in the flock previously with absolutely horrible laying issues. One made it to age two, died of internal laying. The other just passed at almost seven years of age, her laying system was never normal. Always chalked it up as genetics with those two, they were sisters.
Seeing that we have other newer members showing signs of poor, inconsistent egg quality, I am starting to wonder if we have something else going on and looking for any advice.
PBE - currently laying (blue) misshaped eggs with calcium deposits and wrinkles or striations along the side. She is almost 2 years old, otherwise healthy and a calm bird. She did have a run of thin shelled eggs early on, corrected with a week long run of Calcium Citrate + D3.
Welbar-ish Hen - has been laying oblong, sometimes misshaped eggs. She is an odd one, very standoffish and acts broody while in the nesting boxes or on the roost, but once she lays, goes right back out to the run and is back to normal. Almost permanently faux broody in behavior when it comes to laying. Little over a year old.
Some sort of Mix - ok, this hen is an absolute neurotic freak
Started laying small, perfectly smooth brown eggs, has since started to lay sandpaper eggs, occasionally without much pigmentation. The eggs are not thin shelled, though the one pictured does have what appears to be a thin spot, this has not been the norm. Little over a year old.Food: have had the flock on Nutrena Hearty Hen Layer or All Flock at any given time with free choice oyster shells, always plenty of clean fresh water. No change in eggs between all flock and layer.
Snacks are occasional leafy greens or garden scraps.
Living Conditions: plenty of room in very clean coop + four nesting boxes, though they always fight over just one
Large fenced run with cover if needed.I’ve read all of the egg quality articles over the years, IB is mentioned as a potential common cause almost across the board, however none of our hens have ever displayed symptoms. I do know it can run in flocks without showing symptoms though.
Egg issues seem to kick in about one-two months after first lay with new flock members.
We did have two EEs in the flock previously with absolutely horrible laying issues. One made it to age two, died of internal laying. The other just passed at almost seven years of age, her laying system was never normal. Always chalked it up as genetics with those two, they were sisters.
Seeing that we have other newer members showing signs of poor, inconsistent egg quality, I am starting to wonder if we have something else going on and looking for any advice.
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