Senior hen dropping eggs

ChicksofHeaven

Chirping
Aug 31, 2023
48
113
89
Southeast South Dakota
You all have been very helpful with my past questions. So here’s another.
My senior Hen seems to be dropping eggs. There were a couple rubber eggs when the weather turned cold. Two days ago I found one of her eggs on the ground in the lean to. A couple times her egg has been next to the auxiliary nesting box. Today it was next to the nest box and bloody.
I got her from my sister in law, who says Rue McClanaHEN may be old enough to be reaching the end of her egg laying phase.

My RIRs were hatched in June and laying regularly.
All three hens insisted upon an auxiliary nesting box, so I strapped a box on a shelf in the lean to and that’s were they like to lay, despite there being three perfectly good nesting box inside their coop. Oh well!
My concern is that Rue is either not making it to the nest, or dropping the egg as she’s leaving.
And today’s was bloody. (Rue lays the blue eggs). I’m ordering some calcium to give her.

Also I noticed her shells seem thin, but then I read that RIRs have thicker shells so maybe they are the same as normal
Any other suggestions?
We’re in south east South Dakota, practically Iowa. It’s been cold but the girls have all been very active.
 

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You might also pop a calcium citrate +D3 (Citracal or generic version) into her beak once a day for about a week and see if that helps. I find the best time to do this (easiest) is in the evening after they have gone to roost, then I don't have to chase and try to catch them! Good luck and I hope this helps.
 
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You don't mention her age but older hens may have more egg quality issues even if diet and calcium access remain the same, so she may need some routine calcium supplements while laying to help with shell strength.
 

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