Thats an ugly egg (picture) formerly "Thin Shelled Egg"

[dawny2u2]

I am getting fairly good egg production, but I have one hen (I think it is the same one, color the same, size the same) who lays an extremely thin shelled egg. It often has streaks of blood, and sometimes little crusty spots that makes you think you can scratch them off. But if I do, or clean off the blood, the shell crumbles it is so thin.
All the rest seem to be laying beautiful strong shelled eggs. I feed oyster shell free choice, grind up eggshells, put it in their feed. I have never had this problem before. This group is about 9 months old, and I think it is just one hen. Could this be something more than slow development?

 

[pringle]

Maybe its genetic,make sure to not use her for breeding.

 

[Attila the Honey]

I have just the opposite problem - bulletproof eggs! The shells are so thick, it is hard to crack them! The membrane is also bulletproof. Am I feeding food that is TOO good?? I feed scratch and an egg-layer food from the feed store (plus all the sweet corn and other veggies they feel like eating (do not get between a hen and her corn on th cob! I do not suppliment with anything except veggies. They do get the occasional slow dove or finch, but that source is not reliable.

 

[dawny2u2]

I think that is the way "farm fresh" happy hen, eggs are. That is how all the rest of mine are. I know what ya mean about the membrane. Sometimes thats still holding on, proud and solid, after the shell is cracked, kinda funny!

 

[BillickChix]

Our eggs and membranes feel like double strength compared to store-bought eggs, and it takes effort to crack them without making a mess! I think it's from happy chickens with a well-rounded diet as well!

 

[breezy]

Quote:
Is this hen a Jersey Giant by any chance? I find my Jersey needs twice the calcium to lay a normal egg as opposed to my orps. I give her extra calcium by grinding eggshell really fine and adding it to something wet that she alone gets..like 1 scrambled egg. I separate her 1 or 2 a week and feed her extra this way. Made a huge difference. Mine have oyster shell available all the time but she just seems to need a bit extra.
Good Luck

 

[gritsar]

To the OP - I think it's a result of an immature shell gland (or whatever you want to call it, the part of the "factory" where the shell is applied). It should correct itself with age. Otherwise I'd say she has a defect in that dept.

BYC eggs do have very strong membranes and usually very strong shells. Comes in handy when you're carrying them around in your pocket.

 

[sourland]

As Gritsar said, it's a glitch in the reproductive assembly line which may or may not correct itself as she matures.