4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[WitchHazel]

Delialah, my Bluebelle, has been layin increasinly odd shaped eggs for the last few weeks.

 

They started off looking like they were pregnant eggs, and now they are almost banana shaped. The shells have been getting thinner, despite the oyster shell which is always available. I don't add limestone flour to the feed because the others are all fine, and I don't want to supplement them unnecessarily.

 

For the last two days, her eggs have had a small patch which is shell-less, just covered by a membrane. We've also had a couple of softees in the last few weeks, which I think are most likely from her.

 

I've put this down to her age. We've had her for 16 months, and she was an established layer when I got her.

 

I don't mind if she is oin to stop laying, I have no problem with having a non productive hen and she'll have a happy retirement. It just occurred to me that maybe there is an underlying problem.

 

She eats and drinls well, has no other outward symptoms of anything untoward.

 

ANy views?

[ubereglu]

I'm not sure, if there's nothing physically wrong with her that you can find then I think she'd ok, but is just getting old and coming to the end of her laying life.

 

Is she eating and drinking properly and behaving normally?

[WitchHazel]

Is she eating and drinking properly and behaving normally?

 

Yes, haven't noticed any changes to her behaviour or habits.

[ubereglu]

She sounds like she's fine to me, just slowing down as she's getting older, and her diaphragm is sagging, hence less control over egg shape.

[WitchHazel]

Thanks for your replies. I feel reassured now.

[Egluntyne]

She sounds like she's fine to me, just slowing down as she's getting older, and her diaphragm is sagging, hence less control over egg shape.

 

I didn't think hens had diaphragms.

 

As they get older they do tend to lay odd shaped eggs. The often also lay huge eggs towards the end of their laying life.

[ubereglu]

She sounds like she's fine to me, just slowing down as she's getting older, and her diaphragm is sagging, hence less control over egg shape.

 

I didn't think hens had diaphragms.

 

As they get older they do tend to lay odd shaped eggs. The often also lay huge eggs towards the end of their laying life.

 

Well, what I mean is that their bodies get saggier, and their muscles get looser, that make sense? It's why older hens lay bigger eggs, this is true of mine anyway!