Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[susieodea]

I have three chickens who are around two years old and have been fairly prolific layers since they arrived at POL just after I got them.

 

They've recently reduced egg production dramatically and some of the eggs I was getting were very soft shelled, which led to the chooks eating them. For the past week all I've found in the nesting box is a clump of eggy straw and soft shells, but no hard shelled eggs.

 

I've wormed them and have always given them apple cider vinegar, VermX and grit but have had no joy. They're completely healthy in all other ways.

 

The only thing I can think that's changed is that my husband bought rustic red coloured softwood chippings last time instead of the natural ones. I've looked at the product and it says it's completely non-toxic, but could this be the problem?

 

I really hope someone can help.

[sjp]

it's partly age or an out of date or nearly out of bag of feed can cause soft shelled eggs

try giving them dandelion leaves and a shot of cod liver oil in the feed can help as well as having a pot of mixed oyster shell grit in the run so they can help themselves as and when other wise life guard tonic is the other way to go

[Beantree]

You might find they are eating the wood chip instead of their feed Suzieodea. Presume you have wormed them with Flubenvet and are not relying on Verm-X. A worm burden can affect egg quality as well.