Watery whites?

Hello everyone,

Sorry, I've not been keeping up with the forum...naughty me!

Wondering whether anyone knows why my little black silkie girls have begun to lay eggs with watery whites and incredibly dark shells? The yolks are fine but the whites aren't very tempting when cooked! Wierd as they always laid very pale coloured eggs up until recently and they are getting darker and darker, plus the shells used to be quite soft but now are very hard! The only change is the addition, (after an appropriate quarantine, worming etc), of a couple of new hens. The news girls...well actually 2 new girls and a cockeril that sneaked in disguised as a hen!  appear healthy and lay beautiful eggs. Is it that my little girls are now 5 years old? We have had silkies live and lay for 8 years but never had watery whites before.

I'm about to make a cake as that's the only way to use these eggs! Maybe we should just eat more cake??!

Thanks,
Judi

No Kegs, no changes in feed, still layers pellets on tap, large grassy area, titbits (nothing out of the ordinary), and grain before bedtime.

Judi

Yes they are wormed regularly and have a paddock to graze so don't lack green stuff. They are also give Harkers Poultry Drink as an additional supplement from time to time.

Just a thought occured...we have a second cockeril who arrived in disguise as a hen and he does harrass the little silkies a bit, could stress cause the whites issue I wonder? Sadly, he's not staying....but I think the little silkies won't be sorry to see him go. OH reminds me that we had the problem before a couple of times but it cleared up on it's own, I'd forgotton, so maybe stress is the cause?

Thanks Joyful...I'll just have to make more cakes as they seem fine in baking...what hardship eh?!