[ajkula77]

An old timer ginger hen, given to me by a nieghbour last year has started laying eggs with tissue thin shells, and what can only be described as cellulite. Maddening, as they keep breaking in the laying boxes and making them stinky.
any ideas?
She gets a correct diet, plenty of shell, and free ranges part of the day.

[joyfull]

this is quite common in older hens (although cellulite is also common in us human old girls as well  ). You could try giving her a pinch of limestone flour on a grape for a few days just to see if that helps. Keep a close eye on her as she may get an egg break inside her which could prove disastrous 

[ajkula77]

Is it reallistically going to improve or is her time up? Be honest!

[joyfull]

hens can live to be over 10 (not all and some hybrids will die at around the age of 3 onwards) although their egg laying will have slowed down dramatically to just the odd egg every now and then. My eldest girls are only just over 3 and still laying 5 eggs a week at least, however when they do cease to lay they will retire and just do what they please until they finally curl their toes up, it will be the least I can do for them after all the eggs and enjoyment they have given me 
As for your hen I couldn't say if she will improve but as she is still laying it has got to be worth a try, limestone flour isn't expensive and you could get the cost back in good eggs 

[ajkula77]

I don't mind her pottering about laying the odd egg, but she arrived last year in v poor condition with a broken beak. (I'm guessing she was an ex batt.) She now looks great, but I think is very elderly, where on earth do i get limestone flour from?

[ajkula77]

Ah, I see countrywide stock it, trip there this afternoon I think!

[joyfull]

from horsey places or pet shops that sell reptile food (I think they need it for things like turtle shells etc), you can also buy it from certain auction sites   Only give her a little pinch though on something like a grape for a few days. Hopefully this will sort her out  

[ajkula77]

Bought the limestone flour (3kg of the stuff) and attampted the 'pinch on a grape' nearly got my fingers taken off by the other healthy hens, so have scattered it over the pellets. If no improvement, i'll catch and isolate her, and try and make sure she eats it!
will report as to wether it works or not.