[seton]

Our maran (freerange) normally lays lovely dark brown eggs with very thick shells.  Lately, though, the eggs have been a bit speckled and the shells are thinner.  Should I worry, or maybe it's just the wet weather.

[Aunt Sally]

How old is she  :?:

[seton]

about six months

[Aunt Sally]

It's not her age then !  Make sure she is getting sufficient of the correct kind of food.  My hens have layers pellets and The always have available some crushed oyster shell mixed in with their grit.  I occasionally add a little cod liver oil to their feed to make sure the have plenty of vitamin D which is essential for calcium absorption.

Her egg shell quality should improve if she has sufficient Vit D and calcium  

Free-rangers can often become deficient  :!:

[kizza]

She cant have been laying long if shes only 24 weeks old, maybe its just that shes only getting the swing of things.

[ssatt44]

My welsummers tend to pale out as the season goes on. The summer heat seems to cause more paper eggs than usual. Doubt you are dealing with the temps I am but.... You can give them a boost/treat with a resip. I got from a show breeder.  Sorry US measures:
  In a 1 gallon pail:   1 Cup each crimped oats, barley and wheat.  Add 1/2 quart plain yogurt (active cultures), 1 quart buttermilk. Refeigerate overnight to let the grain aborb.  Feed twice a month.
   I checked my measures and 1 quart is pretty close to 1 L.  You can also add about 2 table spoons of apple cider vinegar to every gallon of water. Seems to help them take up the calcium better in the heat. My crew loves the yogurt  grain as a treat. I get mugged by 40 hens and a 265 pound goat.  

sharon in TOO HOT arizona...it was 112 deg F yesterday