[ycholmes]

Oh dear I am not sure what is happening with my girls at the moment.  I have 5 - 3 hybrids and 2 Orps.  The Orps I got last summer and only really been laying in the last 2 months.  The others lay normally - or did.  On most days the girls go in to lay sit there for ages and come out - but no eggs.  Some morning there are two collapsed eggs, some shells are very fragile, and there appears to be one that gets laid covered in yolk.  Can anyone help.  Nothing has changed in their feeding routine.  They seem very happy and healthy.  I am just worried it may be something horrible.  Any help would be great thanks.

[joyfull]

what are you feeding them - layers, corn, what treats? do they free range or are they in a run? Do they oyster shell? grit? etc
How old are they all especially the original 3?

[ycholmes]

Hi Joyfull, thanks.  I feed them on layers.  They free range 4 days out of 7 but in a coop with large run for the first 3 days of the week while I am at work.  Occasionally they will get a couple of handfuls of mixed corn as a treat or to get them back in the coop if I need to.  Oyster shell is available for them and grit.  Some of the shells recently are rough and pale.  I just feel something is wrong.

[joyfull]

it could be that they are not absorbing enough calcium. How old are the older hens?

[ycholmes]

I only got them the summer before last.

[joyfull]

so they are two years old which for some hybrids will mean they are past their prime (which is why farmers get rid of them at 72 weeks). You could try mixing a little cod liver oil and a small sprikling of limestone flour in with their mixed corn for a while to see if the shell quality improves.

[ycholmes]

Thanks Joyfull, I will give it a go.