Egg laying

[Lucylou]

My 3 girls are similar ages, getting on a bit! 2 are laying well (just about same as last year) but the third isn't. She laid one of those tiny eggs (is it called a 'wind' egg??) then 1 normal a couple of days later, that was about 3 weeks or so ago, since then nothing but 1 soft shelled last week.
Can someone tell me about this please, is this due to her age, the up & down weather or maybe something else.

Just interested really, always nice to have eggs but not the end of the world if she's gone into retirement!!

 

[tygrysek75]

You not saying how old they are and what breed.

 

[chrismahon]

As Tygrysek intimates, the breed and age are the most relevant factors. At the end of their laying life you will get eggs as you describe. A hybrid may only go 2 years, whereas a Pedigree may go considerably longer. I say may, because our Leghorns are finished at 3 years old but our Orpingtons and Wyandottes are still going well at 4.

Other factors are obviously diet and then general health. We have an issue at the moment with infrequent laying and small eggs. We now know we have to start a worming programme and have red mite in some coops as well, despite creosote!

 

[Lucylou]

Ah! yes, forgot the vital info!!

Well, can't exactly remember how old they are as I got 2 groups about 6 months apart & the one that isn't laying so well I can't remember which group she came in! Anyway she's about 4 years old, so getting on in chicken years! She is supposed to be a light Sussex but I think she could be a looky - likey if you know what I mean!

The other 2, one is a Silver Campine, quite unusual/rare I believe (although I didn't know that at the time I got her nor did the person who hatched her) still laying although she always has laid fewer than the others & the other I don't know if she's hybrid or pedigree (a beautiful black/green beetle colour) & lays beautiful big brown eggs & still going strong.

Health is good although due for worming, no sign of redmite that I can see (don't like to tempt providence by saying so though!! 07 )