Strange Eggs...

[Bertie & The Chooks]

I know some of my girls are getting on and I'm wondering if this new egg is possibly a sign she may be past her best laying days! We have received 3 of these eggs now. They are normal shape, size but they look almost chalky/sandpaper covered? when dry they are partially normal but look like they have whitish sand on the outside and no gloss. When they are wet, they look normal and go back to the normal brown colour, but do not have a glossy soft finish like the others. Then when they dry again they go back to the odd colour. they have grit, fresh composty soil regularly on top, clean hemp bedding, layers pellets with barley, wheat and corn from time to time. They get lots of greens and fruit/veg and tid bits from the kitchen. all are happy and healthy looking apart from the odd egg! I must also add these eggs were occurring before the heat wave too.

any incite welcomed. I can post a photo later if i'm not explaining it well... 09

 

[Chuck]

Shells with odd textures are quite common. They most often occur when hens are elderly, at the end of a laying cycle i.e. just before a moult or at any time when stressed. Nothing can be done and no harm seems to come to the hens.

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

Shells with odd textures are quite common. They most often occur when hens are elderly, at the end of a laying cycle i.e. just before a moult or at any time when stressed. Nothing can be done and no harm seems to come to the hens.

I thought that might be the case, but just thought I would check she wasn't going to drop her insides anytime soon! :?

 

[chrismahon]

We have had a few like that recently from one Bluebell. They are all thin shelled and seem to happen when she lays to her schedule but her system has slowed down and the egg isn't quite ready. Perhaps she will re-adjust her schedule eventually? In the meantime we can't sell the eggs as they break too easily.

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

We have had a few like that recently from one Bluebell. They are all thin shelled and seem to happen when she lays to her schedule but her system has slowed down and the egg isn't quite ready. Perhaps she will re-adjust her schedule eventually? In the meantime we can't sell the eggs as they break too easily.

Ours aren't thin, they are actually a little harder or just like they are normally. it's like they just haven't been polished.

 

[VALBURNHAM]

my wellsummers has laid a few of these lately just like fine sandpaper on the outside and uneven colour. She is only one year old so not a old hen, she has just come into moult so I am putting it down to this.

 

[chrismahon]

As the shells are thick this could by a by-product of immunisation against ILT or IB with live viruses and nothing at all to worry about. And, as Val says, could be the moult.

 

[foxy]

I wouldn't worry too much..in one day one of my pullets laid her first egg...she was anxiously following me around until I worked out what her problem was and rustled up a quick nest to her satisfaction..she then laid me a peculiar oblong one! I have dropped one this morning..it was so tough it didn't crack on a slate floor, one of this years muscovy ducks left me a rubber egg (minus the shell...) by the back door..

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

As the shells are thick this could by a by-product of immunisation against ILT or IB with live viruses and nothing at all to worry about. And, as Val says, could be the moult.

yeah if mine were vaccinated! i'm not super worried as i said before, but it would be nice to know if it's a sign of one of them possibly prolapsing. that was my main concern and thought maybe someone might have had some experience with similar eggs. thank you all for your replies

 

[foxy]

As the shells are thick this could by a by-product of immunisation against ILT or IB with live viruses and nothing at all to worry about. And, as Val says, could be the moult.

yeah if mine were vaccinated! i'm not super worried as i said before, but it would be nice to know if it's a sign of one of them possibly prolapsing. that was my main concern and thought maybe someone might have had some experience with similar eggs. thank you all for your replies

No, I don't think the eggs you describe so much indicate a risk of prolapsing this is more to do with calcium levels which are regulated through hormones. The most common risk of prolapsing I have seen have been in two camps..one with young, heavy pullets laying prematurely/early and with low calcium stores. The other end of the spectrum but more commonly seen with precocious layers such as commerical layers at the end of laying.

 

[E3lx]

good advice above