Ugly Egg

[dinosaw]

We have had quite a few ridged and misshapen eggs in our time and there have been a number posted on here too but I have to say this is the ugliest egg any of my birds has ever layed.

 

[rick]

Ooh! That would have been a tad uncomfortable!

 

[valeriebutterley]

I don't think any of my grandchildren would have tolerated that in their eggcup!

 

[Marigold]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Some of us do have one or two varicose veins, you know.
I don't suppose the grandchildren would have objected to it as scrambled egg!

 

[dinosaw]

It tasted lovely poached btw

 

[Icemaiden]

Isn't that kind of shell formation indicative of a hen that's suffered from IB? Or have I got that wrong?
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly to advise.. 09

 

[dinosaw]

Good spot, your right that that is one possibility Icemaiden, though in this case it is more likely to be related to age and/or a disturbance which has stressed the bird and caused damage while the egg was in the shell gland, the ridges are where the shell has then been repaired internally. I was reading that the incidence of ridged or 'body checked' eggs can range from less than 1% in flocks of 35 weeks old to up to 9% in flocks of 60 weeks, these birds are now around the 86 week mark and do have their problems, some with shell quality, some with wind eggs, we have an egg bound chicken at the moment which in all likelihood means she has got about another 3-6 months before peritonitis will claim her, it's all part and parcel of being an intensive layer unfortunately, the way I look at it though is every week they get beyond the 72 is a bonus for them.