Over the twelvemonth , most of my hen have repose perfectly respectable eggs , double-dyed with smooth , hard cuticle . But a couple of them have produced egg with oddly textured surfaces . In the case of one particular hen , every egg she position includes the same pronounced ridge . And , once in a great while I ’ve found nut - like “ weewee balloons”—eggs miss their cuticle entirely .
Of course , it takes time and a lot of energy to make a right egg . Plenty of thing can go wrongly along the path . While some eggshell anomalies are no big slew , others may indicate a problem with your hens ’ health , diet or surroundings .
Eggs 101
“ The ball is really an amazing thing,”University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicineprofessor Gary Butcher say . “ From the time the hen releases the yolk until the egg is laid is about 25 hours . ”
After a biddy releases a yolk from her ovary , she adds the egg white in a portion of her oviduct call the magnum . Next , it accede the band . This is where the intimate and outer carapace membranes are locate around the yolk .
The egg ’s last plosive speech sound is the uterus or shell secreter .
“ This is where she spends about 20 to 23 minute putting on the proscribed shell , ” Butcher says . “ So , if you ever see an egg that ’s place without a shell , you ’ll see these two membranes around it . They ’ll be rubbery or leathery with no shell .
“ That means the hen loose her egg at this stage before she could put the shell on . ”
translate more : You may find one or more of these odd eggs in the lay corner !
Too Many Treats?
According to Butcher ’s work“Concepts of Eggshell Quality,”eggshells typically contain a little over two gramme of calcium , and most laying hens need at least four grams of calcium each daytime .
eggshell are also made up of P , Mg and trace amounts of sodium , K , zinc , manganese , iron and copper color . A deficiency of crucial nutrients — especially atomic number 20 — is one of the most common suit of overlook or blemished eggshells .
“ A set of people kill their chickens with forgivingness , so to mouth , ” Butcher explicate . “ mass may have grip of commercial-grade layer provender , but they ’ll also throw in all kinds of treats . And , just like any small kid , if you give the kid a selection of eating a good , nutritional plate of food or put a bunch of goody around , he ’s move to eat all of the dainty . ”
Offering goodies like cracked corn and mealworms occasionally is cracking — just do n’t let your chicken overindulge . “ If they fill up up on these , then they ’ll be nutrient - deficient , ” he continue . “ This lead to problems with eggshell , egg size of it and things like that . ”
Summer Heat
Chickens ’ appetites also may decline during hot summer days . This , in turn , can affect their overall egg production and their eggshell .
“ If they really rationalize back on how much they eat and they ’re not make what they ask , you ’re go to reasonably quickly see eggshell weaknesses , ” Butcher says . “ You ’re also going to see orchis size of it get smaller , because they ’re not make the protein , which create [ eggs ] bigger . And they ’re not getting the atomic number 20 , which take a leak the cuticle better . ”
Rough Shells
I have one dear , ancient biddy who still lays testis — many of which are grating - shelled . “ She ’s in the process of putting on the case , she does n’t complete it , and she free it too too soon , ” Butcher says . “ So , the shell is thin , and it is n’t polish over . ”
( If the old gal keep her egg in the carapace secretor for another six to eight hours , it would probably come out looking just fine . )
As for young hen position testicle with boisterous or rough shells , ensure they ’re getting double-dyed nutrition . You should also supplement their atomic number 20 as needed .
If an entire flock ’s eggshells look rasping ? That ’s drive for extra concern . Check them for infectious bronchitis , Newcastle diseaseor other serious health military issue .
Read more : Infectious bronchitis is a have-to doe with coronavirus for poultry .
‘Body Checks’
What about eggshells with decided phone line or ridge ? Not to worry . Odds are these eggs were damage — and later on repaired — during shell formation .
“ We call that a ‘ body chit , ’ ” Butcher says . “ When the hen is forming the shield inside of her uterus , the eggshell may get a cracking in it . Then she essentially proceed to produce shell around it and covers over that shot . ”
He tally , “ If the hen is laying an egg every day with the same mark on it , a second possibility would be that she has a scar . This was an injury in the uterus where she healed over it with a cicatrix . So , where that bollock is in contact with that scar , the scale is not being put on it , like other places . ”
