5 Common Egg Shell Problems And How To Fix Them
Your chicken’s eggs tell a story. Healthy chickens lay robust, plentiful, healthy eggs. However, in the course of a hen’s laying life you may encounter an egg with shell issues that has you concerned. Here are 5 common shell deformities you may encounter with your backyard flock and possible solutions.
Fairy eggs– Fairy eggs are abnormally small eggs. This is most often associated with a new layer like a young pullet who has just become a laying hen. When your hens first begin to lay eggs, it is normal to experience some size and shape variations as their reproductive organs are experiencing rapid growth and maturation. A few fairy eggs when you hens first begin to lay eggs is no cause for alarm and with time and proper nutrition their eggs will soon normalize in size. If you are experiencing prolonged periods of receiving fairy eggs from your hens, this could be an indicator of a disturbed reproductive cycle, poor or inadequate nutrition and hydration, extreme predator pressure, or extreme weather-related stress.
Blood smear on your eggs-When a young pullet first begins to lay it is normal to witness one or two eggs that have a small smear of blood. Some tissue damage occurs when a young hen first begins to lay eggs. This should only occur once. If you are noticing prolonged periods of time or multiple eggs for several days that have blood on them, this could be an indicator of a serious issues such as a parasite infestation, a prolapse, a damaged vent, or extremely poor hygiene. Be sure to provide your chickens with a dust a bath and perform regular health checks that include examining their vent area.
Soft shell eggs-Sometime called jelly eggs, soft shell eggs appear to have no or a poorly formed flexible shell. The most common cause of soft-shell eggs is poor nutrition specifically a lack of calcium. I provide my backyard layers with a free choice calcium oyster shell supplement in addition to their complete layer feed. I limit snacks and treats to 3 times per week as to not cause a nutritional imbalance. Other possible causes include an aging older hen, a defective shell gland, extreme heat stress, or mycotoxins which could be caused by moldy or nutritionally deficient food sources. Provide your flock with a calcium supplement and grit in a free choice dispenser. Provide your chickens with a complete feed that is appropriate to their purpose. Your backyard chickens are domestic livestock animals and while forage can be a portion of their diet, they cannot survive on forage alone.
Wrinkled eggs-Wrinkled eggs will appear to have small seams or wrinkles in the formation of the shell. Wrinkled eggs can be cause by conditions like overcrowding, excessive stress, poor nutrition, a defective shell gland, or disease. Alleviate overcrowding among your flock by providing as much space as possible. You can utilize items like a chunnel, a chicken activity tunnel, or moveable fencing to provide your flock with additional space during the day. Adding additional roosts and perches to your coop and run area also can help alleviate overcrowding. Excessive stress can be caused by adding and subtracting flock members too often, predator pressure and harassment, disruption to their sleep or laying schedule, or inadequate access to food and water.
Misshapen eggs-Eggs which emerge appearing misshapen or oblong may be an indicator of one of the following conditions. A new hen may be coming on lay and have an immature shell gland, excessive stress, overcrowding, or disease. Chickens thrive and can perform at their best in a clean, well-maintained area with plenty of space.
You will likely encounter some deformed eggs throughout your time as a backyard chicken owner. Sometimes it is simply part of the process of a hen maturing, and other times it is an indicator of a health or environmental issue. Once the cause of the deformities has been addressed healthy hens will resume laying healthy eggs. To promote the healthiest backyard flock possible, provide your flock with a complete feed which is appropriate to their purpose. Provide your chickens with free choice grit and calcium supplement separate from their food. Limit snacks and treats to 3 times per week. Always provide your flock with plenty of fresh water. Clean and maintain your chicken coop, run, accessories, nesting boxes, perches and roosts. Provide your flock with as much space in their coop and run as you feasibly can. Provide your flock with a dust bath. Remember to perform regular health checks on your flock which include examining their vent area. Reduce and minimize stress to your chickens by providing them with a clean environment, adequate food and water, and a predictable care schedule. If you are experiencing prolonged health issues with your flock and you are unable to accurately diagnose and address them, contact a livestock veterinary professional for additional guidance.
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