Does anyone know what this eggshell abnormality is, and whether or not I should be concerned? This is a Black Copper Marans egg. It's the only egg we've gotten with this problem.
Eggshell abnormality
- Thread starter SouthernMNNewbie
- Start date
- Feb 9, 2010
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WOW!
Never seen an egg like that before! To me it almost looks like some insect made eggs on your egg! I'd be surprised if it was anything to worry about. Usually egg abnormalities are just something that happens from time to time.
I agree, it looks like insect eggs. Do they flake off, or are they embedded into the shell?
It's just calcium deposits. Nothing to worry about. (Assuming it's hard of course.) When I get that, sometimes I can scratch it off easily, sometimes not. No need to, of course, I was just curious. Egg is perfectly good.
- Thread starter
- #5
They are hard and attached pretty firmly, but scrape off with some firm scraping. That seems consistent with calcium deposit to me. I don't know much since I'm a beginner, though.
i get some like that a lot i am pretty sure it is just excess calcium.
Here you go: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/14/hairline-cracks
Just a reminder of how eggs at the supermarket are screened for us.
Just a reminder of how eggs at the supermarket are screened for us.
GAK! I have young Black Copper Maran pullets too. And today I found an egg exactly like the one you show a photo of! My first thought was also INSECTS! Then when the little pills would not scrape off, I decided it must be weirdly deposited shell. Geez, these hens are always coming up things to keep me scratching the old noggin. UGH... this egg is cree-py!
What's annoying is I have one hen (not sure what breed) that is laying shell-less eggs. So I cut down on snacks and upped the oyster shell. I think this over calcified egg is my 'reward'. No good deed left unpunished.
What's annoying is I have one hen (not sure what breed) that is laying shell-less eggs. So I cut down on snacks and upped the oyster shell. I think this over calcified egg is my 'reward'. No good deed left unpunished.
Last edited:
- Apr 1, 2014
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Just got my first egg like that today but the deposits looked more like smooth, hard chips on the surface. Not tiny balls. I could not scrape them off. I'm assuming that is also calcium deposit?
Is that a sign that there is too much calcium in their diet? Or not enough?
Is that a sign that there is too much calcium in their diet? Or not enough?
Wow, glad I'm not crazy! I get the ol' "insect eggs" from time to time too...after I wash the shell, they scrape off like a fine dust, no harm no foul. I freaked the first time! Came on to validate my sanity, thank you to those who contributed pictures! To the post above me: I have gotten the hard flake deposit too, once or twice. That did not scrape off. Eggs are perfectly delicious and fine 
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