Eggs slightly cracked at one end

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Ballerina Bird

Ballerina Bird

Songster
5 Years
Aug 29, 2014
825
180
226
One of my hens just started laying a couple of weeks ago, and she often lays eggs that are a little cracked at the pointy end:




I thought this was because that end of the egg came out first, and the crack was caused by the impact when it was hitting the coop floor (she is not using her box). But when I started a thread about getting her to use the box, someone pointed out that the egg comes out the other end first, so presumably that means that the crack wouldn't be from impact. Any other thoughts as to why this is happening?
 
ChickensAreSweet said:
Make sure they have oyster shell available is all I could recommend, and that your feed is a nice layer feed or other ration (not just scratch). An oyster shell dish off to the side is optimal.
Click to expand...


Thanks, they do have free choice oyster shell in a separate dish and nice organic feed. They are allowed very limited scratch. I think perhaps the eggs are having impact when she lays them, because the shells from the other hen are fine. I talked to an avian biologist at the university where I teach and she agreed -- apparently it's possible for them to lay eggs pointy side down. I've tried moving their nest box.
 
They might be stepped on too when they shift or leave the box. Every so often I get one like this too. I've watched my hens lay, and they usually hang out in the box for a minute after they lay, just kind of moving around and fluffing up the straw. I figure the egg might be pushed against the side of the box.
 

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