Bad eggs

[The Duck Ladie]

So I have a bunch of ducks. Yesterday I cracked open five eggs, two of them had tiny blood spots. I cracked two open today and the second had a big meat spot the size of my pink fingernail. I read common egg quality problems, and it seems this happens naturally once in awhile, but what about the blood spots? How do i find out the cause? Should I be worried? Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Blood spots are from ruptured blood vessels. They often show up in birds that had some disturbance the day before. A hard landing, flying into a wall, ducks fighting, things like that, so keeping disturbances down can help. Otherwise sometimes it's hereditary.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can find information on blood spots and meat spots here. This is more for commercial operations than us but it gives some good information.

Egg Quality Handbook
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/ourbooks/1/egg-quality-handbook/

A common cause of blood spots is that the yolk is enclosed in a membrane while it is developing inside the hen. When the yolk is released to start its journey through the hen’s internal egg-making factory, that membrane splits. That membrane contains a lot of blood vessels, but there is usually a line where it splits that has no blood vessels. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work. Way too often though there is a blood vessel across that line. When that happens you get some blood on the yolk. With a lot of chickens that’s a pretty rare occurrence but I’ve had some that consistently have a blood spot. There is just something wrong with the hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have one hen that routinely has blood spots or meat spots in her eggs. As I can tell which eggs are hers versus the other chickens (I assume the same applies to ducks, but if you have a larger flock or all the same breeds, that might be difficult), I simply don't use hers for hard boiling and instead scramble, poach or bake with hers, so I can pick out any meat spots present.

The eggs are still safe to eat, it just doesn't look appetizing so I'd rather not serve anyone a boiled egg with spots or discoloration.

 

[Denice868]

What is a meat spot? Sorry for my ignorance im pretty new at chickens. I also have one hen with aa blood spot in the white of the egg. Every egg. She has a good diet and is free range. I was told it could be stress. Could it be heat stress? Qld is very hot and the chickens pant. Not sure if this could be why.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A meat spot is usually a little bit of reproductive tract or lining that ends up encased in the egg as it's forming. It's like blood spot, just usually more of a gray or brown clump of something.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/29/meat-spots/

Not sure if stress can contribute to it but it can also be genetic with that particular bird.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you follow the link in my post above you can read about blood spots and meat spots.