Bad Hard Boiled Eggs

[msprey2g4e]

OK, so here is the situation, I have a mixed breed flock so I get many different colored and sized eggs. We hard boil about two dozen every couple weeks to kind of snack on and take for breakfast on the go. A couple months back we noticed that a couple eggs tasted funny and had a terrible smell. We just threw the whole batch away and haven't a problem since. Today we boiled two dozen and a certain hen's eggs all smell bad after boiling. I tasted one and the yolk was terrible, very salty tasting (I spit it out right away). She's been in good health but recently was broody for about a week. She does lay small eggs and is a mix breed, polish and road island red.

Any ideas why her eggs are turning out bad when boiled? They are fine when fried or used for anything else. Are they being overcooked?

 

[adstowe]

Interesting. I make probably 2 dozen a week (the kid eats them like candy) and I've never experienced a "bad" one. It's only eggs from this one hen?

edit: As far as over cooking goes; how are you cooking them? That doesn't sound like the issue if it's just one hen, but out of curiosity...

 

[msprey2g4e]

the usual, 10 minutes, never had an issue but now twice her eggs have been, foul smell from the moment you crack them and peal. However this hasn't been all the time.

Wondering if it's possible that they go bad from leaving on the counter for a few days?

 

[WhiteWyan]

Maybe she ate something that is giving her eggs a bad taste?

 

[Delaneygraces]

I’ve had this problem once too, but it was the whole batch, not a singles hen’s eggs. I boil eggs about once every 2-3 months in large quantitys. I pickle them, normally, or with some spice!! Any that fall apart or peel too much when removing the shell get crumbled and fed to the chickens.

 

[aart]

Any changes in feed lately?
Do they free range?
I've read about this, was winnowed down to a certain feed ingredient(fish meal maybe) and only certain birds. Something about how the ingredient is digested by the bird. Sorry, I can't remember the details.
My advice is since you can readily ID the eggs that taste funky, don't boil them.

 

[msprey2g4e]

Ok, still happening, they all eat Nutrena Hearty Hen and most days have a large run that they are in, where they eat worms and bugs. A few times a week, usually on weekends, they are out free ranging.

Update, we cracked an egg of hers today and it stunk right out of the shell. So we opened another and another and they all were bad smelling, only hers.

Any other ideas people, I'm dumbfounded and it would be a shame to just throw away all her eggs.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Ok, still happening, they all eat Nutrena Hearty Hen and most days have a large run that they are in, where they eat worms and bugs. A few times a week, usually on weekends, they are out free ranging.

Update, we cracked an egg of hers today and it stunk right out of the shell. So we opened another and another and they all were bad smelling, only hers.

Any other ideas people, I'm dumbfounded and it would be a shame to just throw away all her eggs.

Check if the Hearty Hen still uses canola meal as a main ingredient. Canola meal can make fishy eggs in some brown egg layers. There is lots of research on this on the internet. They have bred some sex links that aren't prone to this, but with other brown egg layers it could be a problem. Don't tell the nutritionist at Nature's Best though, as they never heard of it, SMH!

 

[aart]

Check if the Hearty Hen still uses canola meal as a main ingredient. Canola meal can make fishy eggs in some brown egg layers. There is lots of research on this on the internet. They have bred some sex links that aren't prone to this, but with other brown egg layers it could be a problem. Don't tell the nutritionist at Nature's Best though, as they never heard of it, SMH!

That's it!.... couldn't remember...hope I will now.

@msprey2g4e it should be on the ingredients tag sewn into bottom of bag.