Beautiful Egg or Health Issue?

[Chickabluedle Coop]

Hi all, we're 8 months into our chicken journey.
We've started getting these magnificent eggs from a July chick. Just one a day. We don't know which breed is laying it. Those in question are Cuckoo Marans and two mystery girls we think are White Rocks. We do not have welsummers (unless it's possible to have a white welsummer).
So this is the egg, it's prob the third we've gotten like it....

Gorgeous right!?
Except when I went to put it in a carton and wipe it with a damp cloth, I notice it smelled...gross. And the color coming off of the egg was dark brownish. I almost wondered if it might be blood?
I ended up washing it.

And all of those beautiful speckles washed right off.
So...is this normal for speckled eggs?
I've read that speckles are the result of the egg turning too slowly in the pigment stage but these seemed to be part of a very stinky bloom.
I just want to make sure it's not some sort of infection or illness.
TIA

 

[Ted Brown]

I am not an expert.

I have Black Copper Maran mixes and get specked brown/"chocolate" eggs often. Do not have any with a "very stinky bloom".

 

[CHlCKEN]

it’s not part of an infection, and issues like that are extremely common in new layers. Their system is still wonky and you’ll see all sorts of things pop up, usually nothing to be alarmed by. That could be staining from the dark spots you see, i don’t think it is blood But in the event you do see blood, it’s normal. A pullet will strain more and cause blood vessels to burst. It’s harmless but your egg will end up with a few streaks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My guess is one of your Marans is laying these eggs.

I don't wash my eggs so no idea if dark brown pigment has some sort of smell to it? The speckles washed off because they are just pigment applied on top of the shell, so by washing and rubbing, you've removed the pigment.

 

[333113]

Brown egg coloring and brown speckles are on the outside of the eggshell. Blue egg coloring is throughout the eggshell. That's why when you open a green egg, the inside of the shell is blue, and the outside is green (combo of brown and blue).

Enough scrubbing will take all the brown color off the egg. But why would anyone want to do that?

I don't recall any smell associated with either color. But, since the egg and the poop use the same chute, I guess it's possible.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I would also guess your Marans laid these.

I have a Barred Rock who lays similar eggs with smaller speckles. The brown does wash off. It's kind of like a spray tan. As others have said, it is added after the egg is formed (it's a lil more complex than that, but you get the idea). Totally normal and not blood.

The speckled eggs will go through stages of darkness, the darker eggs usually coming early in the season and fading as time progresses. For example, these 2 eggs are both from my Welsummer:

I don't wash my eggs unless they are really dirty, but when I do, the brown comes right off.

Those are very pretty eggs! I'd refrain from washing them, if you can.

 

[Shezadandy]

Perfectly normal egg.

To figure out who is laying - pick each hen up one by one. Check the vent - which will be moist and larger if laying- and feel for the pelvic bones below the vent. If pelvic bones come together in a sharp "V" shape with no flexibility, that one isn't laying yet. If they have some distance between them, she's laying. If it's the first couple eggs, you may notice some redness and bruising around the edges of the vent, because of course the tissues have to learn to stretch for passing an egg.

 

[aart]

Hmmmm...what kind of stinky?
Poop stink?
Rotten egg stink(sulphurous)?

Dark layers have a funky coating, it can be pretty easily smeared or scratched ...or scrubbed off.

'Speckled' eggs can happen for several different reasons...very few, if any, of which are a 'problem'.
Can be caused by:
Excess or uneven pigment coating.
Excess or uneven cuticle(bloom).
Excess calcium deposits.
Porous eggs can appear speckled.
Some birds lay them consistently, some only once in awhile.
The pigment or bloom can change appearance when wet, then change back when dry again.

As long as bird is getting a good diet and is healthy in every other way, it is no cause for concern.