Blood on Eggshell

[3KillerBs]

First bloody egg the other day I shrugged and figured "New layer glitch, this will pass". But I got another one and a visual scan of the flock's backsides as they milled around showed only one bird with butt fluff that didn't look right, Popcorn, my 16-month-old SLW. She's a reliable layer for about 4 eggs a week but her eggs have never been quite 100% right; sometimes they're slightly wrinkled, sometimes they're all over calcium deposits.

These bloody eggs are smooth, but they're her size and color.

Here's a photo of the second bloody egg (the first I just washed and used), and the best photo I can get right now of her backside.

Thoughts? Advice?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I got a few of those 2yrs ago from a hen that decided she needed to sit on her butt while pushing out an egg. She'd strain for awhile, causing the bloody eggs. She eventually stopped doing that, which was a relief. I was afraid she would cause herself a prolapse.

A ruptured blood vessel is what causes this, due to excessive straining during the laying process. If it persists for too long with bloody eggs there could be a different cause.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'd watch her in the nesting box to see what's going on, if I were you.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'd watch her in the nesting box to see what's going on, if I were you.

Unfortunately I have no coop camera and she does not lay at a regular time.

I *could* isolate her to ensure that it is her laying the bloody eggs.

Or today's egg could be perfect and I'm worrying for nothing.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Unfortunately I have no coop camera and she does not lay at a regular time.

I *could* isolate her to ensure that it is her laying the bloody eggs.

Or today's egg could be perfect and I'm worrying for nothing.

I didn't have a coop camera, I walked in on her laying an egg.

Yes, you can try separating her to watch her.

True.

 

[3KillerBs]

No bloody egg today. Popcorn seemed to be her normal self, foraging, scratching, and squatting at my ankles so that I could barely walk across the coop without tripping on her.

 

[MysteryChicken]

No bloody egg today. Popcorn seemed to be her normal self, foraging, scratching, and squatting at my ankles so that I could barely walk across the coop without tripping on her.

That's good.

 

[3KillerBs]

Update: I haven't seen another bloody egg all week.

I never positively ID'd the culprit but if it was Popcorn she seems to have stopped laying and started to molt.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Update: I haven't seen another bloody egg all week.

I never positively ID'd the culprit but if it was Popcorn she seems to have stopped laying and started to molt.

That's good it hasn't happened again.