Blood on her eggshells

[Callender Girl]

On Saturday and again today, Petra -- a one-year-old Sapphire Gem -- has produced an egg with blood on the shell. It's not like she's a new layer; she's been producing since last winter. And, I wouldn't have worried (too much) if it had only happened once. She's in a coop with her Gem sister and a pair of EE's. Everyone else is laying normally and no one is picking on her.

I know it's her because I can tell their eggs apart. I picked her up Saturday and her vent was slightly reddened and there was blood on a couple of feathers. It's been above freezing here for most of the last few days, so I don't think it's temperature related.

What's my next step? I have a vet who sees chickens. Should I take her in? My vet is quite used to me overreacting, so I'm sure if he's in, he would see her today.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Pics of egg? That’s actually quite common. Is the blood in patches of speckling, or something else?
If you mean blood in the egg yolks I wouldn’t eat those... but blood on eggshell is completely normal.

 

[Callender Girl]

The blood is only on the shell and it's smeared, not just flecks. This is the first time any of my 19 girls has done this. It's never happened with my runner ducks nor my geese, so I am a bit freaked out. Thanks for the reassurance.

BTW, I have eaten eggs with little blood spots on the yolks, not massive amounts, just little flecks. For some reason, that seems okay to me. lol

 

[FluffTheDuck]

The blood is only on the shell and it's smeared, not just flecks. This is the first time any of my 19 girls has done this. It's never happened with my runner ducks nor my geese, so I am a bit freaked out. Thanks for the reassurance.

BTW, I have eaten eggs with little blood spots on the yolks, not massive amounts, just little flecks. For some reason, that seems okay to me. lol

Yeah, that’s completely normal! I get blood spots every day on at least 5 eggs (I have 23 hens).

you can eat blood in the egg yolks in small amounts I’ve heard, but if it’s massive amounts don’t eat it.

 

[aart]

The blood is only on the shell and it's smeared, not just flecks. This is the first time any of my 19 girls has done this. It's never happened with my runner ducks nor my geese, so I am a bit freaked out. Thanks for the reassurance.

I'd just keep an eye on things back there...
...if it continues for more than a few days or so, might want to get her checked out.

 

[Callender Girl]

Just got home from an appointment and there's another bloody egg. I will call the vet after lunch. She seems to feel okay, running around with the others. But, I am worried.

 

[Callender Girl]

While I like the newly minted vet at my vet's office, she admitted she hadn't really seen chickens. Aside from her looking at Petra and moving a few feathers, all I got out of the visit was a 40-mile round trip and a $30 bill. (BTW, the new vet is much better with sheep and goats, and I'm sure she will learn. I just wish she had known more YESTERDAY.)

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photograph one of the eggs next time you get one with blood, so we can see how bad it is/isn't. I know it's alarming to see, but I personally wouldn't worry too much about it unless it really becomes a regular thing...

And yes it's hard to find an actual poultry vet, as opposed to one that does livestock in general or exotics, etc.

 

[aart]

While I like the newly minted vet at my vet's office, she admitted she hadn't really seen chickens. Aside from her looking at Petra and moving a few feathers, all I got out of the visit was a 40-mile round trip and a $30 bill. (BTW, the new vet is much better with sheep and goats, and I'm sure she will learn. I just wish she had known more YESTERDAY.)

At least they didn't gouge you on the office visit.

 

[Callender Girl]

Believe me, between my livestock and poultry, they see me often enough they treat me fairly! There is one vet there whose daughter raises chickens, and she knows quite a bit about birds. The senior vet and practice owner knows something about poultry. I just had an appointment when the only vet in the office that day was the one least likely to know.

On a happier note, Petra laid an egg today and I had to SEARCH to find a miniscule amount of blood on the shell. Hopefully, she is getting better, whatever it is. I did read somewhere that adding more fat to her diet might help her pass eggs. She and her coop mates loved the bacon grease, regardless of any possible medical value.