Bloody Egg in The Fry Pan WHAT?!

[MysteryChicken]

Read this from the egg quality handbook.

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/egg-quality-handbook/28/blood-spots

This has nothing to do with a roster or fertilization. The yolk starts out as a tiny ova. It grows surrounded by a membrane full of blood vessels carrying nutrients to that growing yolk. When that yolk is big enough to become a yolk in an egg, that membrane splits to release the yolk to start its journey through the hen's internal egg making factory. It is supposed to split along a line that has no blood vessels, but occasionally a hen has a glitch. One or more blood vessels wind up breaking, so you get blood as well as yolk on that internal journey.

Some hens are more prone to this than others but if you follow that link you'll se that it is not that uncommon. The Egg Quality Handbook is mostly written for commercial flocks but we can learn a lot from it.

These eggs are safe to eat but there is a YUK! factor that many can't overcome. The commercial operations candle their eggs before they go in the carton for people to buy, they don't want their customers to get that surprise any more than you do. They don't throw those eggs away though, they sell them to places that use them after they are broken, maybe a bakery or a pet food factory.

The egg quality handbook talks about meat spots too. A bit of something breaks off inside the hen's body cavity ad it enters that egg making factory and winds up in an egg. That haooens inside your body cavity too and your body reabsorbs it. Again, they are safe to eat but there is a Yuk! Factor.

None of this is strange or unusual, it happens all the time. You are just learning more about what real chickens are like. As long as your hens are acting normal, there is nothing wrong with them.

I might as well include this link if you want to see how an egg is made.

That's a good video, I've watched it before, but forgotten about it.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Thanks! This a 7 month old pullet. I am new to being a flock keeper. What is candling? How do you do it?

Looks like helpful people have answered both of these questions that’s what makes BYC awesome! - sorry for my delay But yes, candle those eggs and keep the ones with dark spots for the dogs.
you may also be able to determine which girl is throwing them if you have a mixed flock.

I would begin chatting with customers about how healthy heritage chickens are different from factory farm production layers. Ours will have small imperfections like blood and meat spots and it is just life on the farm. Factory farms will cull these girls too young for it and they’ve bred them to ridiculous body composition to not show these imperfections.
Ours are better most customers will get this once explained.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is why backyard eggs should always be broken into a separate dish before using.

I pitch very messy eggs, pick out small meat spots before poaching or otherwise presenting straight, and ignore all but those very messy ones in any dish where little blood or meat spots won't show.

 

[Cee]

That's a good video, I've watched it before, but forgotten about it.

FASCINATING! Thanks so much. I think I will start candling my eggs before selling.

 

[MysteryChicken]

FASCINATING! Thanks so much. I think I will start candling my eggs before selling.

Okay, you're welcome.

 

[aart]

I think I will start candling my eggs before selling.

...or just tell them to....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

 

[ladybrasa]

...or just tell them to....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

Yeah, this is a good idea in general, but IMO, if I was buying eggs (if given them or like a buck or something, it would be different), I would personally like a little more assurance.

If the OP doesn’t mind me going off on a tangent - would a wayward worm in an egg show up on candling? Just curious. Been reading too much about worms and other things in eggs lately ... also at some point I’ll be getting a zillion eggs and will need to “rehome” some! Been wondering about a food bank, but can’t seem to find any requirements for my state.

 

[aart]

Yeah, this is a good idea in general, but IMO, if I was buying eggs (if given them or like a buck or something, it would be different), I would personally like a little more assurance.

Yeah, well, then might be better off buying store eggs.
I couldn't even see anything(except the air cell)candling most my eggs, they are too dark.

If the OP doesn’t mind me going off on a tangent - would a wayward worm in an egg show up on candling? Just curious. Been reading too much about worms and other things in eggs lately ... also at some point I’ll be getting a zillion eggs and will need to “rehome” some! Been wondering about a food bank, but can’t seem to find any requirements for my state.

Worms are very rare in an egg, not sure if you could see it candling except maybe a large round worm.
Food banks here won't take BY eggs....call your local food bank(s) and ask, that's how I found out.