Chicken laid rotten, exploding egg

[sarahkin]

Help!

I have 2 older chickens that haven't been laying, not sure if due to age or hot Texas summer. They are Ameracaunas, about 4.5 years old. I also recently got 2 chicks and they have been kept separately.

Last week I noticed 2 eggs had been laid. 1 smelled odd and had some yellow goop outside. 1 felt hollow. I threw both away. Today I found what looked and felt like a normal egg, but to be sure I decided to crack it into a jar and save for later in case something was off about it (didn't want anyone else in my family getting an unpleasant surprise)

Thank God because when I cracked it it made a loud explosion sound and flung green goop everywhere. It was the worst thing I have ever smelled in my life.

What could cause this? And what can I do about it? I'm not sure we even have a vet here that treats chickens. I had a hard time finding anyone to see my rabbit. Do I need to be concerned about it spreading?

Of the 2 chickens one has been looking worse for the wear. They are both perky overall, pecking around the yard and doing their usual thing, but 1 has been sleeping with her mouth sort of hanging open and looks tired to me. Of course it has been 100 degrees every day for months.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Where these eggs laid in a nest box that you check each day, and are you sure they were laid that day?

 

[coach723]

Are these eggs being laid in the normal nesting areas? Are you sure they are freshly laid, and not old eggs that have been there awhile?

 

[sarahkin]

They were laid down lower by the water, but I check there every day. I found the first 2 eggs there so I have been checking there daily now. I checked there yesterday and nothing was there, the egg was fresh this morning.

Thanks!

 

[sarahkin]

I might note that both chickens have stopped climbing the ladder up to the nesting boxes. I assume it's just because they are getting older. They definitely can't jump as high anymore either.

 

[lazy gardener]

Is it possible that the eggs have been buried in the DL and are being dug back up? If that's not a reasonable issue, I'd say that someone is messing with your coop and planting rotten eggs there. Freshly laid eggs can not possibly be rotten.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have found eggs that have been buried in the litter as well. They get tossed. On some occasions people have reported getting green or black contents in eggs they have found. Some causes have been bacterial contamination, or too much Cotton seed oil in the diet. Here is a long thread about similar eggs, and a few others:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-laying-smelly-eggs-with-black-yokes.369427/
https://eggsafety.org/eggs-inside-and-out/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[sarahkin]

I don't think that's what it is, but I will definitely clear out the litter and make sure. I did find a couple other people reporting this type of thing with a freshly laid egg in the box, are you guys sure I don't need to be concerned about infection etc?

I don't want the baby chicks to get sick (or my small kids... I bleached all around where the egg exploded but I don't if some went flying elsewhere).

It was so gross I'm not sure I'll ever crack another egg without fear. I'm so glad no one was home, I had to RUN outside.

 

[coach723]

If the eggs were outside where critters can find them, there may be a hidden nesting area that was found and riffled through. An animal would be able to smell them, and may have discarded them where you found them. Just trying to cover the possibilities.

 

[sarahkin]

Ok, they were in the enclosed/locked area that we open during the daytime. So, I think my first step will be to clear out the litter, make sure no eggs are hidden, then return the litter and keep the door closed/locked for a couple days to see if any new eggs appear?