Crazy quail eggs

[Erkenstein]

My only thought is a problem with the egg gland, or whatever it is that adds the layer of shell. Maybe the bird needs to mature?

 

[Derrin]

My thoughts too the ones that are doing this are eight weeks old. I have had chickens do this at four months. Adding 1 ounce of ground oyster shell sheru other day to be sure though. My feed has a 1.4-2.4% calcium so I do not think it will hurt them.

 

[DK newbie]

Unless the hen actually lays the egg into your hans and the hole is there when the egg lands in your hand, I would be pretty firm on saying there is no way these holes origin from inside the hen: The holes are pecked after the eggs are laid. My cots do it as well. Not every day, but quite often there is an egg with a hole in it. The holes have sharp edges meaning the missing shell was broken off after being formed, it hasn't just not been properly formed. And as there is nothing inside the hen that could poke such a hole in an egg, it has to happen outside the hen. Also the holes tend to be pretty neatly beak sized.
As to why they keep pecking at the eggs, my guess would be they are curious. Maybe they do it right after the egg was laid, when it's still shiny from the moisture inside the hen. That would explain why it's usually only one egg a day - whoever does it is unlikely to stumble over eggs laid by other hens while they are still moist, she's more likely to see her own egg.

 

[Derrin]

I have layer cages. My eggs roll out to the front the moment they are layed. They cannot reach them they would have to reach over the food tray and about seven to nine inches to reach the eggs. Also I noticed one yesterday that I collected right after it was layed. It has no hope then ten minutes later while sitting in the egg carton a piece of the egg shell Ferrell into the air bubble of the egg. While it was just sitting there. Similar to watching a sinkhole open up.

 

[DK newbie]

New theory then: The egg hits the wire or the end of the roll out tray or something after being laid. This causes tiny cracks in the shell. Once the egg cools down, the contents shrink and this causes underpressure in the egg which pulls the cracked shell inwards, causing the hole.

 

[Derrin]

Great theory. Will decrease the incline and see. Also thickening the Shell slightly should help too. Have not had another one since I posted. Might have just needed to post. Lol