Crinkled Egg Shells

[325512]

I have 17 hens almost a year old that produce 16-17 eggs daily (before noon). However, sometimes, one of them will wait until evening. When she lays in the evening, she will lay again in the morning and the morning egg will have a thin crinkled shell. She will return to normal egg laying for about a week and then do it again. Is this an irregularity that eventually correct itself?

 

[sumi]

Sometimes wrinkles and other egg shell problems are caused by defective egg shell glands, but the problem is often caused by other influences such as stress, the hen's age/experience, feeding, disease, etc. This article breaks down the causes per problem:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Hope it helps.

 

[kbarrett]

In my previous flock one of the leghorns would lay a huge egg every third or fourth day or so. The egg would be a usually be double yolk and very long with wrinkles on the small end. She did that the whole 2 1/2 years I had her.

 

[aart]

I have 17 hens almost a year old that produce 16-17 eggs daily (before noon). However, sometimes, one of them will wait until evening. When she lays in the evening, she will lay again in the morning and the morning egg will have a thin crinkled shell. She will return to normal egg laying for about a week and then do it again. Is this an irregularity that eventually correct itself?

I've had a few wrinkly layers...comes and goes, just a glitch.
As long as there's no sign of illness, it's probably just a glitch.

What breed is she and is she low bird in the pecking order?
Sometimes stress can cause abnormal egg shells.

 

[325512]

I have 17 hens and I don't know which one it is. I have 8 whites and 9 reds. I tend carefully to my chickens to keep them as stress free as possible. I don't see any signs of "pecking damage" to any of them. I think you are right: it maybe just a glitch. Thanks!

 

[aart]

'Stress' enough to form a funky egg can be something we don't even see and is not necessarily detrimental to the short or long term health of the bird.
Could be a loud noise that startles them, or a new person walking into the yard, or a nastier than usual pecking order squabble that particular day, or a misstep on the ramp that gave them a tumble, or a....you get the point.

 

[325512]

I am surprised that something so insignificant can cause such a drastic effect on egg production! It is a wonder it doesn't happen more often. Thank you for your help!

 

[capassar]

On the subject of Egg Shell problems, here is a great visual chart I found on an Irish poultry site: http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf. It's a good resource.

 

[katiaobie]

I've been getting an egg from one of my girls that has waves in it. Nothing has changed in their diet or anything like that. Just wondering if anyone else gets these from time to time?

 

[katiaobie]

I've had a few wrinkly layers...comes and goes, just a glitch.
As long as there's no sign of illness, it's probably just a glitch.

What breed is she and is she low bird in the pecking order?
Sometimes stress can cause abnormal egg shells.

I think you are right... Must just be a glich! She doesn't have any sick symptoms and she eats and drinks with the others... No sign of abuse from the other chickens.... Thanks for everyone's help