egg quality/ easily broken yolks

[LauraCatalano]

I've noticed that the yolks of my eggs break very easily. It doesn't seem to matter which chickens lay them. I have several Easter eggers, 2 golden sex-links, a Polish, a couple barred rocks.... Any recommendations for diet to help with this problem? Also, one of my barred rocks had her top beak bitten off by a dog last year. She's doing well, lays almost every day... but her eggshells are super thin. any advice on getting her more calcium? Thanks

 

[SueT]

Feed oyster shell on the side for thicker shells. As far as yolks are concerned, how are you handling these eggs? If you shake eggs, it can break the yolk, or rolling them down a skelter too fast....One day I was holding an egg in each hand and swinging my arms in an exaggerated way (okay, I was trying to get my fitbit to record extra steps) and one egg had a broken yolk.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also how fresh the eggs are and what temperature they are stored out will impact the eggs. I know this may not totally solve your problem, but it might help some depending what/how you need to cook your eggs. Older eggs tend to be more watery in general. I forget if eggs on the counter vs. the fridge will be thicker/less watery, but maybe try an experiment with a few of your own eggs laid the same day and put some on the counter and some in the fridge for like a week and then crack them in a pan/bowl and see if one is better than the other for you. Also how much a chicken drinks in a day will impact egg quality, if it's really hot, they may drink more than usual, if it's really cold and maybe the water froze at some point in the day they may drink less than usual. You could try a feed with a different percentage of protein than you are feeding now, eggs are mostly protein, and this should impact the eggs as well. Sorry I don't have a solid answer, but there are a few factors for you to look at

 

[aart]

What all and exactly how are you feeding?
Thin egg shells are about more than just calcium intake, they need other essential minerals/vitamins/amino acids to use the calcium they ingest.
Disease can also adversely affect shelling.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Non native swan eggs are routinely muddled or addled to keep them from producing more environment destroying swans. The eggs are shaken vigorously then returned to the nest. You can often get the same results by buying hatching eggs and getting them shipped in. The same result can also be achieved by spritzing hatching eggs with cooking oil.

 

[Acre4Me]

I've noticed that the yolks of my eggs break very easily. It doesn't seem to matter which chickens lay them. I have several Easter eggers, 2 golden sex-links, a Polish, a couple barred rocks.... Any recommendations for diet to help with this problem? Also, one of my barred rocks had her top beak bitten off by a dog last year. She's doing well, lays almost every day... but her eggshells are super thin. any advice on getting her more calcium? Thanks

We have noticed that we have one pullet (been laying for several months, so not a new layer) that has a more easily broken yolk - as in, when it hits the pan from only a few inches above, the membrane surrounding the yolk splits cleanly and the yolk flows out. However, the other eggs cracked into the pan do not do this. I am guessing it is the same pullet, but not 100% sure. We see this occur at about the frequency we would expect from the number of eggs from one pullet. We store our eggs in the fridge, and they are eaten within 5-6 days, so it is not due to an older egg. My guess is that it is more of an individual phenomena in my situation. If you are seeing it with most or all of your eggs, then that could be another reason entirely. Good Luck.

 

[cmom]

What all and exactly how are you feeding?
Thin egg shells are about more than just calcium intake, they need other essential minerals/vitamins/amino acids to use the calcium they ingest.
Disease can also adversely affect shelling.

I agree. Also oyster shells should help some.

 

[mykel]

My golden comets lay the most beautiful eggs that flip easily in a fry pan. My lavender Orpingtons have yolks that break much easier and only about 50% survive a flip in the frypan intact. Since they all live together, eat the same food, free range in the yard, I have to assume it is the breed of bird and not their diet. All their shells are rock hard, too.

 

[PopoMyers]

My neighbor has mentioned that he notice that some lighter brown eggs' yolks are also breaking when cracked into a frying pan, and are flatter. I have 5 breeds. I thought it could be a nutrition issue, (which led me to search here) but they all are fed/free ranged together. Guess it's a genetic thing.