Egg Quality

[284stak]

I started to allow my chickens to free-range on our propery about 6 wks ago. They are constantly eating grasshoppers and scratching through horse manure. I have pellets and crumbles available free-choice along w/oyster shells. With 9 hens, I avg 4-6 eggs/day. They don't seem to eat much of the pellets or crumbles, so I throw them a little scratch also.
The eggs whites have become noticeably more watery and the yolks slightly more pale compared to before free-ranging ---- is this normal? The eggs still cook fine and taste great. What are the common causes of watery whites when cracking an egg - not cooking them.
Thanks

 

[briteday]

The most common cause of watery whites is an older egg. Are you collecting them quickly and refrigerating?

 

[Ridgerunner]

According to the Egg Quality Handbook, there could be several reasons for the watery whites. Follow this link and see if you think any apply to your situation.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/30/watery-whites

 

[284stak]

Thanks for the link. I did get two older red sexlinks recently and a mid-age wyandotte --- not all the eggs are like that, but I suspect it coulde be from the sexlinks, they are 2 yrs old.
I'm in UT with low humidity, we p/u eggs around 4pm everyday - so the age/breed reasons so most likely.

 

[kathyinmo]

Here are a couple links on egg quality ....

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS020


http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/329/factors-affecting-egg-quality