Egg with blood on

[albodean]

Hi All,

I have 3 pullets and this morning I found the first egg in their nesting box which looked fine. This afternoon there was another one in there with blood on it. First, is this normal? Secondly, is it possible for a newly laying pullet to lay 2 in a day as she is the only one squatting so I thought they both might be hers?

Thanks,

Alex

 

[bobbi-j]

Hi All,

I have 3 pullets and this morning I found the first egg in their nesting box which looked fine. This afternoon there was another one in there with blood on it. First, is this normal? Secondly, is it possible for a newly laying pullet to lay 2 in a day as she is the only one squatting so I thought they both might be hers?

Thanks,

Alex

Yes, it can happen that an egg will have a little blood on it. It's fine. I highly doubt your pullet laid two eggs. I would guess you have a second one laying. I don't always see mine squatting before they start laying. That's just one sign you may have one that's ready. How about combs and wattles? I tend to go by that more than squatting. They get redder and fuller when a pullet is ready to lay.

 

[ccar2000]

It is not unusual for some blood to appear. I am unsure if your pullet might have laid two eggs in one day however, it is not unusual for two hens to lay in the same nest. Some hens are broody and will set on eggs and some will just lay and walk away.

 

[albodean]

Thanks for the replies. All of their combs are big & red i just thought that none of them have laid and then I suddenly got 2 in one day that it might be the same one? I've also attached a pic of the egg, please let me know if it's excessive.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is from the cloaca stretching out as the egg passes through. It can be somewhat common in new layers or those starting back up after a break. It should stop after a bit.

 

[aart]

Not unusual to happen once in awhile, but certainly can be alarming.
Unless it continues, I'd not worry.

If you want to know who is laying and who is not, this is my go to,
takes some practice and comparison but pretty accurate once you get the hang of it:

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points 2 bony points(pelvic bones) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

 

[mechanic57]

Its normal to find blood on the egg when a hen first starts laying. You may also find little spots of blood or bloody tissue in the egg as well. Its also normal to have 1 egg with 2 yolks, or an egg with no shell (just membrane with yolk), or an egg with the egg white and no yellow yolk. Once their bodies adjust and mature you should get normal eggs on a much more consistent basis. Could take a month for that to happen. Its more likely your eggs come from seperate hens but while their reproduction system is just getting started it is possible they could lay twice a day but its rare for that to happen.

 

[albodean]

Thanks all, I've never checked the chickens vents before - mainly because they're hard to catch! Now though, one of the pullets squats down shaking whenever I go near her so she should be easy to check. Is it just a case of moving the feathers out of the way so you can get a clear view?

Do hens usually keep laying in the same nest? I have 2 nesting boxes and 3 pullets. Both eggs yesterday were in the same box but this morning there was an egg in the other box.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[aart]

I check them off the roost at night, easy to catch that way, using a head light to be able to see while still using both hands.
You need to move feathers to see vent, but not to feel pelvic points once you understand where they are.
Much easier if you have someone to hold bird while you look/feel.