Eggs have changed, what is going on?

[the simple life]

I cracked open some eggs tonight and found that the chalaza were very very thick and ropy.
I have heard of the chalaza but have never actually even noticed them in my eggs or any eggs I have ever seen but these things are gross, huge, thick, twisty and ropy.
Honestly, it looked like two umbilical cords on each end of the egg.
I know that these are suppose to hold the yolk and white together but what the heck?
I cracked 6 eggs from all different hens and they all had it, it was not just one so I am wondering what could be going on that would cause this to happen to all of them at once.
Its such a turn off that you don't even want to eat them.
Any thoughts would be great, especially if the people I gave them to ask me about them now.
Thanks.

 

[eggsrcool]

I;ve always heard, the fresher the egg the more noticable a chalzae (sp?) is.

 

[Uzuri]

I've seen them real big before myself, even from store eggs sometimes. Nothing exciting. Sometimes a little chewy in eggnog, though. So far they've not hurt me.