Eggshell abnormalities

[Franklinridgefarms]

I have noticed over time with several different individual hens of Golden Comet/Red Star varieties that they seem to have a lot more instance of odd eggshell characteristics. Here is an example from a hen that we recently acquired from a friend.

 

[Ducks 4 life]

The egg has little bumps on it. Is the egg shell thick ? Usually this just means they are getting excess calcium in their diet. If the shell were really thin and cracked easily without bumps it would mean t hey need more calcium.

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

The egg has little bumps on it. Is the egg shell thick ? Usually this just means they are getting excess calcium in their diet. If the shell were really thin and cracked easily without bumps it would mean t hey need more calcium.

Thanks for your response. This eggshell is thick enough, but some like that in years past from other birds have been thin especially in the area of the abnormality. I have always feed a layer ration, our other chickens of other breeds very rarely lay an abnormal egg.

 

[Ducks 4 life]

You could try putting a b owl of oyster shells out and let them free feed on those of you have concerns of thin shells.

 

[aart]

Thanks for your response. This eggshell is thick enough, but some like that in years past from other birds have been thin especially in the area of the abnormality. I have always feed a layer ration, our other chickens of other breeds very rarely lay an abnormal egg.

How old are these birds?
High production breeds are more susceptible to reproductive system abnormalities.

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

How old are these birds?
High production breeds are more susceptible to reproductive system abnormalities.

The one we have now is approximately 1 1/2 years old. We have only had her for a couple of weeks and that was the only misshapen egg to that point, and today it was a more normal egg. Until we got that egg yesterday, I was thinking that she may not have the issues. I have had a few Golden Comets/ Red Stars a few different times and it seems each time they tend to lay abnormal eggs, pretty much from the start of lay on through. They also tend not to last long as they start dying around 2 years it seems. I don’t know if maybe the layer ration isn’t compatible with them or whether it is a genetic issue? We typically have had White Leghorns as the bulk of our layers and no issues with them. One time did have a WL that consistently layed an egg that the shell was rough like sandpaper ( we felt sorry for her).
The last round of chickens we had were Barred Rocks and Black Australorps and no issues with their eggs either.