Finally getting eggs! Have questions...

[rkhyland]

We are finally gettign eggs from the pullets! We started off with 3 Aracauna hens and 2 Blue Cochin hens. The Aracauna laid eggs poretty regularly until some stress and a moult sidelined them. About a week ago a blue egg showed up again after more than 2 months! The Blue Cochins have never laid eggs for us. They were 2007 chicks and I have had them since March. Well, a couple of brown eggs showed up so we assumed it was them. We got baby chicks at the end of April 2008, mostly Light Brahma, and have been waiting for the freeloaders to start paying their way. Well, we got 6 brown eggs yesterday so I can safely assume the 2 Cochins did not lay 6 eggs! Yay!

But, the eggs have a "powdery" looking shell, not shiny like they should be. Any suggestions?

Kim
South Dakota

 

[KellyHM]

Some eggs just have a different coating. One of my RIR girls lays pink eggs, but if I wipe the powder off it's just a shiny brown egg underneath. Congrats on the eggs!

 

[jenjen]

My Light Brahmas lay a pinkish colored egg with a white powdery coat on them. Like the last post said, it tends to wash off. I don't know what it is

 

[digitS']

. . . probably just calcium carbonate . . . egg shell that didn't quite stick . . .

I also have one Barred Rock that lays a more pink than brown egg. At first, the egg was almost "mottled" but that has become rare now that she's been laying for awhile.

Steve

 

[ChandlersChickens]

I got an egg like that just once....when I cracked it open it just fell apart. It was a very weak shell!

 

[legacyln]

Mine often have that powdery white on them too.

Dumb question time: sometime ours have brown speckles. I have tried washing but they don't come off. Is it poop that is just so dried on it won't wash off or is it actually speckles? I tend to think its poop but wasn't sure. The layers are Buff Orps, Barred Rocks and a Dominique.

 

[digitS']

Quote:
Yep, . . . actually speckles.

In fact, only if there is poop in the nest box or on the vent is it possible for an egg to get poop on it.

The oviduct doesn't really drop the egg into the intestine during laying

. The egg moves from the oviduct thru the vent into the world.

While the egg is in the uterus - all that calcium carbonate shows up and sticks to the egg membrane. This isn't a completely orderly process. Pigmentation in the shell isn't always spread around evenly - so, speckles

!

Steve

 

[legacyln]

Interesting! Thanks for the reply!