Found a Strange Egg 5/20/2025

[Gingerwhale]

Hello, everyone!

This is my first ever post but I’m a long-time creeper. Anyway, one of my barred rocks laid a strange egg and I was hoping one of you could tell me about it. Should I worry? They’ve laid fairy eggs before, but this seems different. The shell was very thin and it had a weird texture and a little nodule on top.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is weird. I'm going to tag some of our Educators, I'm sure they'll be interested and may shed some light.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart @coach723

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello, everyone!

This is my first ever post but I’m a long-time creeper. Anyway, one of my barred rocks laid a strange egg and I was hoping one of you could tell me about it. Should I worry? They’ve laid fairy eggs before, but this seems different. The shell was very thin and it had a weird texture and a little nodule on top.

Welcome To BYC

Did the egg have any Albumen (whites) or Yolk in it? Any meat spots or debris inside?

To me it looks like a Fairy Egg with a tail, plus a little extra calcium coating.

Could have been in the shell gland for longer than normal and received extra calcium coating. The tail is usually also due to being in the shell gland for a longer than normal time. The tail is usually formed when part of the egg is still soft and gets stuck, stretching it out, it can be long or short, but this one is Fairy Egg sized.

What do you feed, including treats?

If it's a one-time occurrence, I wouldn't worry too much, hens can have glitches. If she's acting o.k., eating/drinking and active I'd observe her for now and see how her next several eggs come out.

 

[Gingerwhale]

It is weird. I'm going to tag some of our Educators, I'm sure they'll be interested and may shed some light.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart @coach723

Thank you!

 

[Gingerwhale]

Welcome To BYC

Did the egg have any Albumen (whites) or Yolk in it? Any meat spots or debris inside?

To me it looks like a Fairy Egg with a tail, plus a little extra calcium coating.

Could have been in the shell gland for longer than normal and received extra calcium coating. The tail is usually also due to being in the shell gland for a longer than normal time. The tail is usually formed when part of the egg is still soft and gets stuck, stretching it out, it can be long or short, but this one is Fairy Egg sized.

What do you feed, including treats?

If it's a one-time occurrence, I wouldn't worry too much, hens can have glitches. If she's acting o.k., eating/drinking and active I'd observe her for now and see how her next several eggs come out.

I was feeding them purina layer feed, they stopped wanting to eat it so I switched to Kamblach but they hated that so I switched it again just the other day to Nutrena NatureWise layer feed. I also give them LoveMyGirls treats, mealworms and soldier fly larva, and fruits and veggies. I haven’t been giving them as much of any of it because they’re getting some good grazing in recently. Do you think they’re reacting to the switching of the feed? She seems fine otherwise—her normal, playful self. And this does appear to be a one off. Thank you for your help!

 

[Gingerwhale]

I was feeding them purina layer feed, they stopped wanting to eat it so I switched to Kamblach but they hated that so I switched it again just the other day to Nutrena NatureWise layer feed. I also give them LoveMyGirls treats, mealworms and soldier fly larva, and fruits and veggies. I haven’t been giving them as much of any of it because they’re getting some good grazing in recently. Do you think they’re reacting to the switching of the feed? She seems fine otherwise—her normal, playful self. And this does appear to be a one off. Thank you for your help!

Oh, and when I found the egg, it was cracked open at the end so I couldn’t tell what was in there. But it seemed like hardened whites inside.

 

[coach723]

I agree with everything @Wyorp Rock said. Glitches can have all sorts of reasons, stress (which can be caused by just about anything), diet, illness, etc. Many times it's a one time thing, and never recurs. Age of bird can sometimes be a factor, young new layers tend to have glitches while getting it all figured out. Birds going into or out of lay (molt or season) can have glitches. Older birds that may be getting near the point where they stop laying altogether can have glitches. If she's acting fine, then I would just keep an eye on her, see if it happens again or there are further issues, or if all returns to normal. I would pay more attention to how many treats and really limit that, those can dilute nutrition and lead to problems. If the feed was the whole grain type, those can sometimes cause issues due to birds only picking the bits out that they like and leaving the rest, which can lead to deficiencies. A pellet or a crumble type doesn't let them do that. You didn't mention oyster shell, so if you are not, you also should have that available in a separate feeder. There is calcium in layer feed, but needs can vary bird to bird, season to season. Heavy layers may need more, older birds that don't lay as often may need less. Having it free choice allows them to take what they need. Many of us feed all flock feeds rather than layer and keep the oyster shell (or mixed 50/50 with saved crushed eggshells) available all the time. Roo's don't need the extra calcium in layer feed, and if you have older birds that don't lay often or have stopped, they also don't need the extra calcium. Too much calcium can also lead to health problems (kidney issues, gout). I find that doing it that way, I don't often have shell quality issues.

 

[Gingerwhale]

I agree with everything @Wyorp Rock said. Glitches can have all sorts of reasons, stress (which can be caused by just about anything), diet, illness, etc. Many times it's a one time thing, and never recurs. Age of bird can sometimes be a factor, young new layers tend to have glitches while getting it all figured out. Birds going into or out of lay (molt or season) can have glitches. Older birds that may be getting near the point where they stop laying altogether can have glitches. If she's acting fine, then I would just keep an eye on her, see if it happens again or there are further issues, or if all returns to normal. I would pay more attention to how many treats and really limit that, those can dilute nutrition and lead to problems. If the feed was the whole grain type, those can sometimes cause issues due to birds only picking the bits out that they like and leaving the rest, which can lead to deficiencies. A pellet or a crumble type doesn't let them do that. You didn't mention oyster shell, so if you are not, you also should have that available in a separate feeder. There is calcium in layer feed, but needs can vary bird to bird, season to season. Heavy layers may need more, older birds that don't lay as often may need less. Having it free choice allows them to take what they need. Many of us feed all flock feeds rather than layer and keep the oyster shell (or mixed 50/50 with saved crushed eggshells) available all the time. Roo's don't need the extra calcium in layer feed, and if you have older birds that don't lay often or have stopped, they also don't need the extra calcium. Too much calcium can also lead to health problems (kidney issues, gout). I find that doing it that way, I don't often have shell quality issues.

Thank you! I give them some treats in the evening before they roost for the night, about a 1/2 cup for all 5 chickens to share. Less in the summer. They are on a crumble feed and do have oyster shell in their run for them to easily get to when they need it. They’re about a year and a half old and just started laying again (they stop almost entirely in the winter). Good to know about the calcium, and I will try an all-flock feed thank you so much!