Fully formed egg covered with membrane

[chxmommajess]

Hi!
I have 4 Isa browns that are 6 months old. They started laying about two weeks ago. First one... then 2...then three...then finally I got a fourth egg today. I’d already collected three from the coop at 11 am (they lay early). When I looked in their roost just visiting there was another egg, fully formed, good color, but there was a loose skin like membrane around it almost completely. They all seem healthy, I know weird stuff happens when they start laying. I just want to know if this is cause for alarm. Please advise !

 

[sourland]

It's almost like she started laying down another membrane/shell around the formed egg. I have seen pictures of a shell created over an already shelled/formed egg. Early in the laying cycle - I would not be too concerned.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Agree w/ @sourland. I would double check that they're getting enough calcium. They should be on layer feed by now. (Or an All Flock w/ oyster shell on the side.)

 

[chxmommajess]

It's almost like she started laying down another membrane/shell around the formed egg. I have seen pictures of a shell created over an already shelled/formed egg. Early in the laying cycle - I would not be too concerned.

Thank you!

 

[chxmommajess]

Agree w/ @sourland. I would double check that they're getting enough calcium. They should be on layer feed by now. (Or an All Flock w/ oyster shell on the side.)

Thank you they are on layer and have oyster shell available

 

[aart]

Probably, hopefully a glitch.

This is caused by 'counter peristalsis'(I think that's what it's called)
...a fully shelled egg backs up in the system and gets another coating of membrane.

 

[chxmommajess]

Probably, hopefully a glitch.

This is caused by 'counter peristalsis'(I think that's what it's called)
...a fully shelled egg backs up in the system and gets another coating of membrane.

I think you’re right but in most cases it’s a full shell. I just hope it’s not harmful to her. I hope she’s just figuring it out.

 

[aart]

but in most cases it’s a full shell

Do you mean a shelled egg within a shelled egg?
I think that's much more rare than just an extra membrane.

 

[chxmommajess]

Do you mean a shelled egg within a shelled egg?
I think that's much more rare than just an extra membrane.

The first egg was a normal, solid, egg. Around it was like a very soft shell. It wasn’t completely surrounding the egg, but I think they had been picking at it. It was more like a skin/ membrane around the egg.

 

[chxmommajess]

The first egg was a normal, solid, egg. Around it was like a very soft shell. It wasn’t completely surrounding the egg, but I think they had been picking at it. It was more like a skin/ membrane around the egg.

Loose though, not fit to the egg