Hole in egg - pecked or stepped on?

[hellotrixie]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for opinions on whether or not the hole in this egg is from being pecked (beak) or stepped on (toenail). The second photo is a little blurry, but it shows good perspective of where the hole is on the egg.

The hen that laid these eggs has been having shell quality issues (rough/thin shelled eggs, and a few shell-less eggs with no membrane) since January, I believe due to stress and dietary imbalance. In hindsight, I see I probably made quite a few mistakes, which I have learned from. She has no respiratory or other visible symptoms of disease except minor weight loss, which I think was due to her being depressed and eating less (she is normally VERY greedy, but was eating sparsely for a few weeks). I have been monitoring her closely and am planning to have a fecal test done next week.

Here is a quick rundown of what she's been through:

• I believe she (and her 3 flock mates) had her normal/natural molt December/January
• Lost all 3 original flock members, one at end of December and two in quick succession late April/early May (causes of death respectively: hawk, unknown, cancer)
• Went though period of confinement to coop/run when she was previously free ranging 4+ hours per day (this was due to hawk attack)
• Changed feed from a "whole grain" layer feed to a pelleted layer feed in January (changed gradually by mixing)
• Introduced to new flock members during April/May, one of whom is a cockerel (very gradual introduction/integration that has been successful)
• Possibly stress-induced mini molt during May/June

About two weeks ago, I noticed that all the feathers were coming back in on her belly/bum (yay!) and she starting squatting to me again, and to my young rooster, and she started hanging out with the new pullets more. Her appetite improved and she appears to be putting some weight back on. Then about 10 days ago she laid a rough, thin shelled egg, which broke in the nest box (I found all the pieces). She has been laying about every other day (pretty good - she's 2 years old) and the shell quality has been improving with each egg, becoming thicker and smoother. However, I've gotten a couple with these holes. The membranes are always intact when these holes occur. This is her egg from yesterday (7/14). She does tend to eat the shell-less eggs. Could she be trying to eat the shelled ones too? Maybe she stepped on it? Other thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[swamphiker]

I think this hole is more likely to be caused by pecking.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That actually looks like an egg I had, different place for the hole though. How thin was the shell?

 

[hellotrixie]

That actually looks like an egg I had, different place for the hole though. How thin was the shell?

I would describe this shell as almost normal thickness. There have been a couple of thinner shelled eggs that had similar holes though.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Here's an image of a brittle egg I got about a week ago. It was so brittle that I think part of it just stuck and pulled away to the membrane. It was still intact though and didn't leak. Did yours leak?

 

[hellotrixie]

Here's an image of a brittle egg I got about a week ago. It was so brittle that I think part of it just stuck and pulled away to the membrane. It was still intact though and didn't leak. Did yours leak?

View attachment 2244745View attachment 2244746

The one I posted did not leak, nor have any of the others with this type of hole. They look very similar to yours - thanks for posting!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Do you know which hen laid it? Is she older? My hen that laid my egg is around 5 I think, so she may be running out of steam

 

[hellotrixie]

Do you know which hen laid it? Is she older? My hen that laid my egg is around 5 I think, so she may be running out of steam

She's 2 and was under a considerable amount of stress for some time. I think it threw her system off. Her eggs do seem to be improving now that the stress has reduced.

 

[aart]

I would describe this shell as almost normal thickness. There have been a couple of thinner shelled eggs that had similar holes though.

I'll bet the shell is thin where the hole is and it cracked when it hit the bottom of the nest or another egg.
Glitchy shelling gland.