I'm a little self conscious...

[kathyinmo]

BLOOD SPOTS:
Blood spots occur when blood or a bit of tissue is released along with a yolk. Each developing yolk in a hen's ovary is enclosed in a sack containing blood vessels that supply yolk building substances. When the yolk is mature, it is normally released from the only area of the yolk sac, called the "stigma" or "suture line", that is free of blood vessels. Occasionally, the yolk sac ruptures at some other point, causing blood vessels to break and blood to appear on the yolk or in the white. As an egg ages, the blood spot becomes paler, so a bright blood spot is a sign that the egg is fresh.

Blood spots occur in less than one percent of all eggs laid. They may appear in a pullet's first few eggs, but are more likely to occur as hens get older, indicating that it's time to cull. Blood spots may be triggered by too little vitamin A in a hen's diet, or they may be hereditary - if you hatch replacement pullets from a hen that characteristically lays spotted eggs, your new flock will likely do the same.

MEAT SPOTS:
Meat spots are even less common than blood spots. They appear as brown, reddish brown, tan, gray or white spots in an egg, usually on or near the yolk. Such a spot may have started out as a blood spot that changed color due to chemical reaction, or it may be a bit of reproductive tissue. Since meat spots look unappetizing, cull a hen whose eggs characteristically contain them.

Excerpt from "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens", by Gail Damerow

 

[waterpossum]

i have 7 hens:2 SLW 1 Brown Leghorn 3 EE 1 Mutt. i get 4-7 eggs every day and my EEs are the best! i can/t get enough eggs to keep up with customers. i sell for $2.00 a dozen and they bring me the cartons. getting a load of salmon faverolles that i hope to have laying by fall. i/ve never had any problems with misshapen eggs or anything. they come out perfect everytime...or my standards are not so high lol

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

I have three 2-year old Golden Buffs (from Meyer Hatchery, Polk, OH) and one Barred Rock hen (from friend), and both produce nice eggs without blood spots. The golden buffs have consistently produced from Large to X-Jumbo brown spotted eggs, while the Barred Rock is producing medium size eggs (she just started though). You can see the difference by clicking here: http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/2010/02/21/this-egg-is-different/. From what you have described, it seems like Golden Buffs would be good for you - they are bred to be strictly egg layers. They are not a heavy breed though - about 4 lbs.

 

[journey11]

Quote:
See, this is what gets me... I am finding blood spots in at least 50% or better of my eggs. Some are really bad too! Lots of little spots surrounding the yolk. I don't mind to pick out the occasional one though. I do see some meat spots, but not very many.

My EE's are the least likely to have them. Only once in a while do I find them in theirs. All I can figure is that I have gotten ahold of some inferior stock (all are from McMurray's) or possibly a vitamin difficiency like the excerpt mentions, although that would be less likely since they do have a very well rounded diet and get to range. ((lightbulb moment))....Maybe that is also why they are worse when they are cooped up for awhile? They aren't eating as well then. IDK... Most people expect to occasionally find a blood/meat spot when they buy farm eggs, but I have to be so careful to sort through and put the ones in that I think are less likely to have them. The EE eggs are great, like I said, but they're just not large/jumbo like most people want.

 

[journey11]

Quote:
Thanks for the recommendation! Meyer Hatchery is much nearer to me too, which is good. Two votes for Golden Buffs, several votes for Sex-links......I may try both then! The more chickens the merrier! I am set up to accommodate up to 40 in my coop. My husband knows this and loves me anyway.

 

[seminolewind]

There are many breeds that produce nice eggs, but it's hard to beat a Buff Orpington. Mine treats her egg laying like a business, LOL. And lays 6 out of 7 days, and never had an odd egg from her.

My Jersey Giants lay big eggs and are reliable but not like my Buff.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Heritage White Faced Black Spanish lay jumbo white eggs!

 

[fldiver97]

I don't sell eggs but my GLW's lay beautiful large eggs pinkish brown to medium brown. The first pullet eggs were smaller but they got to be a nice size, bigger than my EE and BR eggs. They have been laying throughout the winter, only slowed down for a couple of weeks when it was terribly cold. They don't lay everyday but I get 4-5 eggs per girl a week. And they are beautiful big birds, I love the way they look....

 

[journey11]

Quote:
I had a GLW roo once... They are exceptionally handsome.

 

[Kiwibird]

Vitamin A deficiency was mentioned in Kathyinmo's post. Oily fish are a good source of vitamin A, and also of vitamin D which affects calcium metabolism, which in turn affects shell quality. You can feed oily fish, or you can add a tablespoon of codliver oil for every six hens (others my use different amounts, that's just what I was told) twice a week.

I'm also wondering if any low-level illnesses raise the level of blood spots in eggs. I'll see if I can find anything about that.