INTERESTING. What is going on with these eggs?

[feathermaid]

I see this when my chickens get to laying age and the calcium deposit stage for the shell is still trying to stabilize and I see it when they eat too much oyster shell.

Thanks. Jewel has been laying normally for a couple years, but I have noticed she might just be eating too much oyster shell to compensate for the feed. I'm hoping everything will even out once I switch back to layer again.

 

[slordaz]

I noticed quite a change in my year old hens when changed feed too, and went to flock raiser with oyster shell free choice and more calcium deposits but was from them eating more and they soon figured it out themselves and ate less of it as that couldn't have been comfortable coming out

 

[mixedbreeds]

I had lots of those calcium deposits on my young Legbar eggs but they are fine now. I did start with the free choice oyster shell about the same time that was going on.

 

[aart]

It may take awhile to balance things out with the new feed regime.
They will definitely eat more OS when feeding FR, hard to say if she is over-eating it.
At 2 1/2 years old(~30 months?) she should be molting soon, you can get some funky egg around molting time.

Great pic!

A super close-up

 

[staceyj]

Yikes! I hope that's not true. She's only 2!

I’m thinking that poster meant to say ... for the season....
At the end of a laying season , as molt comes on and as the days get shorter, I notice a definite lightening of the egg shell color.
...sort of like they are running out of paint.

Then when they resume laying in spring, the color is back.
This is one of the reasons why I do not support winter lighting to keep The hens laying I am of the camp that says they deserve a break.

 

[feathermaid]

It may take awhile to balance things out with the new feed regime.
They will definitely eat more OS when feeding FR, hard to say if she is over-eating it.
At 2 1/2 years old(~30 months?) she should be molting soon, you can get some funky egg around molting time.

Great pic!

Yes, I didn't really want to put Jewel on a different feed, but I definitely didn't want the young ones eating layer and it was impossible to keep separate. I've heard many people just always feed FR and offer OS on the side.
So, is it a bad idea to switch back to layer? I will probably get more chicks sometime in the future... which would mean back to flock raiser! So what's best?

Maybe this whole weirdness is because she's molting a bit. I just never noticed different eggs before.

**Totally off topic ** I thought that close up was great too! So interesting.
I got a new Galaxy S9 phone that takes awesome pics

 

[feathermaid]

....
Then when they resume laying in spring, the color is back.
This is one of the reasons why I do not support winter lighting to keep The hens laying I am of the camp that says they deserve a break.

Totally same camp!!! I also can't bear to have a light on all night for baby chicks... heating pad all the way!

 

[aart]

So what's best?

Whatever you think is the best!
I've always fed FR with OS on the side, works for me.
But then, I use lights after Solstice.

 

[feathermaid]

Whatever you think is the best!
I've always fed FR with OS on the side, works for me.
But then, I use lights after Solstice.

Oy! There can never be just one correct answer for anything!

 

[coach723]

I also feed flock raiser with OS on the side. Have for many years, I have roo's so don't want them getting too much calcium. And I don't supplement light in the winter, those that take a vacation just get to rest. I have seen more of the calcium deposits on my EE eggs, once in a while on another breed, it's never been an issue. No idea why EE's might be more prone to that. I find my hens seem to do better on the flock raiser, the bit of extra protein seems to be a good thing for them. But, as said, do what works for you. I'd probably stick it out for a bit to see if things settle down, and then switch if you aren't happy with how things are going. Anytime you change feeds, either way, there will be an adjustment period.