Malformed egg's with watery whites

[JoshFig]

Background: I have a couple of 1.5 year old hens that are hitting their first molt. Not sure if this is from one of them (molting issue)- but I wanted to put this out to see if there were any insights.

Issue: I've had 3 eggs over the past week that were somewhat 'mal-formed' (see photo) - coming about every other day. All of them had whites that were the consistency of water. The yokes were fine and had good white around the yoke - but the rest of the eggs are like water (if I crack the egg water basically splashes out).

Any thoughts as what could be causing this? Molting? Parasites? Disease?

 

[redsoxs]

Here is a link to a very informative article by moderator Sumi about various egg abnormalities. It may shed some light on your egg issue. Best wishes! https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[JoshFig]

Good article - although i'm still a bit up in the air on the cause.

One other note: I have 12 hens - 8 from this spring and 4 from last spring (2 of which are molting). They all free range and the rest of the eggs are fine.

In addition - the eggs are not being stored at all (which eliminates storage issues).

My best guess is still that I'm getting 'junky' eggs from the molt. My maran (who is molting) has had terrible egg quality as well (no dark coating / spots).

Any other ideas?

 

[aart]

That's a typical malformation, a 'slab sided egg'..... it could be because of production slowing down before a molt, or starting back up after a molt....
......or it could be one if the causes listed in the funky egg article.

 

[JoshFig]

That's a typical malformation, a 'slab sided egg'..... it could be because of production slowing down before a molt, or starting back up after a molt....
......or it could be one if the causes listed in the funky egg article.

Would any of the causes of 'slab sided eggs' also cause watery whites? Any possible correlation between the two or more likely coincidental, with both being caused by a molting hen putting her energy into feather growth rather than egg production?

 

[aart]

Quote: Could be either..... sorry, I don't really know.

It's not really 'energy going into feather growth' but the laying production slowing down to stop,
and then also starting up again just like when they first start laying,
they don't usually lay at all once molt truly begins.

If you scroll way down in that article there's some watery albumen info too.
It's pretty hard to diagnose an ill bird, unless you have access to excellent avian vet and lab.