Meat instead of Yolk

[FlyingNunFarm]

Pardon but What The H*** is this!?! I have a BCM who been having a hard time starting up. She's layed 2 shell less eggs. I know that can happen but they had yolks. This one seems to have a giant hunk of meat in it.

This is what I found in the nest box. The non-shell was already off the insides. The white of the egg seemed thick to me but complete. I took it all in the house and separated that big hunk to inspect further. It was fairly hard. I could squeeze it a little and I did break it open. It was solid. I've heard of meat spots but this seems extreme.

 

[sumi]

Goodness, that is QUITE a meat spot! You mentioned she's "starting up" so I'm guessing she's a new layer? New layers sometimes have issues with their eggs and produce some alarming oddities, though this is an extreme example! I'd say make sure she's fed well (layer feed) and kept as stress free as possible and hopefully she will get her reproductive system working as it should soon. If you're interested, here is some info on abnormal eggs and the egg formation process:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[aart]

Did you cut that 'chunk' open?
I'm betting 'lash egg'.....basically a chunk of congealed puss from an infection in the reproduction system.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

This was her third egg. The first 2 were soft shell less. I know new layers can sometimes have issues but this did seem extream. I feed a feather fixer with free choice oyster shell. I have a mixed age and gender flock so feather fixer was a good balance of calcium and protein. I did break it open and it's seemed like meat not lash egg.

 

[aart]

This was her third egg. The first 2 were soft shell less. I know new layers can sometimes have issues but this did seem extream. I feed a feather fixer with free choice oyster shell. I have a mixed age and gender flock so feather fixer was a good balance of calcium and protein. I did break it open and it's seemed like meat not lash egg.

Well, hopefully it's just a fluke from a new layer.......it can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.
Feather fixer is higher than most layer feeds in protein, 18% vs the usual 16%, but it's still pretty darn high in calcium for non layers.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing that this BCM is going to be a hen prone to reproductive issues. Keep an eye on her, and if she starts acting lethargic, standing around all puffed up, spending excessive time in the nest box, you might be forced to make some culling decisions.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Well, hopefully it's just a fluke from a new layer.......it can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.
Feather fixer is higher than most layer feeds in protein, 18% vs the usual 16%, but it's still pretty darn high in calcium for non layers.

I hope so. I wanted another opinion on how big the piece was. That's more than a "spot" to me.
I went with the feather fixer because it was less protein then flock raiser at 20% and less calcium 3.25% - 3.75% compared to 3.5% - 4.5% layer feed.
I've got oyster shell out but noone seems interested. When I offered flock raiser and layer everyone ate the opposite of what they were supposed to. LOL

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I'm guessing that this BCM is going to be a hen prone to reproductive issues.  Keep an eye on her, and if she starts acting lethargic, standing around all puffed up, spending excessive time in the nest box, you might be forced to make some culling decisions.

I hope she gets squared away. I'm not even sure wich of the three BCM it is. They are all acting normal so I really hope it's a glitch in the start up.

 

[sumi]

I'm hoping it's only a glitch, since she's a new layer, but I had the same thought Lazy Gardener had when I read your first post and saw the pics… Let's hope! Please keep us posted on the next few eggs and how she's doing?

 

[bobbi-j]

I hope it's a glitch, too. But I've gotta say - that's the ugliest thing I've ever seen come out of a chicken!