Meat spots-Blood spots, The Cause, The Cure

[bhawk-23]

Possibly, since she's still young. Or possibly it will continue for the rest of her laying life. My one bird that was very prone to meat spots probably had something like 90-95% occurrence of meat spots in her eggs, so I always pulled her eggs out for things like baking or mixing into meatballs, where the spots could easily be removed and/or at least not impact the final look/taste of product.

I have a French Copper Maran (?) that lays eggs with blood spots and meat spots. She has since the very first one and has continued 6+ months now. I now keep all her eggs for us and gift the others. But since they are not stopping I started to wonder about her health. But since all of our other girls lays eggs with spots just on occasion I will hope this is just genetic for her. I've attached a couple pictures of her eggs just in case it is something more. Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a French Copper Maran (?) that lays eggs with blood spots and meat spots. She has since the very first one and has continued 6+ months now. I now keep all her eggs for us and gift the others. But since they are not stopping I started to wonder about her health. But since all of our other girls lays eggs with spots just on occasion I will hope this is just genetic for her. I've attached a couple pictures of her eggs just in case it is something more. Thanks!

As long as she's active and acting normally, my guess is there's some genetic component to it and healthwise she'll probably be ok. What I wouldn't do is hatch her eggs because of that, in case it is genetic. But since you can ID her eggs, yes the best thing to do is save them for applications where either the spots don't matter, or they can be scooped out easily if you prefer.

 

[ThinMintTheChicken]

I read somewhere on BYC that meat spots/blood spots could be caused by the height of roosting bars and the impact the hens make from the height of the roosts to when they jump/fly off. The person lowered their roosts and they said that there were no more meat/blood spots after they did so. I wish I could find the thread, it was interesting but I don't know how accurate it was

 

[ThinMintTheChicken]

I read somewhere on BYC that meat spots/blood spots could be caused by the height of roosting bars and the impact the hens make from the height of the roosts to when they jump/fly off. The person lowered their roosts and they said that there were no more meat/blood spots after they did so. I wish I could find the thread, it was interesting but I don't know how accurate it was

Oh my gosh it was this exact thread

I need to get some sleep

 

[bhawk-23]

Oh my gosh it was this exact thread

I need to get some sleep

You had me questioning myself if this was the same thread. Hahaha
Our set up has different levels to jump up onto their roosts. And out she has been out only anomaly

As long as she's active and acting normally, my guess is there's some genetic component to it and healthwise she'll probably be ok. I wouldn't do is hatch her eggs because of that, in case it is genetic. But since you can ID her eggs, yes the best thing to do is save them for applications where either the spots don't matter, or they can be scooped out easily if you prefer.

No hatchings over here!! We are at our limit and I am literally praying we don't get a broody because I just cannot deny them mamas their babies they are so fiercely longing for. I am so weak

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I have a French Copper Maran (?) that lays eggs with blood spots and meat spots. She has since the very first one and has continued 6+ months now. I now keep all her eggs for us and gift the others. But since they are not stopping I started to wonder about her health. But since all of our other girls lays eggs with spots just on occasion I will hope this is just genetic for her. I've attached a couple pictures of her eggs just in case it is something more. Thanks! View attachment 3066152View attachment 3066153

Is she a BCM or a hatchery breed of Maran? Like the Midnight Majesty Maran? My MMM has that issue, always has, big beautiful dark speckled eggs though.. and I'd guess it's actually about 2 out of every 3 eggs that end up with a blood spot. I blame it on the high production output when it comes to her, not the high roost thing. Most of my high output birds end up with blood spots at some point, sometimes from day one.

 

[theoldchick]

My Sapphire Gems seem to have a tendency to lay eggs with meat spots. My Jersey Giants and Black Copper Marans rarely lay an egg with a meat spot. Same environment, same diet. So, in my case, I'm claiming genetics.

 

[3KillerBs]

I can sell them to friends/family/neighbors,

Personally, I'd do that only with their consent and at a discount price.

I am making an agreement to discount my undesirable eggs to my SIL who is going to need eggs for baked goods for her food truck business as she uses them by weight anyway and customers will never know what size they were or what the shells looked like.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Personally, I'd do that only with their consent and at a discount price.

I am making an agreement to discount my undesirable eggs to my SIL who is going to need eggs for baked goods for her food truck business as she uses them by weight anyway and customers will never know what size they were or what the shells looked like.

Oh, I do it with their consent. They don't care - at all - and all insist on paying full price. I even have a refund/replace policy that if they come across any egg that is poor quality, I will replace it, refund their $, or give them their next dozen free. No one has ever taken me up on it.

And I do candle, so if any egg is BAD or has too much blood in it, I wouldn't sell it. But my birds rarely have blood spots, except new layers or sometimes when they resume laying after molt or winter.

 

[bhawk-23]

Is she a BCM or a hatchery breed of Maran? Like the Midnight Majesty Maran? My MMM has that issue, always has, big beautiful dark speckled eggs though.. and I'd guess it's actually about 2 out of every 3 eggs that end up with a blood spot. I blame it on the high production output when it comes to her, not the high roost thing. Most of my high output birds end up with blood spots at some point, sometimes from day one.

BCM I received in a "rare breed" hatching eggs from a breeder. I just adore broody hens She's super sweet, beautiful, and lays large lovely dark brown eggs. I believe an overall healthy happy girl. I have found the last two I cracked did not have any obvious spots but it was late and I didn't inspect them totally. Such a shame, people loved seeing her dark brown eggs. My neighbor will eat them because she grew up on farm raised eggs and knows it's fine. And....the eggs are free. Lol

I just don't gift them to most people.