My chicken laid an egg with a weird design (yes design!) on the shell - why?

[wendyb]

I have three sex linked (Golden Buff) hens that started laying eggs in August. One routinely lays larger eggs than the other two that sometimes have two yolks


and today she laid this egg with a sun design on the shell. It is actually ridged and a perfect sun the way my daughter draws suns on her pictures. Does anyone know what caused this?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Looks like you have an artistic girl in your bunch

. Other than that I got nothing. Never heard of it before.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

This summer with the blistering heat I had a hen laying eggs with almost a crackle finish on them- not hairline cracks, just a design, and they were extra thick shells. Several people suggested it was due to the heat, and possibly a calcium deficiency as well.

 

[Grateful Dad]

nice manicure

 

[wendyb]

Haha. The nails do look pretty good in the pic, but I am more interested in how this happened. I am new to chicken keeping and we're so in love with our sweet girls. Some of their eggs have had little calcium deposit bumps on their shells, but I can find no information on what would cause this. I'm just wanting to make sure she's okay. I've read some posts talking about mineral deficiencies causing problems with egg laying and I want to make sure I'm doing the best for them.

 

[wendyb]

 

[albie1834]

is it jesus

 

[Snowypinesridge]

Generally this occurs when the birds are not drinking enough water. It is though a cool design!

 

[NovaAman]

MsB, are you stalking me?

I read some where that it is mineral, illness, or water that can cause rippled... But the sun? Well, aside from that, how is the shells thickens? I personally would blow it out and keep it!

 

[suki'smom]

OMG I got one very similar to that from one of my Welsummers! I'll post a pic tomorrow