Hey we just started keeping chickens for eggs. Had chickens in the past but were not concerned about eggs years ago. This time around we are in it for the neat pets they are and the fresh eggs. So my hens are yound and some of the eggs have small red spots in them. What is this and why is it there? Ok plus my kids like to gather the eggs and my daughter told me she found an egg under the porch and put it in with the rest of the eggs. So is there a way to know if an egg is spoiled without breaking it open first. I don't know which egg it was that she found under the porch. Now the final question I have an egg eating hen. Is she missing something in her diet or is there a way to stop her from doing that? Thank you so mch in advance!
Hi, and ! Spots in eggs are normal, it's just a bit of tissue or blood that got caught up when the egg was being formed. All hens get them at one time or another. Younger hens can be more prone to them just because they're still working out the kinks in their reproductive system. If you're getting a lot of them I have heard it might be caused by the hens being stressed in some way like being harrassed by dogs. You can tell how old an egg is by candling it, basically you shine a bright light through the egg and look at the air pocket in the big end. A dime sized spot means it's very fresh, anything bigger than a quarter and I'd throw it. You can also check by putting it in water, if it floats, it's old. I use a little flashlight, cup the egg between my thumb and forefinger and shine the light through it. Egg eating can be a big problem, every hen I've had who ate eggs quit when I switched to a 50/50 layer/flock raiser mix. Good quality food and plenty of room to roam can help if you have a problem. You can look on other threads that people who've had the problem have written, there's a lot of info out there.
I will shake my eggs in question and if it sounds like any sloshing water inside then I toss them. Store bought eggs will do this too but they might not be bad yet....but I particularly don't like it. Too many fresh eggs for too long I guess.
Thanks! Now a friend of mine has offered me her chickens. They just don't have time to deal with them and the hens a getting killed off left and right. Do I need to worry about bringing disease to my flock?
Can I give you some reading which might help. First, Buff's flock integration. Full of good info. Buff Hooligans Adding to your flock https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock Then, the Egg Quality Handbook. Look for meat spots and blood spots. Egg Quality Handbook http://www.thepoultrysite.com/ourbooks/1/egg-quality-handbook/ As far as the egg-eating hen, I've never had one so I cannot speak from experience. Some people report success by gathering the eggs often and leaving fake eggs in the nest. Supposedly the hen pecks at the egg, it does not break, so she gets out of the habit of eating eggs. I'd guess it sometimes works and sometimes does not. As far as testing for a potential bad egg. The older an egg gets, the more moisture it loses through evaporation through the shell. The air sac gets larger as time passes and eventually the egg will float. It does not mean the egg is bad, but it is a good indication the egg may not be trustworthy. I always suggest breaking an egg in a separate bowl or cup before adding it to anything you don't want to lose, just in case. If you do test the eggs in water to see if they float, I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator afterwards. If you wash the bloom off the eggs (the protective coating the hen puts on the eggs) they will spoil a lot faster out of the frig, but in the frig they will still last a long time. And if you do try to float them, use water about ten degrees warmer than the egg. When you wash or put an egg in water colder than the egg, the air sac will contract, which causes a slight vacuum inside the egg. This can draw water into the egg which may bring bacteria with it. It's not a huge risk, but why not be that little bit safer? Good luck!!!
