Previous clear eggs now blood smeared

[Mrs. K]

It looks gruesome, but really should heal on its own if you don’t bother her.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I dont believe its the food. Probably a blood vessel that got hurt laying an egg and opens every time when laying. Vaseline might help.

A break in laying eggs would be the best to give it time to heal properly. If you can put her in a dark room for about 18 h a day, she will lay less eggs and might stop laying (temporarily) within a few weeks.

Other possibility is to encourage her to get broody. Set her apart in a nest box/small coop with 4-6 fake eggs. It only works if her hormones say she wants babies.

even better idea: use fertile eggs and get more birdies! chicken math gonna chicken math

 

[BDutch]

even better idea: use fertile eggs and get more birdies! chicken math gonna chicken math

Not such a very good idea in winter imho.
Spring chicks get a better start in life.

 

[Mrs. K]

You really cannot make a hen go broody - that is entirely up to the broody Gods - I have tried.

 

[BDutch]

You really cannot make a hen go broody - that is entirely up to the broody Gods - I have tried.

I can with my hens. If I leave 4-5 eggs in a nest box for 2 -4 days, there is always one hen who’s hormones go crazy. At least from April til July.

BTW, I was pleased to read this hen is getting better anyway. I never had such blood smeared eggs with my any of my chickens.

 

[smicara]

I can with my hens. If I leave 4-5 eggs in a nest box for 2 -4 days, there is always one hen who’s hormones go crazy. At least from April til July.

BTW, I was pleased to read this hen is getting better anyway. I never had such blood smeared eggs with my any of my chickens.

She laid 9/29 and 10/1 and no eggs since then. I applied Vaseline and introduced oyster shell. I thought the feed had enough calcium in it. Wow! Was I wrong on that! Feed has 2 different kinds of calcium with min of 3.50% and 4.50% max. Oyster shell is 35%-39%. Oyster shell will continue to be on the menu for the girls. They have only had it for a few days so hoping oyster shell does the trick and no more blood smeared eggs.
Oh……….Chicken_tiger_catt……I don’t want anymore chickens or chicks. If that changes in the future I’ll be sure to let you know.

 

[BDutch]

Nice she stopped laying so much. Now the wound has time to heal.

3.5% might not contain enough calcium for every day layers. I don’t know about 4.5%. Do you serve oyster shell in a separate dish at choice?

Try to find what is okay for your flocks need. I give my mixed flock mainly chick feed with low calcium and give layer feed (4%) and oyster shell aside. And give the egg shells back to them. Bc they don't sell organic feed for mixed flocks in my country. Not giving GMO (poisoned) soy from Brazil is very important for me.

 

[smicara]

Nice she stopped laying so much. Now the wound has time to heal.

3.5% might not contain enough calcium for every day layers. I don’t know about 4.5%. Do you serve oyster shell in a separate dish at choice?

Try to find what is okay for your flocks need. I give my mixed flock mainly chick feed with low calcium and give layer feed (4%) and oyster shell aside. And give the egg shells back to them. Bc they don't sell organic feed for mixed flocks in my country. Not giving GMO (poisoned) soy from Brazil is very important for me.

As I said, I introduced oyster shell on the side on 9/30 and keep it full. I expect an egg today and hoping for a change. Perhaps oyster shell may not have had time to process into her system but will see if I get an egg today.

 

[smicara]

As I said, I introduced oyster shell on the side on 9/30 and keep it full. I expect an egg today and hoping for a change. Perhaps oyster shell may not have had time to process into her system but will see if I get an egg today.

Hen laying bloody eggs cleared up 10/5 and 10/7 but today 10/8, bloody again. Could an overly amorous rooster cause this issue? Also, she is on the bottom of the pecking order…….if she’s over stressed, could that cause bloody eggshells?

 

[Mrs. K]

I don't think so on the rooster part. Maybe on the pecking order part - are they pecking out her bottom?

It usually just clears up on its' own.

Mrs K