Pullet eggs not normalizing

[Toddrick]

I got two BR pullets in June. They are healthy and active, but their eggs don't look quite normal yet. They've been laying since July. The initial eggs were perfect, tiny eggs, and I expected them to get full size in August, but they only started getting to large size in October, and they are still slightly abnormal. On one of them the pointy end is always longer, and pointier than normal. The other is always very slightly wrinkled. Will these ever normalize, or am I going to be stuck with lame layers? Is it maybe typical for BR's to take longer to get normal eggs?

I've never had a soft shelled egg, or a dramatically weird egg of any kind. What I'm describing are minor issues, but not what anyone would expect to see in eggs bought from a store.

 

[Ameraucanas]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems I have not seen them, so I cannot quite tell, but this site might help you identify the problem.

 

[aart]

Doesn't sound too off, I get a range in size and shapes some with consistent 'oddities'.
They all taste the same.

Can you post a pic of these eggs?

 

[Toddrick]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems I have not seen them, so I cannot quite tell, but this site might help you identify the problem.

None of my eggs are nearly as bad as the ones on that page. I would eat any of them, but I wouldn't feel right selling them. I rarely get a normal egg from my new pullets. I'm aware that some eggs will be slightly abnormal, but these birds turn that rule on its head. I'm hoping they just haven't matured fully, but I've got almost 3 dozen "bad" eggs now. They are either too pointy, slightly wrinkled, or slightly odd shaped (no pointy end). They stopped being miniature eggs several weeks ago, but still are not up to par. If they are never going to get better then I'm probably going to have to cull these birds.

 

[mamalaoshi]

Are they maybe missing something in their diet? Or maybe it's just a genetic thing since the two are both having the same issue and you got them at the same place.

My chickens eggs always look normal after the first few eggs so I don't thinks it's normal but I don't have any BRs.

 

[aart]

Quote: Do you have other birds, eating the same feed, that have 'good' eggs?
If so, then it's a genetic abnormality that is most likely 'unfixable'.

 

[Toddrick]

Are they maybe missing something in their diet? Or maybe it's just a genetic thing since the two are both having the same issue and you got them at the same place.

My chickens eggs always look normal after the first few eggs so I don't thinks it's normal but I don't have any BRs.

They have been on Layena. I am switching them to a higher protein layers feed though, and maybe that will help. These two spent three days in a shipping box with no food or water, and were in rough shape when they arrived, but recovered after about two weeks. I hope their reproductive systems aren't damaged from the shipping delay.

 

[Toddrick]

Do you have other birds, eating the same feed, that have 'good' eggs?
If so, then it's a genetic abnormality that is most likely 'unfixable'.

I have three other hens and their eggs are normal. Two of the three are Buff Orps, which naturally lay smaller eggs. One of them is a Red that lays great eggs, but she's almost three now, and is slacking off. These new Rocks were supposed to be my main layers, and I'm really disappointed so far.

 

[donrae]

I don't have a problem with pointy eggs. I sell them just the same when I'm selling, I call them "torpedo eggs" and the kids love them

The wrinkled eggs probably won't go over so well selling, but I'd eat them. sounds like she's just got a hitch in her shell making system and she may well be that way all her life.

 

[TalkALittle]

I have a hen that always lays "torpedo" eggs. If she were a factory layer I'm sure her eggs would be sorted out by the quality control workers and sent off to become egg product in some processed food plant. They aren't bad, just not as aesthetically pleasing and too long and thin to fit in the carton correctly. That's part of the appeal of farm fresh eggs though. They're like snowflakes--no two are alike.