Recurring discoloration of eggs - any ideas of cause?

[KarynVA]

One of my 3 hens has been laying eggs with this type of discoloration, always at the large end of the egg. She seems healthy and happy, but this has been occurring probably 8 out of every 10 eggs she lays, for about a month now. Is this a known malady with a specific cause, does anyone know? The hen is just over a year old and has been laying since last October; but this discoloration only recently started happening.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[KarynVA]

I looked at this article but it's not one of the problems it mentions. Oh, and I should say, the egg is fine inside.

 

[aart]

Is the shell thin in that darker part?
Candle to see if the shell is porous.
You can get some funky eggs in the backyard scenario.
I doubt it's anything to worry about, or anything you could about it.

 

[KarynVA]

@aart Thank you for your reply. The egg is not thinner at the darker part. Must be just one of those funky things. I'll not worry about it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't recall seeing anything like that but it looks like a "defective shell gland", the part of the gland concerned with putting the pigment on. I don't think it has anything to do with bloom, a coating that goes on last to help keep bacteria out. I agree it is not going to affect the egg inside at all.

The fat part of the egg is the first part out. So it would have something to di with how the egg is positioned as the coating is going on. Just another one of those things we see.

 

[KarynVA]

Interesting! Thank you, Ridgerunner.

 

[Csun132]

One of my hens has the same issue. It is strange. This has been happening for about 2 months.