Red things on outside of eggs

[FenDruadin]

One of my ducks lately has been laying eggs with little leech-like things on the outside of the shell. I can't tell if the things are alive (I don't see any visible body parts like mouth or antennae or anything), but they are somewhat uniform in shape, like a curled up slug, and about two or three millimeters long. They are red and squishy unless they have dried out. I don't know for sure if she is laying them like that, or if the red things attach after laying. The eggs are perfectly fine on the inside.

Any thoughts?

 

[gocrow77]

I don't know anything that will help, but that sounds pretty scarey! Almost sounds like leeches... although I'm sure it's not.

 

[rainplace]

I'd be interested in seeing a picture.

 

[streemers]

maybe she has a kind of worms??

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Pictures would definately help.

Have you checked the nest area, well? I know that if there is small particles in the nest when the egg is laid they'll get stuck and dried with the bloom of the egg. It is why eggs laid it dirt seem to have dirt "stuck" on them.

-Kim

 

[FenDruadin]

Thanks for the suggestions. She lays in a different part of the pen at different times, and it is just on top of the straw. Occasionally she also lays in a nest, but that is an exception. So I really don't think it's anything in the straw, but I will look closely--maybe there are bugs attracted to the warmth or something of the egg when it is first laid, and then they get stuck... I don't know.

I googled for duck parasites and duck worms and "red worms on duck eggs" and "red spots on egg shells," and everything else I could think of and have found absolutely no mention of this as a symptom for parasites or anything else... I am stumped. I will investigate further and if I think of it in the morning (though I'm likely to be rushing around, actually--busy day tomorrow), I'll try to get a picture. The eggs from this morning are already washed and in the fridge.

Thanks again!

Heather

 

[ScoobyRoo]

do you live in a wet climate? I am curious to as what you are experiencing.