Runny Egg Yolks

[VolailleAmant]

My eggs lately have been very strange....The egg white is fine, but the yolk is a pale yellow and whenever they are cracked open, the yolk doesn't even hold together, it just goes...Plop.....
Has anyone had this problem? My Dad hates my chickens and so he gets easily disgusted with any little thing wrong with my eggs
Any help is welcome!
-VA

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Young pullets often lay irregular or odd eggs until their inner apparatus gets cranking. This is normal. Older hens can be affected by physical or environmental stress that affects their eggs and production. Temperatures, barking dogs, predators nearby, dehydration, parasites, changes in food, and many other factors are at play. The pale yolk could be related to inadequate nutrition or parasites. If it's just one hen affected, I'd look at her behavior and check her physically closely. She might be ailing. Some hens just aren't ever up to snuff as layers. Good luck!

 

[VolailleAmant]

Young pullets often lay irregular or odd eggs until their inner apparatus gets cranking. This is normal. Older hens can be affected by physical or environmental stress that affects their eggs and production. Temperatures, barking dogs, predators nearby, dehydration, parasites, changes in food, and many other factors are at play. The pale yolk could be related to inadequate nutrition or parasites. If it's just one hen affected, I'd look at her behavior and check her physically closely. She might be ailing. Some hens just aren't ever up to snuff as layers. Good luck!

If they have parasites, what medications would you recommend so that while the chickens are being wormed, the eggs would still be safe to eat?
Thank you for your input!!

 

[lazy gardener]

What is the protein content of the feed? What is the mill date of the feed? Do they have access to green vegetation? Do they have access to the sun? I'd suggest putting them on a higher protein feed, perhaps 18%, stop the scratch grain if you are using it, and get them on some multi-vitamins.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Treatment depends on the parasite. Withdrawal time depends on the treatment. I would not recommend a "shotgun" approach when dealing with any livestock. Using any medication or treatment can further stress already stressed birds, so do only what is necessary and proceed with caution. Find out what your actual issue is, then act accordingly. Follow the label directions for any medication you use, including the withdrawal times listed. Doing anything otherwise could be dangerous to the health of your livestock and anyone consuming their products. Best of luck to you!

 

[VolailleAmant]

I am using 16% layer feed, yes, I do feed them scratch grains...So stop? They have access to the sun, they have eaten all of their green vegetation, but I will toss some greens such as lettuce, Comfrey and weeds in for them to nibble on
Multi vitamins such as what? I am putting together a shopping list of necessities.
Idk the mill date though...
Thank you for you input!
-VA

 

[lazy gardener]

You can find the mill date on the paper strip at the end of the bag where it is stitched. It will either be Month, date, year, or listed as a Julian date, with a 7 (to indicate the year) before or after the Julian date. Here's a conversion chart: https://idahopotato.com/uploads/media/directory-julian-dates.pdf

It's always helpful to check the mill date of feed before buying it b/c old feed is rancid feed and has very little usable nutrition in it. A published poultry nutrition expert stated that feed over 6 weeks old is well on it's way to loosing it's nutritional value. I've seen feed on the shelves at a national feed store that was 3 months old.

You can find vitamins on the shelf at the feed store.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

It's actually good to have those Julian date codes in your back pocket for all kinds of things! You notice that link is from Idaho potato producers? Many things you buy for human consumption are also Julian date stamped. The expiration date isn't always the only date you might want to know before buying.