Shell less eggs

[Judys chooks]

Hi all. I have just collected my two eggs and one of them didn't have a shell. One of the chooks has a bit if a ratty bum too. (Dirty pants?) Can Anyone tell me what causes this as I am very concerned. One egg I collected a few days ago had blood on it too!

 

[cassie]

Sometimes there is a mistake in the development of the egg. Don't worry about the blood. It usually doesn't mean a thing. Just wash it off.

 

[Callender Girl]

As long as it's just occasional, I wouldn't worry about the lack of a shell. It's like a glitch in the egg factory assembly line. Also, a little blood happens once in a while. It can't be easy to push out one of those things!

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is the chicken who laid the shell-less egg? What are you feeding the chickens? Do you place crushed oyster shell out for them for extra calcium? Shell-less eggs can be a common thing in a new layer, or an old hen. They are a problem if they are coming often, as they can be hard to lay, and can cause egg binding. They also can break inside the hen and can promote an infection.

If you can locate the hen in question, you may want to give a human calcium tablet or Tums for a few days to see if it helps. If it is a rare thing, just watch them. Shell-less eggs may be eaten by the hens before you see them. A reproductive disorder, injury, or a past respiratory virus can affect egg shells.