Should I be concerned if one of my hens keeps laying eggs like this?

[FermanaghFlock]

I've noticed that over the past while one of our hens keeps laying quite large eggs, with marks on it as shown in the picture. I can't imagine laying eggs like this can be comfortable for her! The egg at the top is one of the other hen's eggs. They're both bluebells and have access to the exact same food - layers pellets and a separate grit supply, they're free range so also scavenge for much of the day.
Is there anything we can do to help her out with this?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Looks like a damaged shell gland. That is often the result of a past respiratory illness like Infectious Bronchitis.
They may not currently have it but the eggs aren't likely to return to normal.

 

[IamRainey]

The way I understand it is that the blue color on eggshells is a paint (actually called "paint" in poultry) that the hen covers her egg with as it moves through the canal. Sometimes they simply run out of it. My guess is that's what's happening.

My Cream Legbar that laid lovely blue eggs when she was young now, at about 3yo, lays an egg that is nearly white. I've been seeing them grow paler over the years.

If your hen is applying her paint to a brown eggshell you could get that bleed through tie-dyed look. I notice you've dated one egg. Can you compare the dates and see if the blue color gets progressively lighter and the brown becomes more dominant? That could be a test of my theory.

In any case, the egg inside won't be affected.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think the OP's concern was with the wrinkled shell.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

The way I understand it is that the blue color on eggshells is a paint (actually called "paint" in poultry) that the hen covers her egg with as it moves through the canal. Sometimes they simply run out of it. My guess is that's what's happening.

My Cream Legbar that laid lovely blue eggs when she was young now, at about 3yo, lays an egg that is nearly white. I've been seeing them grow paler over the years.

If your hen is applying her paint to a brown eggshell you could get that bleed through tie-dyed look. I notice you've dated one egg. Can you compare the dates and see if the blue color gets progressively lighter and the brown becomes more dominant? That could be a test of my theory.

In any case, the egg inside won't be affected.

The blue egg shell color is not caused by paint, it is the color of the shell produced. And brown eggshells are painted. The op was also probably concerned about the wrinkled eggs.

 

[FermanaghFlock]

Yes, the concern is the wrinkles! By bluebell I meant the breed of hen, which lays light brown eggs!
Thanks for all the replies everyone, there was a point a few months ago when egg production dropped for a while so I wouldn't be surprised if a past respiratory infection was the issue!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Check out this BYC article as it talks about that issue: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[FermanaghFlock]

Check out this BYC article as it talks about that issue: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Thank you, that was quite an interesting read!

 

[IamRainey]

The bleu egg shell color is not caused by paint, it is the color of the shell produced. And brown eggshells are painted.

Thanks for making the clear. I have brown and blue shell producing chickens and some produce shells in colors in between. I'll watch them more carefully now to try to see what's going on.

I know you're correct and I was confused, however, because one of my Marans/Legbar crosses lays a shell that's olive on the outside but blue on the inside.

But (and not to distract from the OP's question) why aren't the blue shells so blue anymore? And my Sicilian Buttercup used to lay an egg that had almost a pink shell but I haven't see that as she's aged either.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

there was a point a few months ago when egg production dropped for a while so I wouldn't be surprised if a past respiratory infection was the issue!

Hi there,hope you are enjoying BYC!

The first poster is likely correct. Have you actually seen respiratory disease and already know you do have it in your flock? Humblehillsfarm posted the link I was going to. It's a good reference tool to help get clues about what things to look into.

I've been seeing them grow paler over the years.

All colored eggs get lighter sometimes throughout the lay cycle, the season, or like you've noticed over the years. Sometimes when they return to lay the get their color back for a while.

Those marks are almost pretty!

When you crack them open for eating.. are the shell actually thinner and brittle like it looks or still solid?

Hope they thrive!