Spots in eggs

[Rick589]

Pullets have been laying for about a month now, to the tune of about 9 dozen eggs. Noticed that some of the eggs, but not all, have a small dark(brownish) fleck in them. Some of these flecks are in the yolk others are not. Hoping someone here might be able to provide some insight.

 

[aart]

Blood or meat spots, pretty common and not a concern regarding either health or edibility.

Blood spots are from a blood vessel breaking when ova is released from follicle.

Meat spots are from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

They sound like meat spots
Do they look like this:

 

[Rick589]

They sound like meat spots
Do they look like this:
View attachment 4035897

Somewhat, they're really small and have the appearance of a tiny speck of grit.

 

[Rick589]

Blood or meat spots, pretty common and not a concern regarding either health or edibility.

Blood spots are from a blood vessel breaking when ova is released from follicle.

Meat spots are from a tiny piece of tissue breaking loose from the reproductive tract.

Is this something that would disappear as the hens mature?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is this something that would disappear as the hens mature?

My experience is no.. unfortunately they continue.

You can see both blood and meat spot in the following article near the bottom.. what you're describing sounds more like meat spots..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Although the article says meat spots are more common in older layers.. For me they are more common in birds coming from TSC/Hoovers hatchery (even as pullets).. At least 1 bird from each batch I've bought from them in the last few years has had this issue and is why I won't be buying from them again. I've not previously seen or experienced it common in other hatchery's birds. But it really ruins the whole egg sharing experience for me, IF I can't tell who's egg it is. If I can tell, then I either feed those eggs back to the animals or cull the pullet/hen who's laying them.

 

[aart]

Is this something that would disappear as the hens mature?

Eh, hard to say. I've had some birds have them intermittently and some have them consistently. Not sure it relates much to age.

 

[Rick589]

My experience is no.. unfortunately they continue.

You can see both blood and meat spot in the following article near the bottom.. what you're describing sounds more like meat spots..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Although the article says meat spots are more common in older layers.. For me they are more common in birds coming from TSC/Hoovers hatchery (even as pullets).. At least 1 bird from each batch I've bought from them in the last few years has had this issue and is why I won't be buying from them again. I've not previously seen or experienced it common in other hatchery's birds. But it really ruins the whole egg sharing experience for me, IF I can't tell who's egg it is. If I can tell, then I either feed those eggs back to the animals or cull the pullet/hen who's laying them.

Thank You for this info. Per the pics they do appear to be meat spots. I have only ever seen one small fleck in any egg having one. The hens are BO's and other than these flecks the eggs look otherwise normal. Still dealing with a small bit of an 'ick' factor with our new found backyard eggs

 

[Rick589]

Eh, hard to say. I've had some birds have them intermittently and some have them consistently. Not sure it relates much to age.

Thank You. As I already replied we are still dealing with a bit of an 'ick' factor, this actually caught me by surprise.

 

[Rick589]

You know, this brings up another question. If these meat/ blood spots are somewhat normal how do commercial producers not have this issue? I can't see them catching every egg with a spot and I've never encountered this with store bought eggs.