Strange discolouration on egg shells? Advice needed please!

[jayelle]

Hi everyone!
I apologise for making my first post a question - but I bet I'm not the first person to join a group like this because they're worried about their hens!

We have 4 lovely hens, all a different hybrid, and they're all about 18 months old. They are really good layers, and are much loved additions to the family. Recently, we've been getting some funny eggs. They are a bit bumpy, and have discolourations on the one end which start of red-ish in colour, and over a few days, turn more brown. I'm really alarmed, because that's what blood does - and I don't mean a bit of blood on the shell, it's like it's IN the shell somehow. (I do have pictures, but don't seem to be allowed to attach one at the moment)
I can't find anything on google, and I was hoping someone on here could offer some advice please. The hens themselves all look fine...
Thanks ever so much!
Jen

 

[jayelle]

Ok, I've figured it out now. I was clicking the wrong button...
The pale egg on the top with red on is today's. The one underneath with the dirty looking brown mark on it is from last week. I hope the picture gets over what I'm finding hard to explain - it's like the discolouration is in the shell itself somehow...
Are my girls ok? I'm really worried.
Thanks for looking.

 

[Den in Penn]

Welcometo BYC.
It looks like a calcium utilization problem, not enough deposited on the shell during its formation. You could try upping the calcium available, oyster shells or feeding back egg shells. Giving them a boost of vitamin D. It is also possible that she was stressed, and time is needed.

 

[jayelle]

Thanks ever so much for your reply. I'll try giving more oyster shells. How would I give them vitamin D?

 

[Dette]

I would try scrambling up some eggs for them, gives them the benefit we all get from eating the eggs, without tempting them to eat their own.

 

[Den in Penn]

Crush a pill and mix with feed, You could also get a vitamin pack from a feed store to mix in the water.