Too much calcium for chickens? Egg picture included

[Ceejayzee]

Hi!
We're new to chickens this year and I'm just a little worried something may be wrong.
So we have 6 tetra brown hens and 8 mixed silkies. They're all about 20 weeks. Yesterday and today we got one egg and they're super different. The one today is really small and brown with tons of white speckles. I'm concerned maybe too much calcium?

 

[Johncarry3]

I have seen this already. But don't know the exact difference.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Hi!
We're new to chickens this year and I'm just a little worried something may be wrong.
So we have 6 tetra brown hens and 8 mixed silkies. They're all about 20 weeks. Yesterday and today we got one egg and they're super different. The one today is really small and brown with tons of white speckles. I'm concerned maybe too much calcium?

Do you have different ages for your birds. When a new layer lays they tend to make flukes, starting small and then getting the right size, or double yokers.

 

[Patinas]

I too am new to chickens this year and I don't know about too much calcium but I do know now that when they start laying there is a "sorting out period". I have a hen that just started laying about a week and half ago and each time I check, it's a surprise! She's laid 3 hard shell eggs, all different sizes. One with speckles and the other two no speckles. She's also laid several yolks with no shells and some soft shelled ones.

In my case, it's probably too little calcium since i wasn't expecting her to start laying for at least another 3 weeks and I hadn't offered up oyster shell when she started.

Are you sure the eggs are from the same chicken? At 20 weeks they would still be fairly new to laying so you may get some odd looking eggs.

 

[Ceejayzee]

I'm not positive they're from the same hem, they're in the same coop. The tetra browns are 20 weeks old and the silkies are 19 weeks old.

 

[Boone Farm]

I'm not positive they're from the same hem, they're in the same coop. The tetra browns are 20 weeks old and the silkies are 19 weeks old.

I wouldn't be concerned at all. It looks to me that those are two eggs from two different chickens. And yes the first egg will be their smallest. Congrats on your eggs!

 

[Percheron chick]

Normal. The right egg has a problem with the brown coloring process. Those are dots of brown coloring. A brown egg is a white egg colored brown in the last step before lay. Offer the Ca source on the side so they can self regulate. Some hens need more Ca than others.
You definitely have 2 layers. Shape, size and color are unique to the hen. Size will typically increase as she ages.

 

[Patinas]

I'm not positive they're from the same hem, they're in the same coop. The tetra browns are 20 weeks old and the silkies are 19 weeks old.

From everything I've read, chickens will pretty much regulate their own calcium needs. As long as your chickens are acting normal and don't appear to have any issues, I'd wait and let them sort out the laying process. Maybe you have an artistic hen that likes to lay pretty eggs for you!

 

[GC-Raptor]

My first 2 Golden Comets to lay laid totally different shades, 1 perfectly smooth brown and the other a lighter shade with salt like spots. Here's a pic of the first six of each. Same diet. They continued for a while, don't remember how long.
Here is a more recent pic of all 5 girls eggs. Taken at 14 months of age. All Golden Comets. GC