Weird marks on eggs

[NorthernMIFlock]

These dark marks seen on my 1 1/2 year old Isa Brown’s egg shells are new. They also seem a bit more fragile than normal. She is eating Prince organic layer crumbles, free ranges when there’s no snow, and gets sunflower seeds and organic greens a few times a week as a treat. These have been showing up almost daily for last couple weeks. She is acting fine and none of my other hens are laying like this. Should I be concerned?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

These are a couple of my go to links for egg shell issues. I'm not 100% sure which this would fall under but I hope this helps!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/https://store.alltech.com/blogs/poultry/20-common-egg-shell-quality-problems-and-causes

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Thank you, that’s very helpful. Not sure if any match this but maybe?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thank you, that’s very helpful. Not sure if any match this but maybe?

I've never encountered it myself so I don't want to give you inaccurate information. It would cause me to pause and question why she's laying them as well though since it wasn't just a fluke and she continues to lay them. Do you offer oyster shells to your hens?

 

[PirateGirl]

Are the marks still visible once you wash off the bloom?

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

I have oyster shell but they never touch it . I never wash my eggs but the marks are definitely imbedded in the shell. Yes it has made me wonder and hoping it’s not the start of a reproductive prob.

 

[aart]

I have oyster shell but they never touch it

How is the OS provided?
Sprinkling a few bits of scratch grain on them can help 'get it'.
Also mixing crushed chicken egg shells in with the OS can garner interest.

 

[PirateGirl]

Even if you don't normally wash your eggs, as an experiment I'd try washing one of these and let it dry and see what it looks like.

Based on your photos it looks like an irregularity with the bloom.

Also I would candle them and see how things look, sometimes if there are thin spots or cracks the shell around these areas will be discolored as well.

 

[Criticalicious]

Is the lighter part of the shell sort of chalky and the shell seems thinner than normal, like a soft egg? Then they may need more calcium. Did this layer recently finish molting? It's normal to see a few weird eggs at first after a molt, or if hens experience stress of some kind, sometimes they'll lay a couple weird eggs. Do you feed their egg shells back to them for calcium? It's more readily absorbed in the body although doesn't last as long. Can't hurt to try.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Yes she has recently finished a light molt, most of my hens are in molt right now and not laying, quite surprised she is still laying. I appreciate all the expert advice here.