What does blood on the outside of an egg mean?

[Lencstuff]

One of my chickens is laying an egg, once every two days that has streaks (usually dried) of blood on the outside of the egg? There is not alot of blood and it washed off easily once you run it under water. Why is this happening? Is there a cure?

 

[Lisa202]

One of mine just did that and everyone said that it was normal. I think it was her first one, and there was a lot of blood, on the egg and drops in the nest box. This hasn't happened again, but twice I did see a very little blood streak on an egg or two. I'm not sure these other eggs were laid by the same chicken or other chickens had a little rip when laying also.

I wouldn't know if it's normal if she keeps doing it for a while. How long has it been happening?

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Sounds like what I call my brotherinlaw! Tight ---! Sorry but you had to know someone would say it.
Its usually first time layers. Just stretching for the the new job of egg laying. Sometimes it will last for several days then stop. Sometimes it reappears. May have something to do with eggs size or stress.Nothing to worry about.

 

[chickenman2k3]

northern fowl mites? have you checked to see if her vent is all scabbed up? if so if you look carefully you will see very small mites running around the area. another possibilty is vent picking. sometimes when a hen is laying other hens will pick at the area where the eggs are coming out of. it can get bad enough to make them bleed pretty bad. or she has some type of injury inside that reopens when she lays. bleeding with the first few eggs is pretty common.

 

[Wild Trapper]

I've also noticed it when a hen lays a larger egg than normal. With pullets you expect it, with older hens not so often.