What happened to this egg?

[kmfriend]

I was checking my coop this morning and found this egg in a laying box. The worm looking part is hardish, probably shell. Any ideas what could cause this? Another egg had some yolk on the outside of the shell. I have 6 hens and they appear healthy. I have noticed at night one does not roost but sits on top of laying boxes. Any ideas?

 

[Cyprus]

It looks like calcium was not applied properly. I just recently had this happen, too.

How old are your hens, how often do they lay, and what are you feeding them? Do they get calcium supplies?

 

[kmfriend]

Two hens hatched June 2017. The other four are older, probably 4 years old. I am getting between 3 and 5 eggs a day. I feed them laying crumbles and periodically I scatter scratch in the coop. I give them their egg shells back (I have never had an issue with them eating their own eggs) and I also have some oyster shells available. Recently I have stopped letting them free range during the day as we had our driveway and yard redone.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I used to find some of these too. This can be caused by a shell gland disorder and be permanent, but my hen got over it after a month and started laying regular eggs. This can also be caused by lack of calcium, high temperatures, stress or crowding. I have pictures that look just the same but I can't find them right now!

 

[Peppercorngal]

She may be stressed and unhappy because she isn't free ranging anymore. Once hens get used to free ranging they HATE to be cooped up! Does she pace the fence?

 

[Skipper81]

Wow that looks exactly like snake eggs

 

[kmfriend]

She may be stressed and unhappy because she isn't free ranging anymore. Once hens get used to free ranging they HATE to be cooped up! Does she pace the fence?

I am not sure which hen laid this particular egg. All seem fine. Whenever I walk towards the coop they all come to the front. Temps are cool now. Today I did get 5 eggs. All were the normal size but I did notice one had a thin end and was compromised so I gave it to the dog. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.

 

[Cyprus]

I'd say that if it happens once it's nothing to be concerned about. If it a consistent issue, then there may be underlying issues.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I am not sure which hen laid this particular egg. All seem fine. Whenever I walk towards the coop they all come to the front. Temps are cool now. Today I did get 5 eggs. All were the normal size but I did notice one had a thin end and was compromised so I gave it to the dog. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.

I don't know where you are, but a major change in temperature can be the culprit. Here in No. Cal. February temps were almost 80. Suddenly it got cold, (26 degrees) snowed, hailed for days and the change has one of my hens unhappy and not laying. Again, I had a hen that laid these "shell less eggs" for a month. She got over it and most likely yours will too!

 

[aart]

All were the normal size but I did notice one had a thin end and was compromised so I gave it to the dog.

Guessing one of your older girls is coming back into lay.....funky eggs can happen at that time.