What is on my egg?

[mackenzie450]

This is the first egg from one of my hens.
I really don't think it is poop. It has the consistency of cement.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is strange. Is it wet cement or hard cement? It could be a huge dumping of pigment.

 

[mackenzie450]

That is strange. Is it wet cement or hard cement? It could be a huge dumping of pigment.

Hmm. It's definitely hard. Could it be blood?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't seen blood that thick on an egg, it's usually just smeared on. Can you scratch it off? I still think it might be pigment as anything else would have had pigment put over it.

 

[aart]

I bet it's cecal poop.......get it wet and take a sniff.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I bet it's cecal poop.......get it wet and take a sniff.

Yeah try that.

Edited to aart is smart, so she's probably right.

 

[mackenzie450]

I bet it's cecal poop.......get it wet and take a sniff.

Ran it under water, smelled it, scratched it, no aroma whatsoever. My initial thought was that it was poop or something similar but it was a reddish color and the consistency was more of a hard powder. Scratches off but doesn't rinse off easily. No smell. I ended up throwing it away and haven't had another since but I was very curious as to what it was.

 

[sumi]

My guess would be calcium deposits that got a good dose of pigment when the egg shell colour got laid down. There is some info on calcium deposits and egg formation here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[aart]

Quote: Hmmm...it is odd indeed, never seen one quite like that.
Probably some shell gland glitch...agrees with sumi, probably excess calcium and/or pigment.
You may never see it again......but may see other oddities as your girls tune up their laying machines, and even later down the road.
Have you seen this thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697007/weird-or-odd-eggs-pics
Lots of weird ones there, worth a good browse.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ran it under water, smelled it, scratched it, no aroma whatsoever. My initial thought was that it was poop or something similar but it was a reddish color and the consistency was more of a hard powder. Scratches off but doesn't rinse off easily. No smell. I ended up throwing it away and haven't had another since but I was very curious as to what it was.

Now, I've seen it all. The scratch and sniff egg! I'm guessing it's either cecal, or blood. Hydrogen peroxide would be a good rule out for blood. Foams like crazy in the presence of blood.