Whats with blood in eggs?

[want2know]

A couple of times, my Australorp hen has laid eggs with quite a bit of blood in them. I know about ordinary meat spots and see those periodically, but this was disturbing. She seemed fine otherwise. She has been laying fine recently, Has anyone else seen this?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I see it more in hens that have been jumping around more, or are flighty. A blood vessel will rupture either from external trauma of some sort, or it can even just from the ovum being released.

Generally if I'm catching a birds for some reason or another I will see some blood in eggs the next day because of the jostling. I also will see it more in flighty birds.

It's generally nothing to worry about.

 

[aart]

I know about ordinary meat spots and see those periodically, but this was disturbing. She seemed fine otherwise. She has been laying fine recently, Has anyone else seen this?

How much blood?
Good to take pics of this kind of stuff.
Blood spots happen like meat spots do, more blood can mean bigger vessel broke off or more serious issues in there. Have had a few pretty bloody eggs, but usually were just a one off or a few then they 'went away'.

Here's a really funky one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ood-ball-inside-soft-shelled-egg-pic.1324813/

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

 

[Ridgerunner]

This U-tube video from Auburn University does a pretty good job of showing what causes a majority of blood spots. It's about 2-1/2 minutes into the video.

When the yolk is growing it is surrounded by a membrane full of blood vessels to carry nutrients to the yolk so it can grow. When the yolk is released that membrane splits along a line that is supposed to not have any blood vessels on it. The video makes that really clear. Occasionally a hen messes up and that clear line has a blood vessel across it. When the membrane splits some blood can be released. From what I've observed some hens are more prone to this than others. Pullets just starting to lay are more prone to this than hens that have been laying for a while. But it can happen to any hen any time.

I am not saying that there cannot be a different cause for blood spots. With chickens there are always exceptions to everything. This is a regular occurrence in commercial egg laying operations too. They electrically candle their eggs before packaging to remove these so their customers don't get surprises. These eggs are sold to other places that use eggs, pet food for example.

 

[Mvan42]

That is a cool video. I knew there was a process to egg development but seeing how it works is so neat.

 

[aart]

This U-tube video from Auburn University does a pretty good job of showing what causes a majority of blood spots.

Great idea @Ridgerunner ...look just above your post

 

[want2know]

How much blood?
Good to take pics of this kind of stuff.
Blood spots happen like meat spots do, more blood can mean bigger vessel broke off or more serious issues in there. Have had a few pretty bloody eggs, but usually were just a one off or a few then they 'went away'.
View attachment 1862814

View attachment 1862815

Here's a really funky one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ood-ball-inside-soft-shelled-egg-pic.1324813/

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

That 1st pic with a lot of blood.

 

[aart]

That 1st pic with a lot of blood.

First pic was a one off.
The second pic was 1 of 3 bloody eggs, then it never happened again.
2 events happened a year apart, and not the same birds.

 

[want2know]

This U-tube video from Auburn University does a pretty good job of showing what causes a majority of blood spots. It's about 2-1/2 minutes into the video.

When the yolk is growing it is surrounded by a membrane full of blood vessels to carry nutrients to the yolk so it can grow. When the yolk is released that membrane splits along a line that is supposed to not have any blood vessels on it. The video makes that really clear. Occasionally a hen messes up and that clear line has a blood vessel across it. When the membrane splits some blood can be released. From what I've observed some hens are more prone to this than others. Pullets just starting to lay are more prone to this than hens that have been laying for a while. But it can happen to any hen any time.

I am not saying that there cannot be a different cause for blood spots. With chickens there are always exceptions to everything. This is a regular occurrence in commercial egg laying operations too. They electrically candle their eggs before packaging to remove these so their customers don't get surprises. These eggs are sold to other places that use eggs, pet food for example.

Thank you! Great Video