Yolks almost always break

[Sally PB]

I've had an issue with the eggs that my Black Australorps lay. The yolk nearly always breaks when I crack open the egg. I thought it might be food related, but it doesn't seem to be. I feed Kalmbach organic starter/grower (20% protein), and very few treats that are not their food wetted into a mash.

I got three more chicks last June, 2 Jersey Giants, and a Jubilee Orpington. The two JGs are laying, and their yolks do not break. The Black Australorps quit laying to molt, and one has just started again. And, her yolks break when I crack the egg. I'm not holding out any hope for the other two to be any different.

Has anyone had this issue with Aussies, or any other breed?

 

[Mrs. K]

If I am short of eggs, I often get them from my sister in law, and her eggs have this same problem. And super thin whites, so the eggs and yolks don't stay together. I use them for baking, mostly.

Not all eggs are not the same quality. I generally won't cull on this issue, but will separate these eggs for baking, and I would not hatch from these.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

"Orpalorp."

Excellent!!

Have some weak yolks, think it's just an individual thing rather than a breed.

When I want 'dippy yolks' I go sunny side up,
drip some water and a lid and it'll cook the tops a bit.

 

[Sally PB]

"Orpalorp". That's just fun to say.

I makes me start humming the "Oompa Loompa" song!

 

[azygous]

I just spent some time with Mr. Google reading anecdotal comments from chicken keepers about their experiences with eggs with weak yolks. There seems not to be any definitive reasons for this phenomenon, but some causes seem to be more common to weak yolks. These include the possibility of poor protein absorption involving older layers and climate, heat and cold affecting the yolk quality.

Solutions are diverse. Frequent egg gathering and proper egg storage seems to improve the quality overall. And limiting corn in the diet is one of the most common dietary recommendations.

 

[Sally PB]

Not all eggs are not the same quality. I generally won't cull on this issue, but will separate these eggs for baking, and I would not hatch from these.

Yeah, I was hoping to eventually hatch a Buff Orp over Black Aus cross, but I'm rethinking that. I was either going to call the result "Buff Aus," or "Orpalorp."

At least I can identify these eggs and keep them for cooking or for my scrambled eggs. DH can have the non-breakers for his over easy breakfasts.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My wife has commented that a few of our eggs have weak yolks, though I gather multiple times daily, and maintain a high protein diet for them (and a very high, relatively speaking, diet early in their development). Her research led to the belief they weren't getting enough protein. I gather too many eggs, from too many similar-looking birds - to tell who laid what. So I've attempted to rationalize it by assuming that the weak yolks are associated with bird stress, in my case, molting + climate. We had a number of birds in long, early molts in conjunction with high heat + humidity this year, and the occurance of weak yolks seemed to correlate with that period. (Of course, I also had a feed change to an 18% non-GMO from my 20% mix)

Now that temps have moderated, and almost all my birds are done molting, the weak yolk is almost entirely a thing of the past. (But I've had another feed change...)

tl;dr? I don't know.

also, "Orpalorp". That's just fun to say.

 

[theoldchick]

I wonder if genetics are involved. My Sapphire Gems seem to have an higher incidence of weak yolks. They are on Purina layer feed with a once a week protein snack of whatever I have-dog food, cat food. These super layers started out fast and furious but at 2 years production quickly faded. My Jersey Giants never had problems with their yolks-even my old timers produced a few eggs this summer with a nice shell and good yolks. My Marans always laid eggs with nice yolks, though one had a shell gland problem that resulted in brittle shells. Back to the SG. I have one that always lays a monster egg. The egg is never a double yolker-just a regular sized yolk that breaks and a large amount albumen that is always accompanied with a meat spot. She's a nice looking hen in good flesh and seems healthy in all other aspects. I'm watching her, though, to see if she develops reproductive problems.

 

[azygous]

What I would try if I were to find myself in your shoes is adding a little more animal protein to the flock's diet, for example, open a can of mackerel once a week and let them all feast on it. At the same time, cut out all scratch grains and corn. Do this consistently for four weeks and see if the number of broken yolks decrease significantly.

Another possibility is the individuals with the weak yolk issue may be suffering stress that is affecting their yolks. Keep watch for those suspect chickens being bullied when feeding at the feeder. This would affect the amount of protein they're getting with the consequences of egg quality issues.

 

[Sally PB]

adding a little more animal protein to the flock's diet, for example, open a can of mackerel once a week and let them all feast on it. At the same time, cut out all scratch grains and corn.

I will put mackerel on my shopping list!

I don't give them scratch, and the only corn they get is in their feed. The main treat I give them is their feed, wetted into a mash. They get some vegetable scraps when I have them. Very seldom (1x a month, maybe?) do they get BOSS and mealworms. Yesterday, being Christmas, I gave them about 1.5 slices of bread for the whole flock (7).

I have the leftovers from making bone broth in the freezer. That's made up of turkey meat scraps and bones (soft enough to mash with my fingers), onion, celery, garlic, carrots. Would that be a good snack for protein? When I give them this, it's a "topping" on their mash. They love it.