Yolks that won't whisk together for scramble and are firmer than the normal yolk

[HeatherKellyB]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thick-clumpy-egg-yolk-causes-safe-to-eat.337306/
This is all I could find with Google.

 

[aart]

You didn't happen to cut these 'chunks' in half for further inspection did you?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You didn't happen to cut these 'chunks' in half for further inspection did you?
View attachment 2022854

They broke up as I was whisking and I also broke up some after they were cooked and it was just yolk. The texture was just a bit more firm than the rest of the scramble.

The reason I asked about the possibility of being frozen is that one of my pullets was laying in the middle of the night, every night, in the nest box. I didn't notice any broken, cracked or busted eggs though. I put the scrambled eggs in a zipper bag and stored them in the refrigerator if there is anything I can do to help figure this out. Thank you for your time

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I am hoping and praying that my girls are okay so I am just trying to bring up any possibility.

 

[aart]

I have had some eggs where the yolk and/or white didn't homogenize smoothly/easily.
As long as your birds are eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK,
I'd not be too concerned.

Might tell us what all and how exactly you are feeding, in case anyone else wants to venture a guess.

 

[NatJ]

Egg yolks do go funny if they've been frozen. Maybe one or more eggs froze partway--enough to mess with the yolk, but without breaking the shell.

If you feel like experimenting, you could freeze one egg in your freezer, let it thaw, and try to scramble it--if the yolk is the same as the puzzling ones, then you'll know what happened.

I'd be fairly sure the eggs you're talking about are safe to eat, but I can see they might not be appetizing that way.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have had some eggs where the yolk and/or white didn't homogenize smoothly/easily.
As long as your birds are eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK,
I'd not be too concerned.

Might tell us what all and how exactly you are feeding, in case anyone else wants to venture a guess.

I have layers in two separate flocks. My Pullet only flock consists of five pullets that are 34 weeks + 5 days. They are eating Nutrena Hearty Hen pellets and Purina Flock Raiser pellets (2 separate feeders) with grit on the side and oyster shell on the side. They get a mash made from Nutrena Hearty Hen moistened with water, every night before bed, but they usually don't finish it until the next day (maybe I shouldn't let them finish it the next day). They also get chopped alfalfa spread throughout their run every two to three weeks. They get approximately one half cup of scratch every two to three days, just as their junk food. I've started letting them free range a couple of times a week for about an hour a day, while I am out with them, but have been too afraid until I decided it wasn't fair to them recently.

My other flock is a mixed flock (6 pullets and 3 cockerels) that are 25 weeks + 4 days and 24 weeks + 5 days. This flock is fed Purina Flock Raiser pellets with grit on the side and oyster shell on the side. They also get a mash made with Purina Flock Raiser moistened with water, every night, to top everyone off for the night. They eat a lot of it but finish it off the next day. They get chopped alfalfa approximately once a month, in their run. They also get approximately one half cup of scratch maybe once a week to week and a half. (I have some Bantams in this flock so they don't get as much "junk food"). This flock also gets to free range for about an hour at a time, 2 to 3 times a week (they get to free range when the other flock does not because even though the flocks are kept within 5 foot of one another and can see and hear each other easily, they can't get along, plus the 3 cockerels drive EVERYONE crazy and they have to be separated every day already)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You may have said this already and I missed it, but were these eggs kept refrigerated? Is it possible they froze in the fridge? Sometimes if my cartons touch the walls of the fridge, the eggs closest to those walls have been known to freeze. This does look like freezer damage to me. Nothing too serious, but unsightly. Nothing wrong with your hens though if that's the problem.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You may have said this already and I missed it, but were these eggs kept refrigerated? Is it possible they froze in the fridge? Sometimes if my cartons touch the walls of the fridge, the eggs closest to those walls have been known to freeze. This does look like freezer damage to me. Nothing too serious, but unsightly. Nothing wrong with your hens though if that's the problem.

Yes I do keep my eggs in the fridge and there is a possibility that they froze partially in the nesting box as I had one pullet that would come down off the roost to lay in the middle of the night. I am really happy to hear that you've experienced this! Any thoughts on how to recognize this before adding to a recipe or large amount of eggs, other than whisking each egg individually? I already crack open each egg in a tiny bowl individually to inspect them before adding to anything

 

[Molpet]

In the winter I get some eggs like that when I don't pick up every few hours. I think it's from getting too cold. Eggs start to freeze at 28f