Common Issues with Chicken Egg Quality: Your Questions Answered

Is there something wrong with my chicken eggs?

They can come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, but some of those shapes and colors are a sign of an issue with a chicken and or your flock. Let’s dive into the subject of eggs and what to look out for to keep your flock happy healthy, and producing:

Outside of the Egg

There are a few things to look out for on the shells of your eggs that can indicate different issues with your flock. Below I have titled each issue with the most common question we would ask or type in as chicken owners…

1. Why is the egg shell bumpy or pimpled?

Sometimes, you can have raised lumps of calcium on the shell that feels rough. These masses can look like sand and are generally caused by one of the following:

Too much calcium or other nutritional deficits: in her diet, maybe she has too much access to shell grit and not enough access to other nutrients (this can lead to deposits and bridges egg shells)
Debris in the oviduct: can cause calcium to be released and form bumps as the egg is being developed
Ageing, defective shell gland, and stress: As hens age, the whites of their eggs get thinner, making it harder for the shell to form; issues can also occur with defective shell glands. Another factor is stress, which can cause bumps or ridges on the shell.

Are they safe to eat?

Yes, bumpy or pimpled eggs are usually safe to eat as long as the shell is intact and the bumps aren’t caused by disease.

2. Why does my egg look like it’s been cracked, but it’s still whole?

This is called a Body Checked Egg. It’s where the eggshell has ridges and grooves or “checks” that look like cracks, but they’re actually intact. This is caused by damage to the egg while its in the shell gland, which is then repaired before the egg is laid.

Causes

Age, Stress: Physical, environmental, or nutritional stress can cause damage to the egg as well as the age of the hen.
Overcrowding, lighting, disease, and parasites: A crowded flock, limited light, infections, syndromes, and infestations of roundworms and mites can increase the likelihood of body-checked eggs as well as many other issues (this is highly likely with battery hens, we’ve had a fair few eggs like this)
Drugs: Some drugs given to chickens can leave a residue in their eggs

Are they safe to eat?

Yes, body-checked eggs are safe to eat as long as the shell is intact.

3. Why does my egg have a white band around it?

White-banded eggs happen when two eggs touch each other in the shell gland pouch, disrupting the egg’s calcification process. The first egg to enter the pouch gets an extra layer of calcium, which appears as the white band.

Causes

Stress: in the flock
Changes: in lighting
Diseases: like infectious bronchitis

Can I eat it?

Yes, white-banded eggs are safe to eat and taste the same as regular eggs.

4. Why does my egg have translucent areas? Why are my egg shells fragile? Why do my egg shells look patchy?

Mottled egg shells have a spotty appearance, with translucent areas that are more visible when held up to a light. This happens when the eggshell doesn’t dry out quickly enough after being laid.

Causes

High humidity levels: in the shed where the chickens lay eggs.
A deficiency in manganese, or too much tannin, can cause mottled eggs and certain weeds, like Shepherd’s weed.
Some diseases can cause mottled eggs and some toxins.

Are they safe to eat?

Yes, mottled eggs are safe to eat and are usually not downgraded unless the shells are very thin or fragile.

5. Why does my egg have wrinkles? Why does my egg shell have ridges?

They’re called wrinkled eggs, and they look like they either have wrinkles or ridges.

Causes

Stressful events: like loud noises, predators, or extreme weather
A hen that doesn’t have access to high-quality feed or poultry grit may lay wrinkled eggs.
Infectious bronchitis (IB): is a viral disease. Hens can carry the disease for life, so they may continue to lay wrinkled eggs even if they recover.
Older aged hens: the whites of their eggs become thinner, making it harder for the shell to form normally.
Shell gland defects

Are they safe to eat?

Wrinkled eggs are safe to eat and can be prepared like any other egg.

6. My eggs are a funky color. Can I eat them?

It could be mold; These are dark spots that appear on the underside of the egg shell. If you suspect that a dark spot is mold, you should discard the egg.

Other Issues

Tiny, Misshapen, and Shell-less eggs all of these types of eggs can be normal, but they could also be indicative of a reproduction issue.

Inside of the Egg

What does a double yolk mean?

This happens when a hen releases two yolks into her oviduct; they’re safe to eat. Double yolks are usually produced by young chickens. Since their reproductive systems have not fully matured, they periodically release two yolks instead of one.

Why is there blood in my egg?

If there are red, brown, or black spots that appear in the egg white or yolk. They are caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the hen’s ovaries or oviduct. ‘Blood spots’ are safe to eat and are more common in brown eggs.

What does the yolk color mean?

Pale egg yolks: These can be caused by disease or parasites.

(If you want to know more about what the color of the yolk says about your chickens and their diet, check out this article here.)

Whats wrong with my egg whites?

If there are brown or off-white spots that appear in the egg white. They are caused by pieces of tissue breaking off from the oviduct’s walls as the egg passes through. ‘Meat spots’ are safe to eat.

Why are the egg whites cloudy?

Sometimes, the egg white isn’t just cloudy it’s white because it’s partly cooked in the shell due to hot weather; this can often happen in Australian summers if eggs aren’t collected regularly enough. The cloudiness of raw white can also be due to the natural presence of carbon dioxide that has not had time to escape through the shell and indicates a very fresh egg. As an egg ages, the carbon dioxide escapes, and the egg white becomes more transparent.

Why are my egg whites so runny?

You could have a hen with a disease, keep an eye on the eggs produced maybe crack every egg for a day to locate the hen laying the egg so you can then separate her from the flock. And potentially treat her.

Solutions for all of the issues above:

Like humans, the solution to a healthy flock is overall health and a diet of variety.

Adjust the hen’s diet: Ensure the hen’s diet is varied, and limit treats.
Make sure your hens get outside in the sunlight, or if the season won’t allow provide consistent light around 14–16 hours of light per day to mimic natural conditions.
Maintain water quality: Poor water quality can affect the health of the flock and the quality of their eggs.

If you are wondering if your eggs are fertilized, check out this article which goes into the details of knowing when your eggs are fertilized and how to get fertilized eggs.

If you’re interested in raising backyard chickens, you may want to check out these posts next:

Hey Beautiful Mama