Author Topic: Bloom on egg (Read 1620 times)

Ghdp · « **on:** November 18, 2015, 12:15:10 pm »

Hi. One of my hens laid an egg that when dry has a chalky bloom. I picked it up with wet hands ( everything is wet here! ) and the bloom appears to wash off, but it doesnt, and soon reappears. Does this suggest a deficiency anywhere tbat I need to address? All look happy enough and no idea which of my 5 produced it.

chrismahon · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2015, 02:00:28 pm »

It's actually a matt shell surface Ghdp. We have one or two hens laying the same and can do nothing about it. They spend ages in the nest box so laying a rough surfaced egg must be uncomfortable.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2015, 04:11:33 pm »

How much calcium do they have in their diet? I sometimes get that from some of my hens, but it seems to go when i give them crushed dried egg shell in their feed

Ghdp · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2015, 08:27:44 pm »

Thanks for the replies. I will try crush egg shells as an idea and post if there is an obvious change.
Greg

darkbrowneggs · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2015, 09:24:05 am »

As WBF said its a calcium imbalance. I always had Oystershell grit available for my birds to take when they felt the need. Eggshells work, but they need quite a lot of them - you can buy Oystershell by the 20 kilos

chrismahon · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2015, 10:15:51 am »

Just extra Calcium can do more harm than good because it creates a Calcium to Phosphorous imbalance. Also needed in the shell creation process is vitamin D which comes from exposure to sunlight, which is rather short at the moment. You also get it in Cod Liver Oil so I would try a bit (0.5mL each) of that on bread once first.

Ghdp · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2015, 11:08:56 am »

They have always had access to oystershell grit so guess extra egg shell is not the way forward then. I will try cod liver oil tho.

farmers wife · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2015, 11:38:29 am »

honestly, I have 75 hens and the odd one now and again has a bloom or texture just like the odd one will be a funny shape. My hens have an amazing diet including organic layers, kelp, sunflower seeds and organic veg. I wouldnt worry about it.