Author Topic: Egg Shells (Read 2786 times)

egbert · « **on:** May 22, 2011, 10:22:12 pm »

Well I am still fascinated by my chooks after a year of watching them.

anyway, my chickens are kept together in the same run, with the same food etc. However they are all different breeds, so I find it amazing that they all lay different egg shells. You would expect them to be the same, since the conditions are the same. But 2 lay really smooth, shiny eggs that are hard to write on (i write the date on with a pencil). One lays speckled, rough eggs. The others seems more like supermarket eggs.

However, one of them lays very thin shells. They have plenty of grit and lots of dirt to scratch about in. Why would the egg shell be so thin - sometimes to the point that as I pick it up it cracks?

Are the eggs safe to eat?

darkbrowneggs · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2011, 11:35:52 pm »

The eggs should be quite safe as long as they haven't been lying in poo.

Often hens will lay thinner shelled eggs just as they are coming into or going out of lay. Also some older hens who have laid many eggs in their career will lay mainly thinner shelled eggs, which is often the reason commercial flocks are disposed of after 18mths or so.

Each breed will have its own type of egg, I suppose just as blackbirds and thrushes eggs are different. Mine are very thick shelled and dark coloured with a lovely sheen, but I am developing a line with speckled eggs. I love the differences in them.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2011, 02:50:17 pm »

I have one duck who does the same, every second day I find hers broken in the house. She eats the same as the others, nothing I can do...

geebee · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2011, 12:12:43 am »

One of mine, I think one of my black rocks, lays an almost white egg the pointed end is lumpy and rough and the shell is quite thin. What causes that rough lumpy bit? It's only been over the last few months, I got her about 18 months ago POL

SLI · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:09:59 am »

I'm glad Egbert asked this question as I'd logged on to ask more or less the same thing. The added problem I have is that my chooks (I have four Orpngtons) always eat the egg with the papery shell - not that I'd fancy eating it myself but it's teaching them bad habits.
It's really frustrating as at the moment one of the girls is broody and she's putting the others off laying, so no eggs!
No matter how I try I can't find out which one - or even if all of them - are eating the egg.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2011, 11:36:10 am »

Quote from: geebee on May 26, 2011, 12:12:43 am

One of mine, I think one of my black rocks, lays an almost white egg the pointed end is lumpy and rough and the shell is quite thin. What causes that rough lumpy bit? It's only been over the last few months, I got her about 18 months ago POL

We get that too sometimes, so I am hoping someone has the answer

Ours are totally free range and have as much grit and oyster shell as they want, plus layers pellets and obviously veg matter and worms, etc which they catch themselves. The eggs with the rough bit at one end are perfect inside but I don't like to sell them as they don't look right.