If you have raised chickens for any amount of time you have probably noticed an odd egg. Here is a list of chicken egg deformities and what you need to know about them.
When you buy eggs at the store they have already been sorted through so that only the good looking eggs get past.
However, when you raise your own egg laying chickens you will wind up finding those really weird looking eggs.
Most of the time it is just a fluke in the egg making process and nothing else, but knowing what causes them is important.
Here is a list of egg defects you might find in your coop and what causes them.
Fairy Egg (AKA Wind Egg)
Fairy eggs are tiny sized eggs that are normally no larger than the size of a grape. These eggs form inside a chicken before an egg yolk is formed.
Most fairy eggs are simply egg white surrounded by a tiny shell. They are nothing to worry about and just happen every now and then.
Folklore states that these eggs need to be tossed over the house without hitting the roof. It was once believed that these eggs were laid by roosters and hatched into man eating monsters.
Don't worry these claims are just folklore and these eggs won't even hatch. You can display these tiny eggs or simply toss them.
Weird Shaped Shells
Each chicken will lay a different shaped egg, so sometimes a bird will lay a really weird egg. I have some hens that lay oblong eggs while others are almost completely round.
It is totally normal to find odd-shaped eggs in the nesting box.
Double Yolked Egg
Sometimes chickens will lay a large egg that has not one but two egg yolks! This is common in backyard chickens and is nothing to be worried about.
You can eat double yolk eggs just like other eggs. Sometimes a chicken will lay an egg with even more than two yolks, but this is not quite as common.
Shell-less eggs
Eggs can be laid too soon, even before a chicken can form a shell. Shell-less eggs simply don't have a hard shell.
These eggs are not good for eating and if they continue to happen you should offer oyster shells to your chickens. Shell-less eggs can be a sign of low calcium or just a fluke in egg laying.
Soft shelled eggs
Chickens can also lay an egg with a softer than normal shell. These eggs are not completely shell less but the shell is not rigid.
I do not personally eat these eggs and I don't recommend you do. Soft shell eggs can also be a sign of calcium deficiency.
Wrinkled Eggs
Sometimes I find eggs that have a shell that looks wrinkled. Wrinkled egg shells are more common in older hens, but they are not a cause for concern.
Bumpy Eggs
Every now and then a chicken will lay an egg with bumps all over it. These bumps can be brushed off but sometimes they are a part of the egg shell.
These bumps are actually calcium deposits on the eggshell. This is a sign that your hens have enough or a surplus of calcium in their diet.
These bumpy eggs are not a problem and are pretty common.
White Spots
Eggshells can sometimes be laid with white patches all over the shell. This is another type of calcium deposit. White patches are totally fine.
Odd Colored Egg Shells
Eggs can be speckled, striped, or even half one shade and half another. Egg shells get their color from the pigmentation inside the chicken and variations can occur.
Most color variations are totally normal. These changes in color can be caused by the speed an egg is laid, stress, or simply a change in a chicken's diet.
Bloody Egg Shells
The outside of an egg can sometimes have blood on it, but this should not be a common occurrence. If your chickens continue to lay bloodied eggs something is wrong.
Here is more information on bloody chicken eggs.
Bloody Egg Whites
Egg whites and yolks can be have blood in them. These are not usually a cause for concern and they can be caused by a "glitch" in the egg laying process.
I do not eat eggs with blood in them even though most sources say it is safe.
Brown Pieces In The Egg White
I have cracked an egg before an noticed a little brown spot in the white. These brown spots can be blood, blood vessels, pigment, or protein.
These brown spots just happen every now and then during the formation of an egg. Most sources say it is safe to eat these eggs.
Because these spots are commonly made of protein they can also be called meat spots. You do not see these in older eggs (like store bought) because as the egg ages it gets absorbed into the egg.
Frozen Eggs
While definitely not an egg deformity, frozen eggs should be noted. Since egg whites are about 90% water when they freeze this water expands.
The expanding water causes the egg shell to break open leading to a cracked egg shell with frozen egg coming out. These eggs are not safe to eat.
If you continue to get frozen eggs you may need to add a nest box warmer to your coop.
Cracked Eggs
Again not a deformity but definitely something you will encounter as a chicken keeper. Cracked eggs can happen for many reasons, but it is so annoying because these eggs are not safe to eat.
To keep your eggs from cracking make sure to add plenty of soft bedding to the nest box and make sure you have enough nest boxes.
If you don't have enough nest boxes your hens may be stepping on each other, and all the eggs, causing them to crack.
Egg Inside An Egg
Sometimes a hen can form an egg and form another egg around it. This is really rare and I have never seen one of these.
This is just a mishap in the egg making process and shouldn't happen often. These eggs may be hard for the hen to pass because of the size but other than that they are not a problem.
Conclusion
Chickens have a complex function to make an egg and older or younger hens are more likely to lay an odd egg. If you keep chickens you will quickly find that not all eggs are alike!
Pin This!
Leave a Reply