anyone with chickens experience this?

Anonymous-0 · Sep 25, 2013

Wife went out to the barn tonight and came back with several eggs, like usual. However one did not have a shell, just the soft, gel-like outer yoke. Could this mean a bird is deficient in minerals or of bad health?

I would have to believe this is extremely rare.

Your thoughts?

Zachary Hoyt · Sep 25, 2013

I have had a few of them over the years, I do not know what causes it but it does not seem to happen often enough to be a big problem.
Zach

JayinNY · Sep 25, 2013

I've seen that a few times before too. No big deal, for some reason the hen lays the egg before the outter layer of shell is formed.

notjustair · Sep 25, 2013

I get them every once in a while. They seem more frequent with pullets. Mine always have calcium around so it has nothing to do with that. My city friends are totally mystified by them.

Also, they don't keep. If you try and keep it around to show someone it will begin to shrivel as it dries out.

Gambles · Sep 25, 2013

It sometimes happens, but the reason you don't see them too often is because hens will attack these shell-less eggs as soon as they are laid and will eat them before the owner ever sees them. My mom used to have a chicken that would lay a shell-less egg quite frequently.

Paul from MI · Sep 25, 2013

Occasional one is normal, but if you see very many you may be not feeding enough calcium to form good shells.

old · Sep 25, 2013

We have always called them skin eggs. Back when I was kid a friend of the family had an egg farm and it was common to see them about every week or so but with 10,000 hens you figure it has to happen. I have had chicken now for the last 10 plus years and have not seen many but then most get broke before you ever see them and then get eaten

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2013

Like others have said, calcium deficiency. feed ground oystershell meal, or crushed eggshells, free choice, let them eat as much as they need.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2013

Forgot, also can use calf milk replacer, sprinkled over the top of feed.

Bret4207 · Sep 26, 2013

The only time we get them is when they run out of oyster shell.

DaninKansas · Sep 26, 2013

Agreed. It happens now and then even if they have the correct feed. More often than that and you need to check your feed.

Dave Sherburne NY · Sep 26, 2013

If all the other hens are laying proper eggs, It's unlikely one chicken is deficient in anything. She may have a problem in her oviduct. Are you feeding a good balance of calcium phosphorous and vitamin D. Our chickens get oyster shells free choice for calcium, and about a month ago we got an egg with no shell, just the membrane holding it together, haven't had one since

36 Coupe · Sep 26, 2013

Chickens do this once in a while.Dont get excited.

wisbaker · Sep 26, 2013

We get a dozen or so each day at work, 'course we're breaking 5,000 cases of eggs a day when we're running.

anyone with chickens experience this?

Anonymous-0

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