Little Eggs On Egg

This is just excess calcium, and can usually be rubbed away.  The eggs are perfectly OK... it may have been a bit ouchy for the hen to lay them though!

Hi

Tried to rub away and they are very hard tried to cut with knife but would not cut.

peter rooster

It's often older birds that do this.

Yes these are just calcium pips caused by the egg not being turned and coated evenly when the shell is excreted.   As Auntie says as hens get older their egg shell quality deteriorates and the shells can often be thinner, or chalky and rough or have these calcium pips deposited on them.  Then can often be scratched off but be careful you don't leave little holes in the shell.  

They don't have any impact on the edibility of the egg and don't do any harm.  You can try to improve eggshell quality.  Better muscle tone helps so avoid over feeding protein and carbohydrates in treats which will cause overweight birds.  Such eggs are sometimes associated with a hen coming back into lay having got out of condition during the moult.  They can be caused by an excess of vitamin D which causes excess calcium absorption.  If you are, or have been. supplementing cod liver oil or tuna (or cat food) during moult stop doing this.  Keep nutrition to layers compound feed ad lib and a handfull of corn in an evening and no treats until things return to normal.



HF