[Jae Dawn]

Hi,

  I have 4 Polands and everyday get 2-3 eggs.  Yesterday there was 3 eggs but one had quite a bit of blood smeared all over it.  Is there a reason for that?  I checked them all out but didnt see anything wrong and they seem fine otherwise.  Any ideas??     Thanks!

[joyfull]

if the egg was laid over night/very early in the morning then check the coop tonight for red mite (they could have been feeding when the egg was laid) or perhaps it was a larger than normal egg so could have torn her inside a little bit.

[Jae Dawn]

Hi,

  I doubt that I have red mite I have an eglu classic and am very very diligent about cleaning and have never seen any evidence of them in the coop.  I clean every week and spray with Poultry Shield.  Guessing that it was a big one for her but will keep an eye out for any of the RM's.  Think I will get the stand that the Eglu Classic sits on out and have a good look at it.  Wonder if they would live there and crawl into the coop that way???  


Oh and thanks so much joyfull!!

[joyfull]

redmite can live for months without feeding and can live on the ground 
so they could be there from wild birds.
What sort of stand do you have it stood on? If it is wood then yes this could harbour the blighters. If you could change this to a plastic table or stand of a similar height then this could eliminate this potential problem.
I doubt that you have them inside the eglu as when cleaning out your eglu you would have seen them when you took it apart (by the way no need to poultry shield the eglu - just wash, dry and if you wish a dusting of diatom  ).

[GrannieAnnie]

If I've had blood from red mite on eggs, its usually in tiny spots, rather than a large smear.  I think if its a large smear of blood then its more likely to be like Joy said a large egg thats torn her a little inside.

[SurreyLass]

One of my girls laid a bigger than usual egg, and it had blood smears on it - it was just down to the size, it was her first biggie / double yoker - probably was a bit of a shock to the system, certainly made my eyes water when I compared it with her normal size egg from the day before!!!

Only happened that once, though I was worried sick each day in case it was something else!

[Abacus]

One of my girls laid a bigger than usual egg, and it had blood smears on it - it was just down to the size, it was her first biggie / double yoker - probably was a bit of a shock to the system, certainly made my eyes water when I compared it with her normal size egg from the day before!!!

Only happened that once, though I was worried sick each day in case it was something else!

That happens occasionally - The first time it happened I was convinced that OH had planted a fake egg...