Eggs on eggs

[Twinsane]

Any ideas what these are? It's the second time it's happened this year. Just one egg has these small cylinders on them. I've rubbed them off and they feel gritty. I've checked and double checked the nest area and pen for insects and can't find anything. They are too big to be mites or anything similar.

[walldanzig]

I don't know but the pictures make me feel a bit ill

[Snadger]

I don't know but the pictures make me feel a bit ill

I agree.......be interesting to find out what they are though? Keep one egg to one side and see what 'hatches'?

[Twinsane]

Sorry the photos are making people feel odd - that obviously wasn't the intention.

I don't know if I'd like to see what hatches Snadger...

Its only happened once before which was a couple of months ago. There were two eggs laid but only one with these little balls on. I'm not even sure they're eggs as the texture of them feels like egg shell and the colour almost matches too. I think these 2 hens are coming to the end of laying life now as they've hardly laid this year, rarely both hens lay and I've had shelless eggs, tiny eggs and wind eggs. As I've no idea how old these chucks are (they were dumped in a box outside my back gate last year) they could just be getting old.

[MaureenHall]

They look a bit like moth eggs to me, probably not though. If they rub off easily, then I'd say they arrived on the eggs after they've been laid rather than during laying, so I don't think they're from the chook. It'd be interesting to see if anything hatches from them though

[vicky]

Could they just be calcium deposits? Made nice and round from rolling down the oviduct on the outside of an egg? My chickens often lay eggs with knobbles on them - and I think it happens more so as they get older

[RichmondHens]

Yes, agree with Vicky, think they are calcium deposits too. Nothing to worry about.

[bluemoon]

I thought they were calcium deposits too, but when I enlarged the picture they do look very egg-like. Ours occasionally produce calcium deposits, usually when one has decided to OD on oyster shell, but they tend to have a much more irregular shape. It depends upon the hen, I suppose.

[Nicos]

From this- sounds like calcium deposits...


http://www.thepoultrysite.com/ourboo...lity-handbook/

[Suechooks]

I think I've has similar from ex-batts. Must confess I didn't examine thoroughly but just put them on one side for home consumption.

[Flummery]

My first thought was extra calcium being deposited too. I don't think they are eggs.

[RichmondHens]

Quick test - scrape them off and drop them into a little vinegar - if they fizz they are definitely calcium.