Lets Talk About Eggs (Part 2)

 

Let’s take a look at what can affect the quality of your hen’s eggs:



Mycoplasma ( gallisepticm) Effect on eggs :

May cause lash eggs

Pimples or little calcification on the outside of the shell, as well as eggs shells with a rigid or leathery texture can be indicative of Mycoplasma.

Signs of pimples on the egg, the egg is also lighter in colour.

Pimples are visible all over the egg.


Drop in production:

Keep a close eye on your hen's production numbers.

If production drops off suddenly or significantly, it could be warning signs of :

Influenza

Newcastle

Mycoplasma

EDS ( Egg Drop Syndrome)

 

Egg Quality:

Soft-shelled egg:

Has a thin layer of shell around the yolk and egg whites.

The feel of the egg is often leathery and pliable.

A softshell can be handled without breaking it, as they can still be quite durable.

Contributing factors to this condition may be – Exposure to high heat/humidity ( temperatures higher than 85-90 degrees F), parasites, toxins, internal worms, excessive phosphorous consumptions, EDS, general stress, molting, older aged hens.

An assortment of softshells that you can get.

Softshell was laid by young pullet, which is normal.


Shell-less eggs:

There is no layer at all deposited around the yolk and white. It is laid with only the inner and outer layer protective membranes over it.

Signs that something has aborted in the next step of the egg production process.

A defective shell gland is an obvious reason for hens who consistently produce these eggs.

Other reasons may also be:

Stress

Poor nutrition

Molt

Disease

EDS

 

Causes :

Three main causes –

.There may be a lack of calcium in the hen’s diet.

.Any dietary imbalance can cause the production of soft shelled or shell-less eggs.

Make sure your hens are eating a well balanced diet. Do not feed too many treats from the kitchen as it can disrupt the nutritional balance.

 .Stress, bullying and henpecking are other common causes of oddly shaped, shell-less, or soft shell eggs.

 

EDS –Egg Drop Syndrome:

It is an atadenovirus-induced disease  which is characterised by the production of pale, soft shelled, and shell less eggs by apparently otherwise healthy hens.

Full name :

Egg drop syndrome ’76 ( EDS 76)

Possible symptoms:

Transient mild depression and or mild watery poop may be noted.

(Ridged eggs and poor internal quality are not symptoms of EDS 76)

Poor eggshell quality at peak production in healthy hens should raise a strong suspicion of classical EDS 76

*Do vaccinate your pullets against EDS As it is contagious.

Natural carriers are waterfowl.

Eggs with tails :

This is most likely caused by a hen trying to pass her soft shelled egg and, in the process the end portion of the egg got stuck and remained in her vent.

These are not normal as softshells and may be a sign of an underlying problem.

 

Speckled eggs:

Can be caused by an excess of calcium, poor nutrition, stress or disturbance during the calcification process within the shell gland, or even a faulty shell gland. They also depend on the size and structure of the hen. You can get brown or white speckles.

 

The white speckled egg was laid by young pullet and are normal.

Brown speckled egg. The cause: Got stuck in the hen,s oviduct overnight.


Body Checked eggs:

Wrinkled eggs are more commonly seen in older hens suffering from airborne diseases.

Ripples, grooves, ridges and wrinkles are all known as body checked eggs

Body checked. The cause: Got stuck in the hen's oviduct overnight, resulting in the speckles and body cheking.

Top egg slab sided. Bottom egg showing slight wrinkles.

 

Pimpled eggs:

These are linked to the calcium intake of the hen. They can look like tiny beads, or like large moles.

These are the result of either poor nutrition, age or even breed.

Brown egg is healthy with a smooth shell. The white egg is covered in pimples, slab sided and the colour is lighter than normal (was laid by young pullets, so may come right over time).

 

Reducing calcium intake in the winter has been suggested to prevent pimpled eggs.

 

Flat Sided eggs :

Also known as Slab sided eggs.

These eggs have a flattened side that appears to be repaired with wrinkled edging to it.

These are most commonly laid by young pullets  immature in their laying career and tend to be the result of an egg that was held in the shell gland for an extra day. These would be the second egg to enter the shell gland pouch, the flattened side being the cause of the egg coming into contact with the first egg.

The middle egg is normal. Two on the side are both slab sided and covered in pimples. You can also see the difference in the colour.

A slab sided and pimpled egg.

Emergency! Hen has egg problems, how can I help her?

Egg bound hen:

Egg binding is very serious and can lead to the death of the hen.

But with proper intervention and care, the hen can go on to live a good, long life

How to spot an egg bound hen?

My hen is egg bound, what should I do?

Symptoms:

Decreased appetite and drinking

Lethargic, sitting around, fluffed up feathers

Looks sick, or depressed

Shaky wings

Penguins –Walks like a penguin, she will stop walking at intervals and try to squat.

Hen in penguin stance. Credits Unboundroots.com

Abdominal straining- the cloaca (vent ) can be seen straining ( pulsating ) to expel something.

When the egg is ready to pass, the cloaca seals off the intestinal opening so that the eggs don’t get covered in poop.

If the hen can’t poop within 24 hours – 48 hours, she will likely die.

 

Another effect seen from egg binding is vent prolapse- Where the vent hangs out the rear end and, in severe cases, egg yolk peritonitis which can quickly kill a hen from infection if not caught soon, then still the hen may have recurring cases of Egg Yolk peritonitis.

 

Causes:

Passing large or odd shaped eggs.

Malfunction in the reproductive system. Some hens are prone to problems.

Double yolk eggs

The left egg is normal size. The right egg is a double yolker.

Another examples, this was the third egg (double yolker) from the same pullet.


Malnutrition-poor diet, low in necessary vitamins, minerals , and proteins.

Sedentary life, or obesity. The muscles become weak from lack of activity or being overweight.

Premature laying.

Elderly chickens- weak muscles and inactivity

Egg retention- if insufficient egg boxes are available a hen will sometimes hold her egg.

Underlying reproductive tract infection.

Severe infestation of internal parasites.

As you can see some of these are easily preventable with good nutrition and attention to the health and welfare of your hens.

Egg bound hen stance ( google )

Treatment:

Firstly try to determine if your hen is egg bound.

How you ask?

Use a latex glove and some Vaseline, and very gently insert your finger into the vent. Push your finger straight back about 2 inches or so- you should then be able to feel the egg.

If you can’t feel the egg, then she is not egg bound.

 

Prepare a warm water bath with Epsom salts ( 1 cup salt to 1 a gallon of water )

It should be deep enough for your hen to sit to about a depth of 3-4 inches.

 

Give her some calcium before you put her in the bath.

Human Tums or a regular calcium pill will do just fine.

Powder it or break it into very small pieces so that your hen can swallow it.

Why calcium you ask?

Well calcium helps improve the strength of the contractions and helps to expel the egg.

 

Gently put your hen into the water, she will settle down after a while.

Let her sit in the bath for about 15-20 minutes.

 

Towel her off after removing her from the bath.

Before doing anything else place her in a quiet, dark, warm space.

The goal is to get her to lay her egg without any extensive intervention.

 

Apply some Vaseline or even a bit of veggie oil to her vent.

You can gently massage her abdomen for about 10 minutes.

Massage from front to back to try and stimulate the oviduct to contract.

Remember rough handling can break the stuck egg, so be very gentle

After her treatment put her in a darkened crate with some water and food.

 

You may need to repeat this treatment a 3-4 times over the next few hours to try and move the egg along.

If, despite your best efforts she does not pass the egg, it is best to take her to your nearest poultry vet.

PART 3 TO FOLLOW, STAY TUNED!

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