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Problems with Eggshells: Causes and Solutions

Most common problems, in the shell of the egg

Every egg tells a story.

Changes in the shape, color, texture, or strength of the shell may be early signs of nutritional problems, stress, disease, or reproductive system disorders.

Learning to interpret these signs allows you to take action before more serious problems arise in the chicken coop.

Most common problems in the shell of the egg:

A good habit of any as a poultry breeder and enthusiast, it’s important to observe your birds, paying close attention to their external anatomy as well as their movements and behaviors, since they are gregarious animals. All of this will help us determine the health of our hens.

Whether they’re happy or sad, lethargic, stressed, or have a certain comb color; whether they’re doing well and have no issues with their legs, feathers, or a whole host of other characteristics specific to the breed or breeds we keep in our chicken coops or barns.

Problems with shell quality are usually caused by a combination of factors, rather than a single isolated issue. The factors that most affect shell quality are:

1. The race: With genetic selection, and potential influences with other traits.

2. Age: The thickness of the eggshell decreases as the hen ages; the weight of the egg increases, while that of the shell remains the same.

3. Shedding: Productivity depends on the type and severity of the molting that has taken place, as well as the age of the hens.

4. Stress: In general, for example, the population density and the heat, because of the impact on consumption.

5. Some diseases: as the Newcastle, infectious bronchitis, EDS, etc

6. Production systems: Cage-raised chickens, compared to free-range chickens, under both conventional and intermittent lighting regimes.

7. Nutrition: Including

to. The quality of the water: electrolyte, bacterial load...

b. Some trace minerals: electrolytes (Na, Cl), acid-base balance, and Zn and Mn, which act as cofactors (metal ions and organic molecules) in shell formation.

c.. Contribution of major minerals: Ca: P interaction with age, Ca particle size, intestinal Ca solubility, the Ca:P ratio, the diet, and carbonate derived from blood bicarbonate or from synthesis, from CO₂ via the action of carbonic anhydrase (an enzyme belonging to a family of metalloenzymes that catalyzes the rapid conversion of carbon dioxide and water to bicarbonate and protons) in the oviduct.

Eggs with pale shells:

The intensity of the brown color on the eggshell depends on the quality of the pigment deposited in the cuticle.

Causes:

Infectious bronchitis.
Age of the bird: increased incidence in chickens older.
A lot of stress in the flock or flight.
Syndrome of fall of the posture.
Use of chemotherapeutic agents, e.g., sulfonamides and nicarbicin.

Pinkish-purple eggs:

The egg looks pink or purple for the association between the cuticle and an additional layer of calcium.

Causes:

Stress.
Excess calcium in the diet.

Dirty eggs:

All or part of the shell is tainted by feces. Should be avoided, to ration ingredients that produce bowel movement moist and sticky.

Causes:

Stool wet.
Component indigestible in the ration.
Poor intestinal health.
Electrolyte imbalance/saline water.

Eggs are stained with blood:

The extended or smear, blood, are more common in the eggs of the cocks, at the start of the position.

These eggs are contaminated with the blood of the cloaca prolapsed, by cannibalism or pecking at the cloaca.

Causes:

Overweight of the cocks, at the start of the position.
Sewer immature.
Poor hygiene of the chicken coop.

Eggs with cracks:

This problem can range from very fine cracks to cracks that form in the eggshell.

Causes:

Heat stress.
Saline water.
Age of the bird: Higher incidence in older chickens.
Poor nutrition, especially calcium and vitamin D3.
Mycotoxins: moulds and yeasts.

Eggs corrugated:

These eggs are characterized by a rough and corrugated. It is believed that occur when there is inability to control and finish the mineralization.

Causes:

Hereditary
Disease: Newcastle disease or infectious bronchitis.
Excessive use of antibiotics.
Excess calcium.
Deficiency of copper.

Eggs with soft shells:

These are eggs that appear with a shell incomplete. A thin layer of calcium is deposited on the membrane of the shell.

Causes:

Excessive consumption of phosphorus.
Heat stress.
Age of the bird: increased incidence in old birds.
Saline water.
Mycotoxins: moulds and yeasts.

Eggs, not in shell:

The eggs are laid, not in shell, and are only protected by the membrane.

Causes:

Gland of the shell, immature.
Disease: Newcastle, infectious bronchitis, avian influenza, Syndrome of falling posture, etc
Inadequate nutrition: calcium, phosphorus, manganese and vitamin D3

Eggs with granules:

Small lumps of material calcified in the shell. The size of the granulation, depends on the foreign material present in the calcification process.

Causes:

Age of the bird.
Depletion of the bird.
Poor nutrition.

Eggs coated calcium:

This type of eggs they have a layer of extra calcium, good all-around him or only at one of its ends.

Causes:

Gland of the shell defective.
Alterations during calcification.
Poor nutrition, Eg., excess calcium.

Eggs with calcium deposits:

White spots, irregular in shape and size, on the surface of the shell.

Causes:

Gland of the shell defective.
Alterations during calcification.
Poor nutrition, e.g., excess calcium.

Eggs with white spots:

Similar to calcium deposits, but the spots are smaller and may have formed either before or after the cuticle developed.

Causes:

Gland of the shell defective.
Alterations during calcification.
Excess calcium in the diet.

Eggs with spots of brown:

Similar to the white spots, but with pigment in coffee.

Causes:

Gland of the shell defective
Alterations during calcification.
Poor nutrition, e.g., excess calcium.

Eggs in the shell spotted:

When put in front of the light source, the areas translucent egg appear mottled or vitreous as a result of which the shell not dried up fast.

Causes:

High level of moisture in the chicken coop.
Disease and mycotoxins.
Manganese deficiency.
Crowding.

Eggs in boxes:

The egg is cracked in the gland of the shell, then repairs before the posture.

Causes:

Wrong lighting.
Stress.
Age of the bird: increased incidence in old hens.
Crowding.

Eggs broken and repaired:

In this case, there is a break in the diagonal, during the training and its repaired before the posture.

Causes:

Stress during calcification.

Eggs wrinkled:

Wrinkled eggs have a misshapen shell surface with fine cracks.

Causes:

Stress.
Disease Ex. Infectious bronchitis.
Gland of the shell defective.
Crowding.

Egg abnormal:

This is an egg, different in shape and too big or too small, the round instead of oval or that has an irregular shape.

Causes:

Gland of the shell, immature.
Diseases: Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, laryngotracheitis, postural collapse syndrome, etc.
Stress.
Crowding.

Egg oblate:

The egg oblate is the second egg into the bag. The second egg is not as full as the first, and is flattened at the point of contact.

Causes:

Stress.
Changes of the enlightenment.
Disease.

Eggs with white stripe:

These eggs are the result of two eggs that come in contact in the bag of the gland of the shell. At this point interrupted the calcification normal and the first egg is retained and will have a layer of extra calcium, with the appearance of a white strip.

Causes:

Gland of the shell, immature.
Disease: Newcastle, infectious bronchitis, laringotraqueitis, Syndrome of falling posture, etc
Stress.
Crowding.

Colorimetry of the color of the egg shell, Range Cargill

Guide of the most common problems, in the Eggshells from chickens PDF Spanish

You may be interested in these other sections

Anatomy of the chicken: parts, organs, and functions

Gallus varius: Origin and Characteristics of the Green Rooster

Legacy of Gabriel Alonso de Herrera

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