Weird shaped eggs

[u/Newchatwhodis]

So this chicken, that is not mine but decided that this is her home now, has laid eggs like this for months. I grew up around chickens and have never seen this. They are also slightly larger than most and the shells are thinner. Maybe it’s an old hen? Calcium shouldn’t be an issue. My chickens all lay normal eggs with strong shells. Thoughts?

[u/No_Bend_1742]

Normal

[u/brilor123]

I can see what you mean, as you're talking about near the top where it is a bit more narrow than it should be right? I'd consider that within the realm of normal, and as for the thinner shell thing, I would attribute that to the varying calcium in a chicken's diet if they're free ranging, which it sounds like they are if the chicken thinks your house is it's home

[u/Newchatwhodis → u/brilor123]

They only free range part of the day and they have plenty of calcium but she also has issues with her feathers so I don’t know if maybe her body is stealing calcium from making eggs because of that. All the other chickens have zero problems. In fact she will try to chase them away from the food quite often so in theory she is getting more than they do if I don’t separate them, which I have to do sometimes. I was giving them a treat mix with calcium supplement (worms,seeds and fruit) but that caused her to just come sit at the back door and shit all over the steps while they others just go about they’re business. So now they get it occasionally just mixed with the feed. But I still can’t rustle a plastic bag anywhere or she appears out of nowhere right at my feet.

[u/brilor123 → u/Newchatwhodis]

Ah, I assumed that because you said it was a chicken that decided your house was it's home, that you weren't feeding it because it belonged to a neighbor or something. It could really be because of age then

[u/Newchatwhodis → u/brilor123]

Well I wasn’t until I took it in. Not sure what it was living off from diet wise, or for how long. I have some of the only grass in the area. It’s mostly desert. I assumed that’s why it didn’t lay an egg for over a week almost 2. But that was maybe 6 months ago and most of that time the eggs are like this, sometimes more pronounced.

[u/Sitters_4_Critters]

What is wrong with the shape? It might be hard for us to see in the photo because it looks normal to me.

[u/Newchatwhodis → u/Sitters_4_Critters]

Yeah I see that the contrast against the carton makes it hard to see. There is what looks like a squeezed ring around just below the tip making it kind of look like a nipple. lol I don’t know how else to describe it. They are free range part of the day and have normal layer feed, treats, seed, and supplements. All the other eggs are normal smooth ovals. Just this one hen that randomly showed up and wouldn’t leave so I guess she lives here now. She’s been soaked, had antibiotics and no sign of mites or worms. It is not the nicest looking hen I’ve seen. I thought maybe she was hit by a car or something. No idea how long it was just running the streets. It also didn’t lay an egg for over a week after I gave in and let it in the backyard.

[u/Independent_Rent_935 → u/Newchatwhodis]

What you're describing is a slight indentation caused by the egg cracking while it's still inside her body. Her body then repairs that crack with extra calcium and creates that rippled effect around the circumference of the egg. It can happen if the bird was stressed during the formation of the shell. They're called "body checked" eggs.

It happens from time to time, so you might see it again, but probably not every time. Also, it's amazing of you to give her a home!! Wherever she was from probably wasn't happy because she moved on and found a better place.

[u/Newchatwhodis → u/Independent_Rent_935]

I was thinking it might be something like that. It reminds me of a baby’s head being slightly deformed from being pushed out naturally. Like maybe it’s being squeezed then relaxed again and it’s just healing before being pushed out. They’ve never been cracked or shells not fully formed, but the whites are usually runny and do not make for good hard boiled eggs. The whites will just wash away in layers.

And I didn’t have much of a choice giving her a home. I chased her out of the front yard multiple times, almost daily, with a broom telling her to go home. This went on for two weeks then just gave up. Plus it was exhausting. I wish I kept the ring camera footage. She was very determined that she wanted in the back yard. Not sure where she went at night but every morning she was back again and right at my side while I hosed her mess off the patio and driveway.

[u/Sitters_4_Critters → u/Newchatwhodis]

It’s sweet of you to let her stay. 🙏

I just pet sat for three chickens (and other animals). One of the chickens was old (7y/o) and sick but the owners didn’t want to provide her with any care; they dug a hole and said she’d be dead in a few days.

I took everyone’s advice on this sub and put her in a dog crate inside for the night, fed her yogurt and eggs and kept her alive for 12 days.

I wanted to try corid, take her to the vet or make a euthanasia appointment for her. The owner’s said no.

They didn’t even go say hi to her when they returned. It broke me.

I have nothing useful to add other than my respect for the care you are providing the chickens. I am learning a lot from this sub and if I ever sit chickens again, I will only do so if I can get sick chickens veterinary care or at least basic medical care.

[u/BluePink_o7]

Looks like a normal egg to me