Eggs can as well be abnormal. It's very important to know causes of egg abnormalities and how to prevent them. #ThursdayMotivation #ThursdayThoughts 
Common Egg Quality Problems and Causes
1.) Pale-shelled Eggs
Pale-shelled Eggs
The degree of brown color in the egg shell is determined by the quality of deposited pigment in the cuticle.
Causes:
Infectious bronchitis
Bird age (older hen)
High stress in the flock
1.) Pale-shelled Eggs
Pale-shelled Eggs
The degree of brown color in the egg shell is determined by the quality of deposited pigment in the cuticle.
Causes:
Infectious bronchitis
Bird age (older hen)
High stress in the flock
Egg Drop Syndrome 76
Use of chemotherapeutic
agents (i.e. sulfonamides and nicarbazin)
2.) Lilac Eggs/Pink Eggs
Lilac Eggs/Pink Eggs
The egg appears to be pink or lilac due to the association between the cuticle and an extra calcium layer.
Causes:
Stress
Use of chemotherapeutic
agents (i.e. sulfonamides and nicarbazin)
2.) Lilac Eggs/Pink Eggs
Lilac Eggs/Pink Eggs
The egg appears to be pink or lilac due to the association between the cuticle and an extra calcium layer.
Causes:
Stress
Excess calcium in the feed
3.) Dirty Eggs
Dirty Eggs
If the egg shell is stained by feaces, it is important to avoid feed ingredients which cause wet and sticky droppings.
Causes:
Wet droppings
Large amounts of
indigestible compounds in the feed
Poor gut health
3.) Dirty Eggs
Dirty Eggs
If the egg shell is stained by feaces, it is important to avoid feed ingredients which cause wet and sticky droppings.
Causes:
Wet droppings
Large amounts of
indigestible compounds in the feed
Poor gut health
Electrolyte imbalance/
saline water
4.) Blood Stained Eggs
Blood Stained Eggs
Usually from pullets in early lay, eggs are contaminated by smears of blood from a prolapsed cloaca, vent pecking, or cannibalism.
Causes:
Overweight pullets
Pullets coming into lay
saline water
4.) Blood Stained Eggs
Blood Stained Eggs
Usually from pullets in early lay, eggs are contaminated by smears of blood from a prolapsed cloaca, vent pecking, or cannibalism.
Causes:
Overweight pullets
Pullets coming into lay
Sudden, large increases in day length
Poor hygiene: Cage, trays,
belt pick-up system
5.) Shell-less Eggs
Shell-less Eggs
Laid without a shell layer, these eggs are protected only by the shell membrane.
Causes:
Immature shell gland
Disease: Avian Influenza
Poor hygiene: Cage, trays,
belt pick-up system
5.) Shell-less Eggs
Shell-less Eggs
Laid without a shell layer, these eggs are protected only by the shell membrane.
Causes:
Immature shell gland
Disease: Avian Influenza
NDV, infectious bronchitis,
Inadequate nutrition:
Calcium, phosphorus,
manganese, or vitamin D3
6.) Soft-shelled Eggs
Soft-shelled Eggs
Laid with an incomplete shell, only a thin layer of calcium is deposited on the shell membrane.
Causes:
Excessive phosphorus
consumption
Inadequate nutrition:
Calcium, phosphorus,
manganese, or vitamin D3
6.) Soft-shelled Eggs
Soft-shelled Eggs
Laid with an incomplete shell, only a thin layer of calcium is deposited on the shell membrane.
Causes:
Excessive phosphorus
consumption
Heat stress
Bird age (older hen)
Saline water
Mycotoxins
7.) Cracks
Cracks
This problem includes hair line cracks, star cracks, or large cracks that result in a hole in the shell.
Causes:
Heat stress
Saline water
Bird age (older hen)
Inadequate nutrition:
Bird age (older hen)
Saline water
Mycotoxins
7.) Cracks
Cracks
This problem includes hair line cracks, star cracks, or large cracks that result in a hole in the shell.
Causes:
Heat stress
Saline water
Bird age (older hen)
Inadequate nutrition:
Calcium and vitamin D3
Mycotoxins
8.) Corrugated Eggs
Corrugated Eggs
Characterized by a very rough, corrugated surface, these eggs are produced when plumping is not controlled and terminated.
Causes:
Heat stress
Saline water
Bird age (older hen)
Poor nutrition, especially
Mycotoxins
8.) Corrugated Eggs
Corrugated Eggs
Characterized by a very rough, corrugated surface, these eggs are produced when plumping is not controlled and terminated.
Causes:
Heat stress
Saline water
Bird age (older hen)
Poor nutrition, especially
calcium and vitamin D3
Mycotoxins
9.) Wrinkled Eggs
Wrinkled Eggs
Eggs with thinly creased and wrinkled surfaces.
Causes:
Stress
Infectious bronchitis
Defective shell gland
Overcrowding
10.) Pimpled Eggs
Pimpled Eggs
Mycotoxins
9.) Wrinkled Eggs
Wrinkled Eggs
Eggs with thinly creased and wrinkled surfaces.
Causes:
Stress
Infectious bronchitis
Defective shell gland
Overcrowding
10.) Pimpled Eggs
Pimpled Eggs
Classified by small lumps of calcified material on the egg shell, the severity of pimples depends on the foreign material present during the calcification process.
Causes:
Bird age
Strain of bird
Inadequate nutrition
Causes:
Bird age
Strain of bird
Inadequate nutrition
11.) Calcium Coated Eggs
Calcium Coated Eggs
An extra layer of calcium can be seen all over the egg or on just one end.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
Excess calcium in the diet
Calcium Coated Eggs
An extra layer of calcium can be seen all over the egg or on just one end.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
Excess calcium in the diet
12.) Calcium Deposits
Calcium Coated Eggs
These eggs are classified by white, irregularly shaped spots deposited on the external surface of the shell.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
Calcium Coated Eggs
These eggs are classified by white, irregularly shaped spots deposited on the external surface of the shell.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
Excess calcium in the diet
13 / 14.) White/Brown Speckled
White/Brown Speckled
With smaller speckles than calcium deposits, these eggs may be laid down before or after the cuticle is formed.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
13 / 14.) White/Brown Speckled
White/Brown Speckled
With smaller speckles than calcium deposits, these eggs may be laid down before or after the cuticle is formed.
Causes:
Defective shell gland
Disturbances during
calcification
Excess calcium in the diet
15.) Mottled Shells
Mottled Shells
When placed in front of a light, the translucent areas appear mottled or glassy as a result of the shell’s failure to dry out quickly.
Causes:
High humidity in the shed
Disease and mycotoxins
Manganese deficiency
15.) Mottled Shells
Mottled Shells
When placed in front of a light, the translucent areas appear mottled or glassy as a result of the shell’s failure to dry out quickly.
Causes:
High humidity in the shed
Disease and mycotoxins
Manganese deficiency
Overcrowding
16.) Body-Checked Eggs
Body-Checked Eggs
The egg is cracked in the shell gland pouch and then repaired before lay.
Causes:
Incorrect lighting
Stress
Bird age (older hen)
Overcrowding
16.) Body-Checked Eggs
Body-Checked Eggs
The egg is cracked in the shell gland pouch and then repaired before lay.
Causes:
Incorrect lighting
Stress
Bird age (older hen)
Overcrowding
17.) Broken and Mended
Broken and Mended
A diagonal break occurs during formation and is mended again before lay.
Causes:
Stress during calcification
18.) Misshapen Eggs
Misshapen Eggs
These eggs are too small or large, round instead of oval, or differ from normal shapes.
Broken and Mended
A diagonal break occurs during formation and is mended again before lay.
Causes:
Stress during calcification
18.) Misshapen Eggs
Misshapen Eggs
These eggs are too small or large, round instead of oval, or differ from normal shapes.
Causes:
Immature shell gland
Disease: Avian Influenza
NDV, infectious bronchitis,
Egg Drop Syndrome 76
Stress
Overcrowding
Immature shell gland
Disease: Avian Influenza
NDV, infectious bronchitis,
Egg Drop Syndrome 76
Stress
Overcrowding
19.) White Banded Eggs
White Banded Eggs
If two eggs come into contact with each other in the shell gland pouch, normal calcification is interrupted. The first egg retained in the pouch will have an extra layer of calcium seen as the white band marking.
White Banded Eggs
If two eggs come into contact with each other in the shell gland pouch, normal calcification is interrupted. The first egg retained in the pouch will have an extra layer of calcium seen as the white band marking.
Causes:
Stress
Changes in lighting
20.) Slab-sided Eggs
Slab-sided Eggs
The second egg that enters the shell gland pouch is not as complete as the first egg and is flattened where the eggs made contact.
Causes:
Stress
Changes in lighting
Stress
Changes in lighting
20.) Slab-sided Eggs
Slab-sided Eggs
The second egg that enters the shell gland pouch is not as complete as the first egg and is flattened where the eggs made contact.
Causes:
Stress
Changes in lighting
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