Aussie Woman's Startling Encounter: What Are These 'Lice' on Her Eggs?
- Replies 0
When you think of a mystery, your mind probably leaps to thrilling novels and daring crime scenes on TV shows—definitely not your kitchen, right?
Well, hold on to your hats because we're about to delve into a small domestic mystery that left one Aussie woman baffled.
A Queensland woman recently got more than she bargained for when collecting her usual batch of chook eggs.
Imagine her surprise when she discovered tiny, strange bumps all over the eggshells!
Her initial reaction? 'Lice eggs!'
While this sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, it's a surprisingly common misunderstanding, especially among first-time backyard chicken owners.
Looking for answers, she posted her query on social media.
'Found these on a chook egg. Are they lice eggs?' she asked in an entomology Facebook group, sparking an intriguing discussion.
The responses she received, thankfully, were considerably less 'creepy-crawly' than she’d initially thought.
According to Jason Nethercott from Melbourne-based poultry supplier Talking Hens, the tiny bumps were harmless excess calcium.
He said, ‘These extra deposits of calcium do occur from time to time and are relatively common. The eggs are absolutely fine to eat as there is no compromise to the internal quality of the egg.’
He added, ‘The calcium deposits can be seen as tiny, egg-like bumps, white spots or patches on the eggshell.’
Now, let's break into the science behind this particular incident.
These calcium deposits generally occur due to excess calcium in the hen’s diet. 'The most common cause would be excess calcium in a hen’s diet due to being fed an improper or poorly formulated laying feed.' explains Jason.
Broadly speaking, it is a dietary issue, but on occasion, it could be indicative of stress during the shell formation process.
‘Some backyard chicken owners like to crush and feed egg shells to their flocks. Which is one way that calcium levels can be raised excessively.’ Jason added.
Another possible reason for calcium deposits on eggshells is if the hen has an issue or defect with her shell gland.
This is part of the process where the 15-hour formation and pigmenting of the eggshell occur.
Jason further explained, ‘A hen going through stress during the shell formation process can also contribute to calcium deposits.’
And there you have it, a cracking good tale, we’d say! So, get cracking on your egg collecting and don’t go scrambling when you come across something a bit specky.
Members, do you have any backyard mysteries or peculiar finds of your own? Also, have you ever owned chickens? We'd love to hear about them! Share your stories in the comments below.
Well, hold on to your hats because we're about to delve into a small domestic mystery that left one Aussie woman baffled.
A Queensland woman recently got more than she bargained for when collecting her usual batch of chook eggs.
Imagine her surprise when she discovered tiny, strange bumps all over the eggshells!
Small bumps appeared in clusters, forming patches across the eggshell. Source: Facebook
Her initial reaction? 'Lice eggs!'
While this sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, it's a surprisingly common misunderstanding, especially among first-time backyard chicken owners.
Looking for answers, she posted her query on social media.
'Found these on a chook egg. Are they lice eggs?' she asked in an entomology Facebook group, sparking an intriguing discussion.
The responses she received, thankfully, were considerably less 'creepy-crawly' than she’d initially thought.
According to Jason Nethercott from Melbourne-based poultry supplier Talking Hens, the tiny bumps were harmless excess calcium.
He said, ‘These extra deposits of calcium do occur from time to time and are relatively common. The eggs are absolutely fine to eat as there is no compromise to the internal quality of the egg.’
He added, ‘The calcium deposits can be seen as tiny, egg-like bumps, white spots or patches on the eggshell.’
Now, let's break into the science behind this particular incident.
These calcium deposits generally occur due to excess calcium in the hen’s diet. 'The most common cause would be excess calcium in a hen’s diet due to being fed an improper or poorly formulated laying feed.' explains Jason.
Excess calcium can lead to both speckled eggs (on the left) and the formation of small bumps (on the right). Source: University of Georgia/Facebook
Broadly speaking, it is a dietary issue, but on occasion, it could be indicative of stress during the shell formation process.
‘Some backyard chicken owners like to crush and feed egg shells to their flocks. Which is one way that calcium levels can be raised excessively.’ Jason added.
Another possible reason for calcium deposits on eggshells is if the hen has an issue or defect with her shell gland.
This is part of the process where the 15-hour formation and pigmenting of the eggshell occur.
Jason further explained, ‘A hen going through stress during the shell formation process can also contribute to calcium deposits.’
And there you have it, a cracking good tale, we’d say! So, get cracking on your egg collecting and don’t go scrambling when you come across something a bit specky.
Members, do you have any backyard mysteries or peculiar finds of your own? Also, have you ever owned chickens? We'd love to hear about them! Share your stories in the comments below.
