Have you ever opened a carton of eggs from the store only to find an egg with no shell?

This bizarre sight may be more common than you think, and one backyard chicken farmer showed off their egg discovery on social media.

The farmer stumbled upon an egg without a shell that had a ‘jelly-like texture’ amid all the regular-looking eggs.

‘We've never [seen] anything like that before,’ the farmer said.

A backyard chicken farmer saw an egg with no shell among all the other eggs with intact shells. Image source: Freepik.

Jason Nethercott from poultry business Talking Hens said that the 'silicon condition' happens quite frequently and is 'isn’t a serious sign of things going wrong with a hen'.

But what could be behind such a strange occurrence? Did the hen run afowl of a witch who cursed it? (I couldn’t resist; forgive me.)

The supernatural aside, it turns out there are a few possible causes to the phenomenon, but Jason said it can 'easily be rectified in most cases with greater attention being paid to what the hen(s) is/are eating'.

'These eggs happen sometimes if a chicken has eaten too many scraps and other food that isn't her regular chicken feed,’ he explained.

‘This means that she won't have eaten enough calcium and won't be able to lay a strong layer of calcium carbonate to encase her egg with.’

Moreover, noises or circumstances like thunder, a prowling fox, or a barking dog can also ‘interrupt the application of calcium in the hen's oviduct’, resulting in softened eggs.

According to Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens, the ‘silicon condition’ where an egg that has been laid has no shell happens quite often. Image source: Reddit.

Another food-related cause could be parasitic roundworms that steal the nutrients needed to form a good quality egg or eggshell–although this will, according to Jason, generally result in ‘a series of poor eggs until the hen is dewormed’.

Well, that’s one mystery down.

Ah, but recently, a woman from Queensland got more than she bargained for when collecting her usual batch of chook eggs as she discovered tiny, strange bumps all over the eggshells.

Looking for answers, she posted her query on social media.

'Found these on a chook egg. Are they lice eggs?' she asked.

Thankfully, Jason advised her that this too was related to the chicken’s diet.

You can read more about this story in this article.

Key Takeaways

• A backyard chicken farmer reported finding a shell-less egg, a phenomenon that left them confused as all other eggs had shells.
  
• Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens explained that the 'silicon condition' is not a severe issue and most commonly relates to a chicken's diet.
  
• Nethercott described that a fright, such as from a predator or severe weather, could also result in a hen laying a shell-less egg.
  
• Lastly, a parasitic roundworm infection can lead to a chicken laying consistently poor-quality or shell-less eggs until it is dewormed.
  

If you’ve come across a shell-less egg in your own backyard or at the farm, then share your story with us in the comments below. We can’t wait to hear your egg-citing tales!

 

[Bullwinkle]

Just why would this “egg” be packed into the carton.
Furthermore why was this “egg” even picked up in the first instance!!

 

[zacca]

Have you ever opened a carton of eggs from the store only to find an egg with no shell?

This bizarre sight may be more common than you think, and one backyard chicken farmer showed off their egg discovery on social media.

The farmer stumbled upon an egg without a shell that had a ‘jelly-like texture’ amid all the regular-looking eggs.

‘We've never [seen] anything like that before,’ the farmer said.

View attachment 29155

A backyard chicken farmer saw an egg with no shell among all the other eggs with intact shells. Image source: Freepik.

Jason Nethercott from poultry business Talking Hens said that the 'silicon condition' happens quite frequently and is 'isn’t a serious sign of things going wrong with a hen'.

But what could be behind such a strange occurrence? Did the hen run afowl of a witch who cursed it? (I couldn’t resist; forgive me.)

The supernatural aside, it turns out there are a few possible causes to the phenomenon, but Jason said it can 'easily be rectified in most cases with greater attention being paid to what the hen(s) is/are eating'.

'These eggs happen sometimes if a chicken has eaten too many scraps and other food that isn't her regular chicken feed,’ he explained.

‘This means that she won't have eaten enough calcium and won't be able to lay a strong layer of calcium carbonate to encase her egg with.’

Moreover, noises or circumstances like thunder, a prowling fox, or a barking dog can also ‘interrupt the application of calcium in the hen's oviduct’, resulting in softened eggs.

View attachment 29156

According to Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens, the ‘silicon condition’ where an egg that has been laid has no shell happens quite often. Image source: Reddit.

Another food-related cause could be parasitic roundworms that steal the nutrients needed to form a good quality egg or eggshell–although this will, according to Jason, generally result in ‘a series of poor eggs until the hen is dewormed’.

Well, that’s one mystery down.

Ah, but recently, a woman from Queensland got more than she bargained for when collecting her usual batch of chook eggs as she discovered tiny, strange bumps all over the eggshells.

Looking for answers, she posted her query on social media.

'Found these on a chook egg. Are they lice eggs?' she asked.

Thankfully, Jason advised her that this too was related to the chicken’s diet.

You can read more about this story in this article.

Key Takeaways

• A backyard chicken farmer reported finding a shell-less egg, a phenomenon that left them confused as all other eggs had shells.
• Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens explained that the 'silicon condition' is not a severe issue and most commonly relates to a chicken's diet.
• Nethercott described that a fright, such as from a predator or severe weather, could also result in a hen laying a shell-less egg.
• Lastly, a parasitic roundworm infection can lead to a chicken laying consistently poor-quality or shell-less eggs until it is dewormed.

If you’ve come across a shell-less egg in your own backyard or at the farm, then share your story with us in the comments below. We can’t wait to hear your egg-citing tales!

Different shaped eggs or with lumps on can be because if thunder effecting the chooks

 

[FrankoP]

L

Just why would this “egg” be packed into the carton.
Furthermore why was this “egg” even picked up in the first instance!!

The answer is automation in the chicken coup - the eggs in a retail carton have probably never been touched by human hands.

 

[Gil of Darlington]

Is "shell grit" a naughty term for some reason?

 

[hdhensel]

nothing that unusual. If you have ever kept chooks before for a while you should have come across this. Unfortunately because it has no shell it has no protection so often the laying chook or the following one will break the egg and proceed to eat it

 

[Abby2]

nothing that unusual. If you have ever kept chooks before for a while you should have come across this. Unfortunately because it has no shell it has no protection so often the laying chook or the following one will break the egg and proceed to eat it

I've had chickens for some 50 years and cannot say that I've ever come across an egg like that. The chickens are allowed to roam around the back yard.

 

[MariaG]

Is "shell grit" a naughty term for some reason?

Took the word right out of my mouth. I'd say there would be an excuse for not feeding grit to free range hens. Who knows.
One of my jobs growing up was to feed our huge flock of hens, and caring for the hatchlings (adorable). First thing we fed the chicks was the shell powdered up and mixed with their feed. My oh my, they loved it. That was likened to a vitamin rich start that helped improve the inner stamina.
When feed time came around, the adult hens who were roaming around in the acreage through the day, came running when I gave the feed bins a bang with the scoop. I fed them grain, house veggie scraps and a regular inclusion of grit. We always had amazing eggs. Hard shells, bright yellow yolks and lots of them.
I figure you might guess that I like chooks.

 

[BJM]

One of my chooks lays a soft shell egg (rubbery type) reasonably often. She also sometimes eats her freshly laid egg. It’s really weird that this article came up today as this same chook laid 2 eggs today - one normal egg and a soft rubbery shell, yes two at the same time. I know it was her as she was the only one I let inside the chook house. Unfortunately the good egg was partially eaten and the soft shelled membrane on the second egg was ruptured and partially eaten. If I’m watchful I can mostly retrieve any egg she lays before she breaks it open but not today.

 

[Shane/#]

Have you ever opened a carton of eggs from the store only to find an egg with no shell?

This bizarre sight may be more common than you think, and one backyard chicken farmer showed off their egg discovery on social media.

The farmer stumbled upon an egg without a shell that had a ‘jelly-like texture’ amid all the regular-looking eggs.

‘We've never [seen] anything like that before,’ the farmer said.

View attachment 29155

A backyard chicken farmer saw an egg with no shell among all the other eggs with intact shells. Image source: Freepik.

Jason Nethercott from poultry business Talking Hens said that the 'silicon condition' happens quite frequently and is 'isn’t a serious sign of things going wrong with a hen'.

But what could be behind such a strange occurrence? Did the hen run afowl of a witch who cursed it? (I couldn’t resist; forgive me.)

The supernatural aside, it turns out there are a few possible causes to the phenomenon, but Jason said it can 'easily be rectified in most cases with greater attention being paid to what the hen(s) is/are eating'.

'These eggs happen sometimes if a chicken has eaten too many scraps and other food that isn't her regular chicken feed,’ he explained.

‘This means that she won't have eaten enough calcium and won't be able to lay a strong layer of calcium carbonate to encase her egg with.’

Moreover, noises or circumstances like thunder, a prowling fox, or a barking dog can also ‘interrupt the application of calcium in the hen's oviduct’, resulting in softened eggs.

View attachment 29156

According to Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens, the ‘silicon condition’ where an egg that has been laid has no shell happens quite often. Image source: Reddit.

Another food-related cause could be parasitic roundworms that steal the nutrients needed to form a good quality egg or eggshell–although this will, according to Jason, generally result in ‘a series of poor eggs until the hen is dewormed’.

Well, that’s one mystery down.

Ah, but recently, a woman from Queensland got more than she bargained for when collecting her usual batch of chook eggs as she discovered tiny, strange bumps all over the eggshells.

Looking for answers, she posted her query on social media.

'Found these on a chook egg. Are they lice eggs?' she asked.

Thankfully, Jason advised her that this too was related to the chicken’s diet.

You can read more about this story in this article.

Key Takeaways

• A backyard chicken farmer reported finding a shell-less egg, a phenomenon that left them confused as all other eggs had shells.
• Jason Nethercott from Talking Hens explained that the 'silicon condition' is not a severe issue and most commonly relates to a chicken's diet.
• Nethercott described that a fright, such as from a predator or severe weather, could also result in a hen laying a shell-less egg.
• Lastly, a parasitic roundworm infection can lead to a chicken laying consistently poor-quality or shell-less eggs until it is dewormed.

If you’ve come across a shell-less egg in your own backyard or at the farm, then share your story with us in the comments below. We can’t wait to hear your egg-citing tales!

Seen this before as a kid my grandmother and grandfather had chooks and every now and then there was an egg without a shell

 

[Trudi]

Just why would this “egg” be packed into the carton.
Furthermore why was this “egg” even picked up in the first instance!!

Read it again! The backyard chicken farmer found the egg among other eggs laid by his chooks!

 

[ElleJay]

When we kept chooks one of them (a Plymouth Rock) used to occasionally lay soft-shelled eggs or mis-shapen eggs. The others laid perfect eggs. I don't think it's that unusual.