Once I bought a carton of eggs and half of them had two yolks in one egg. Two sunny-side-up yolks in one egg white. At first, I believed that I had experienced the strangest egg-cident. But this Reddit post beat my story any day. The original poster (OP) “Youngmanandthelake” posted a picture of bead-like stuff in his egg. Unlike the double yolks, this picture is extremely unappetizing. He asked Reddit what the strange beads were and Reddit came up with the right answer.
“What Are These Bead-Like Stuff in Eggs?”
The original Reddit post read, “Found inside the white of an egg. Are these more, future eggs that unfortunately got inside another egg? Did the chicken lose all future eggs? A parasite?”
In a comment, the OP clarified, “If anybody has an idea let me know. These were in a small clump inside the white. They’re small like sand. I am aware chickens have all the eggs at birth and release eggs thru ovaries in a sequence to calcify a shell, but did a massive release occur? Are these future eggs? Are these parasite eggs?” [1]
One commenter pointed out that the eggs in the chicken’s ovary are too small to see with the naked eye. So good news, the chicken is fine. And fortunately, for the OP, this bead-like stuff in eggs was no parasites.
In fact, these little beads were calcium deposits, essentially, the same chemical makeup as the shell of the egg. Some deposits are soft, grainy, and easily scraped off. However, some are as hard as the eggshell. Plus, calcium deposits could also be found on the outside of the shell, not just in the egg yolk as in the case of this Reddit post.
What Causes Calcium Deposits in Eggs?
This bead-like stuff AKA calcium deposits could occur in eggs for numerous reasons. One is over-ovulation. This happens when the chicken’s reproductive system goes into overdrive, which results in two eggs forming at once. Then some of the calcium from one shell gets attached to the other shell. As a result, one egg has a little or no shell and the other has a rough, bead-like exterior.
Additionally, if a hen lacks vitamin D3, she’s not able to properly absorb calcium, which results in a lack of calcium in her body. Overall, chickens who are ill or lack nutrients lay cracked, bumpy, or thin-shelled eggs. Some disorders like bronchitis and laryngotracheitis cause hens to lay eggs with bead-like calcium deposits on them. [2]
Read: Here’s How You Make A Hanging Cabbage Treat For Your Chickens To Keep Them Entertained
Other Issues With Egg Shells
About 2% of all chicken eggs have some kind of defect. Some are barely noticeable and some are extremely odd-looking. Some are actually safe to eat, depending on the deformity, but they may not look as appetizing. Here are some strange egg anomalies some flock owners discover.
Double of multiple yolks
While I had the fortune to find multiple two-in-one yolks, the record is nine yolks in one egg. That’s a lot of cholesterol. This occurs when more than one yolk matures and gets released and fertilized at once. Like a four-leaf clover, double egg yolks are a sign of good luck.
White banded eggshell
These eggs look like there’s a white circle around them. This happens when two eggs make contact in the shell gland pouch of the chicken. This causes one of the eggs to attain another layer of calcium that looks like a white band.
Read: Man Builds Raft To Save “Unluckiest” Swan’s Eggs From Flooding River
Misshapen or oddly-shaped eggs
These oddities could range from barely noticeable to extremely misshapen. For instance, you’ll find a round egg instead of an oval one. This can occur from immature or defective shell glands or stress, overcrowding, or disease in the coops.
Blood spots in yolks
This could range from a small red dot to a spoonful of runny blood. This happens when forming eggs yolks rupture a blood vessel and the blood ends up trapped inside the eggshell. It’s often a result of nutrient imbalances, the drug sulphaquinoxaline, poor feed, stress, and disturbances in the coop.
Yolk-less eggs
These are the opposite of multiple-yolk eggs. Instead, there are no yolks at all, only egg whites. They are also known as rooster eggs or fairy eggs. The outside of the eggs tends to look darker than usual. These eggs can occur when there’s a disturbance in the chicken’s reproductive cycle, including when young pullets are coming into lay. [3]
Of course, the big question is: Can you eat eggs with bead-like calcium deposits? The answer is yes, but it’s rather like eating the shell. So it’s technically safe, but it may not be very appetizing.
Keep Reading: Are cheaper eggs just as nutritious as organic or free-run options? A popular TV program Investigated 14 brands to find out
Sources
- “Found inside the white of an egg.” Reddit. 2019
- “CAuses of Calcium Deposits in Chicken Eggs.” Pets on Mom. Kristie Karns.
- “Common egg quality problems.” Poultry Producer. Jim. July 15, 2020
Attention: While many of these stories are interesting, and we would love to take their word for it, the content in this article was taken from an unverifiable source (i.e., a Reddit forum). As such, we cannot guarantee that these events truly happened in the way that they are described in the original source.