Re: foul tasting eggs

Nicholas wrote:
Jill wrote:
CaptainZingo wrote:
I have a small flock of free-range hens, and one of my hens
(araucana) started laying eggs that smell and taste horrible. It's
a pain, because we have other eggs that look the same on the
outside, so we have to crack them to find out which ones they are.

Anyone know what might be causing this?

That is strange
An Araucana should have VERY distinctive eggs. They are one of only
a couple of breeds with the Blue egg colour gene in. Even when, as
so often has happened they are not pure the effect of the blue is
obvious on the colour, whether its khaki, olive, or other strange
tint. However foul testing is something else altogether. Its not a
problem
we have come across and I cannot find my egg book just now.

Bad water and other foods can cause this to some extent but there is
something else bugging me that I cannot remember

According to Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens:

"Off flavor may result from something a hen ate or from environmental
odors. Hens that eat onions, garlic, fruit peelings, fish meal, and
fish oil will lay eggs with an undesirable flavor. Eggs can also
absorb odors that translate into unpleasant flavors if they're stored
near kerosene, carbolic acid, mold, must, fruits and vegetables."

Yeah but these tend to be odd and off, not as strong a reaction as it seems
the OP has.


They do not mention foul smelling eggs...

Come to think about it, all of my hens lay "fowl" smelling eggs. ;)

groan

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


Nicholas


.

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