Chicken constantly laying bloody eggs.

[Lyris]

It just occured to me that y'all might be able to help me with another issue I'm having. My bantam Easter egger just started up for the spring after taking the winter off. Last year I had no problems with her eggs. This year nearly all of her eggs have varying amounts of blood streaks on them. She's been laying for about three weeks now. I've been told she's laying unusually big eggs for such a small girl. (She's roughly 3 pounds) She also likes to run around in a panic for a few hours before she lays. Even my rooster is fed up with her and has stopped following her to the nesting boxes. (His favorite part of the day) Can I do anything to make her egg laying experience less stressful/bloody? Is there a way to like get her to lay smaller eggs or something? Or get her to stop running around in a panic all day until she lays? Do I need to be concerned about the blood? She's otherwise healthy and active, just high strung.

I do have a rooster who I got at the same time as her. He's pretty much given up trying to mount the hens (he's too small and they're big and fast) when he does he has a different hen he prefers. I highly doubt he's been mating with her and non of her eggs have been fertile. Even if he is mating with her, her eggs were fine last year.

These are the eggs I found today.

Upside down pic, but that's her egg compared to a black sex-link who lays the largest eggs I've ever seen. (Larger than my Wyndotte)

She's the little brown/cream/(pink?) one in the back.

And here she is in front of the lavender Orpington.

 

[FrostRanger]

There really isn't anything you can do, it's one of those things that has to sort itself out. Nothing you can do to reduce the size of her eggs either. I do think this is something that'll eventually sort itself out though, so don't worry too much, just keep an eye on her

 

[Lyris]

There really isn't anything you can do, it's one of those things that has to sort itself out. Nothing you can do to reduce the size of her eggs either. I do think this is something that'll eventually sort itself out though, so don't worry too much, just keep an eye on her

Poor girl. Her eggs are huge for her size. She likes to run around all day singing her egg song until she lays.(I think stress?) Unfortunately her egg song is also her "danger" song and scares the other chickens. My hens huddle together and herd themselves to safety to sit in a panic until I shush Velveeta. That's part of the reason I'm trying to get her to relax or have an easier egg experience. Do I need to up her iron or anything for blood loss or anything? They mostly free-range and eat the yard.

 

[FrostRanger]

Poor girl. Her eggs are huge for her size. She likes to run around all day singing her egg song until she lays.(I think stress?) Unfortunately her egg song is also her "danger" song and scares the other chickens. My hens huddle together and herd themselves to safety to sit in a panic until I shush Velveeta. That's part of the reason I'm trying to get her to relax or have an easier egg experience. Do I need to up her iron or anything for blood loss or anything? They mostly free-range and eat the yard.

No, she shouldn't be losing enough blood for that to be necessary. Unfortunately there is nothing you can to but watch and wait

 

[Mrs. K]

She has a little paper cut in the laying tract. It will heal up on its own.

Sometimes excessive fear like that can be calmed down with more space, and more clutter in that space. Roosts in the run, mini walls that birds can get behind, things like platforms where birds can get under or on top of can help. Think of kids jungle gym.

A lot of runs I see are just an empty rectangular space. Which wastes a lot of vertical space. It will look more cluttered to you, but more interesting to them.
Some chickens are very stressed in open spaces,

 

[Lyris]

She has a little paper cut in the laying tract. It will heal up on its own.

Sometimes excessive fear like that can be calmed down with more space, and more clutter in that space. Roosts in the run, mini walls that birds can get behind, things like platforms where birds can get under or on top of can help. Think of kids jungle gym.

A lot of runs I see are just an empty rectangular space. Which wastes a lot of vertical space. It will look more cluttered to you, but more interesting to them.
Some chickens are very stressed in open spaces,

They free range during the day and sleep in a converted shed. Her and my little rooster are always glued to each other. I'll have to see about more hiding places for her. I think she's just high strung in general. Egg laying seems to have made it worse. Plus her eggs are huge.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do they get any feed besides what they forage?