Dark spots on some egg shells

[Abnearn]

I have a BSL hen who usually lays small light brown eggs. About 1 in 10 eggs or so is a little darker and has a band of dark speckling around the middle of the widest part of the egg as pictured below. Usually there is the same speckling at the presenting end of the egg. None of the other 4 hens produce speckled eggs. Diet is 90% commercial feed. So is the hen healthy? Will the consumer of the egg remain healthy after eating her speckled eggs?

 

[Blue Raptor]

I have a BSL hen who usually lays small light brown eggs. About 1 in 10 eggs or so is a little darker and has a band of dark speckling around the middle of the widest part of the egg as pictured below. Usually there is the same speckling at the presenting end of the egg. None of the other 4 hens produce speckled eggs. Diet is 90% commercial feed. So is the hen healthy? Will the consumer of the egg remain healthy after eating her speckled eggs?

They are healthy we have birds who lay eggs that look like that, they are perfectly normal.

 

[Aapomp831]

A third of my eggs look like that.

 

[Abnearn]

So a third of the eggs from a single hen looks like that or a third of your hens lay eggs that look like that? I always read that all eggs from a hen are the same in appearance.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Speckles are generally just excess pigment and not harmful in any way. Most people like the look of them, and some birds are even bred to lay them. 3 of my hens can lay speckled eggs.

 

[aart]

Nothing to worry about....looks like pigment speckles to me.

'Speckled' eggs can happen for several different reasons...very few, if any, of which are a 'problem'.
Can be caused by:
Excess or uneven pigment coating.
Excess or uneven cuticle(bloom).
Excess calcium deposits.
Porous eggs can appear speckled.
Some birds lay them consistently, some only once in awhile.
The pigment or bloom can change appearance when wet, then change back when dry again.

As long as bird is getting a good diet and is healthy in every other way, it is no cause for concern.