31/08/2026
BLOOD ON YOUR EGG? DON’T JUST THROW IT AWAY! 🩸🥚
“BUT THE HEN IS NOT A VIRGIN!” 😂 HERE’S WHAT THAT BLOOD STAIN MAY ACTUALLY MEAN
You collected your eggs and suddenly noticed blood stain on one of them.
What will you do?
Some farmers will simply remove the egg, clean the tray and continue with their day.
That can be a mistake.
The first thing I want you to do is to check the birds immediately.
Look at the hens in that cage and inspect their vent area carefully.
Why?
Because the blood may not just be “from the egg.”
It could be coming from an injury around the vent, irritation caused during laying, a small tear, or even a developing vent prolapse.
And there is another serious reason you need to check quickly.
CANNIBALISM.
If one hen has a wound around her vent and there is visible blood, other birds may start pecking at that area.
Once pecking starts, the injury can become much worse.
A small wound can become a serious injury.
And in a cage system, the affected bird may not have enough space to escape the other birds.
Before you know it, the bird can become severely injured or even die.
So when you see blood on an egg, don’t immediately conclude:
“Maybe this is her first egg.”
That explanation can make sense in a pullet that has just started laying, because the first few eggs can sometimes be associated with minor irritation or tearing around the reproductive tract or vent.
But if the hen has already been laying for several months, you shouldn’t automatically blame it on her being a “virgin.”
Someone actually asked me this question and said, in a funny way, that the bird is “not a virgin” because she has been laying for months. 😂
I understood exactly what she meant.
And she’s right about one thing: the bird has already been laying, so we shouldn’t simply assume that blood means she’s laying her first egg.
Instead, investigate.
Check the vent.
Check whether there is fresh blood.
Check for swelling.
Check for a wound or peck marks.
Check whether part of the reproductive tract is protruding from the vent, which could indicate prolapse.
Check the other birds in the cage and watch their behaviour.
If you find an injured bird, separate her immediately so other birds cannot continue pecking at the wound.
And don’t stop there.
You also need to look at the bigger picture.
Are the birds overcrowded?
Are they fighting?
Are some birds excessively aggressive?
Are there sharp parts of the cage that could be causing injury?
Are the birds under unnecessary stress?
Are you seeing repeated blood-stained eggs from different birds?
One isolated blood-stained egg is different from repeatedly finding blood on eggs.
REPEATED BLOOD STAINS ARE A REASON TO INVESTIGATE THE FLOCK MORE SERIOUSLY.
And please don’t start giving antibiotics simply because you saw blood on an egg.
First identify where the blood is coming from and why.
This is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make in poultry farming.
They see a symptom and immediately reach for medication without first investigating the cause.
Sometimes the solution is management.
Sometimes it is an injury that needs attention.
Sometimes it is prolapse.
Sometimes it is pecking or cannibalism.
And sometimes you may need a poultry veterinarian to examine the bird.
So remember this:
BLOOD ON THE EGG IS A SIGNAL TO CHECK THE BIRD.
Don’t just remove the egg.
Don’t immediately assume it’s the first egg.
Don’t immediately start medication.
CHECK THE HEN. CHECK THE VENT. CHECK THE CAGE. CHECK THE OTHER BIRDS.
And if you have any question about poultry farming, drop it in the comment section.
I will be in the comment section, and I know there are also professional farmers here who will contribute their experience and answer your questions.
Beginners, this is your opportunity.
Ask your questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask what you don’t understand.
Your question may be exactly what another farmer is also struggling with.
