Hello all,

Our chickens have been laying pretty good for awhile now. However, I have noticed that our fresh eggs smell of sulphur, whereas the store bought eggs do not. Also the smell seems to be getting worse.

Any ideas on why the eggs smell, or how to get rid of it? Something we could feed, etc. Could it be related to the heat? We collect the eggs as soon as possible, but occasionally they set in the hen house all day.

Thanks!

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@worldnet.att.net), August 12, 2001

Answers

A dumb question, but....do you have sulfar tainted drinking water?

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), August 12, 2001.

How hot is it in your area? could the eggs be spoiling before they get picked up? (ie: do you pick them up in the evening or the morning after rather than say early afternoon?)

-- jen (jennifer.neotin@airways.co.nz), August 13, 2001.

I have sulfer water here at my home and nobody complains about my eggs smelling like sulpher, so I'm not sure that would be the cause. Unless everybody that buys from me has sulpher water also and hasn't noticed it in there eggs.

-- R.H. (rhays@sstelco.com), August 13, 2001.

Eggs are a naturally high source of dietary sulfur, which is a necessary nutrient. I suspect that if your hens are drinking water that is high in sulfur, your eggs could be overdosed.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 13, 2001.

Just to clarify for everyone. Our water does not smell like sulphur. I did put sulphur out for chiggars about 3 months ago, and for some reason the Chicken house still smells the worst while it seems to be gone from the rest of the yard. When I empty their water it always smells like sewage. I'm not sure if this is the problem, or why it would be getting worse with time instead of better.

I live in Texas the daytime highs are around 105 now. We collect the eggs between Noon and 2 pm usually. Any earlier and the ladies aren't done yet. And if we let them out to freerange they either don't lay or we dont; find the eggs. So I keep them cooped until they are done laying. Occassionally on a busy day the eggs will sit in the hen house until early evening. However, if the eggs were spoiled wouldn't they make us sick to eat them?

Thanks to everyone who took the time to try and help!

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@worldnet.att.net), August 13, 2001.