What Are Those Spots in Fresh Chicken Eggs?

I’ve gotten this question a lot this year from new chicken keepers. “What are those brown and red spots in my fresh eggs?” Let’s look at this question and more to find your answers.

If you’re used to the pale, uniform look of store-bought eggs, it can be alarming to crack open a fresh egg and find specks, spots, and even bright orange yolks.

FAQ About Spots in Fresh Chicken Eggs

The eggs in a carton from your grocery store are all the same size, shape, and color. The yolks are pale and to us, they are tasteless. This is the polar opposite of the farm-fresh egg.

Even eggs laid by the same breed on the homestead will vary in shade of color of the shell, in size, and definitely in shape. Those dark yellow to orange yolks are rich in vital nutrients and have a fantastic taste.

You may even find a shell-less egg or other egg abnormalities in your laying nests.

The eggs in the nest may have poop, feathers, straw, or other nesting materials stuck to them. Do you wash your fresh eggs or not? Do you refrigerate your fresh eggs or not?

These are questions we can have control over with farm-fresh eggs but with store-bought eggs, you do not.

Now, let’s answer your questions!

What are those brown and red spots in my chicken eggs?

Sometimes you will find brown or red specks in your eggs. These are called “meat spots” or “blood spots.” Although they may be alarming, they’re not a cause for concern.

The eggs you see in the grocery store have been checked by a machine for any defects. This is one reason why you don’t usually see meat spots in store-bought eggs.

Contrary to what you may have heard, an egg with a meat spot does not indicate that it has been fertilized. It’s actually a tiny flaw on the part of the hen.

Interestingly, the presence of visible blood spots indicates that the egg is fresh. The yolk takes up water from the albumen to dilute the blood spot as an egg ages, so a blood spot indicates that the egg is fresh because of this.

This is another reason your store-bought eggs will rarely have these spots in them because they are a few weeks old by the time they make it to the store.

Why do my chicken eggs have spots?

When the yolk is being formed or in some other part of the egg-making process, tiny blood vessels in the oviduct’s wall rupture causing these “meat” or “blood” spots to form.

I’m not sure why nor can I find a satisfactory answer as to why some hens lay eggs with meat spots and others don’t. Some experts claim that the older a hen is the more likely she is to produce an egg with blood spots. Still others believe it is only seen in young birds.

Some information I read says the problem is a nutritional deficiency or a genetic problem.

I can’t agree with any of these in my personal experience because I have found spots in fresh chicken eggs from hens of all ages and I know for a fact my hens have no nutritional deficiencies and I’ve not noticed any indications of genetic problems.

Can I eat an egg with blood spots?

Yes, you certainly can. Those brown or red spots in fresh chicken eggs are safe to eat but if you just don’t like the idea of them, you can always remove them.

You can always check your eggs for freshness if you’re concerned that this may be an issue.

Other egg abnormalities often exist within the flock but they’re not usually a problem as far as consumption.

How can I tell if an egg is rotten?

If you crack open a rotten egg, you won’t have to ask this question. The stench, even at an early stage is horrible.

In the beginning, there will be cloudiness over the egg white and yolk. There may be a green hue to them as well.

If you find eggs you can’t be certain about the age of, you can easily check if they’re fresh or not.

Summary

Farm-fresh eggs are different than store-bought eggs in many ways. One difference that may be alarming to some is the presence of spots, specks, and even bright orange yolks.

These spots in fresh chicken eggs are called “meat spots” or “blood spots.” They are not a cause for concern and do not indicate that the egg has been fertilized.

Interestingly, the presence of visible blood spots indicates that the egg is fresh. The yolk takes up water from the albumen to dilute the blood spot as an egg ages, so a blood spot indicates that the egg is fresh because of this.

This is another reason your store-bought eggs will rarely have these spots in them because they are a few weeks old by the time they make it to the store.

So, next time you’re alarmed by a spotty egg, don’t be! It’s just a tiny flaw on the part of the hen and is no cause for concern. An egg with a meat spot is safe to eat.

The differences in farm-fresh foods and store-bought items are night and day in variances, quality, and taste especially if they are grown in healthy soil with organic, non-GMO farming practices.

Enjoy the results of your hens’ labor!

As always, we’re here to help.

ps. If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at raising hens for your own egg production, we recommend taking a look at our Guides to Successful Chicken Keeping.