Are these eggs OK?

[LantanaAl]

I noticed a couple of things and wondered if it were OK.

1. The color of the eggs. Looks very whitish… or very pale blue.. and even light purplish. I read that this is uncommon but it happens in a small percentage (5%?). Anything to be concerned about? I think not.

2. Another concern is that I noticed some very small dents and maybe even small holes in the eggs. I wouldn’t have noticied this if I didn’t have such a close-up photo. Is this normal? I’m hoping so… and that it’s just from the birds claws, beak, or something normal. Image below.

• This topic was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by LantanaAl.

[tamsea]

Yay….you have white egg laying female. How exciting. My first one laid white eggs. I have no idea about the dents. The doesn’t look like it has compromised the egg but I’m not sure if that’s normal or not.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by dogsandbirds.

Tammy

[The Original Bluebird Nut]

My female last year laid white eggs, too – a first for me.

Not sure I’ve ever seen dents like that on an egg. It could just be an imperfection. Let’s hope so…I guess time will tell.

Central NY
TMB Studios

[dogsandbirds]

That looks like shell imperfections to me and not dents or what I think of as dents anyway. They’re like little moon craters. On the top egg: that white streak looks like a fecal smear.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[LantanaAl]

Thanks all. There are 5 eggs now! I wonder when she’ll stop laying.

Anyway, hopefully the egg membrane is intact. By the way, in Chrome you can right-click on that image and open it in a new tab to see the photo larger… you can really see the imperfections better.

I’m relieved that no one said they were bad eggs.

[tamsea]

Keep us posted.

Tammy

[Love my blues!]

That’s so cool that you have white eggs!

Nicole

[LantanaAl]

Thanks all. Here’s an update: she started incubating the day she laid the last egg (the 5th one). I’m planning to install a nest cam today so wish me luck…… I’m afraid I might damage the eggs or spook them off but it went well last year.

Here’s a pic of the 5 white bluebird eggs that I took a couple days ago. The lighting is different this time and they look more white to me.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by LantanaAl.
• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by LantanaAl.

[tamsea]

Looking good!

Tammy

[LantanaAl]

Unfortunately only 2 of the 5 eggs have hatched. First egg hatched around 8:30 AM on May 3rd… the second one not long after that but it is now almost 11 AM on May 5th. I guess I should remove the 3 eggs if they don’t hatch tomorrow (it will have been 3 days+ since the first one hatched)?

[David in Stafford,VA]

Hang on for a day or 2. If the last egg was laid on 4/19 you whould expect all hatchings completed by May 3. I would wait until tomorrow or Saturday before removing them.

David
Stafford, VA

[LantanaAl]

Hi David, the first egg hatched 5/3 so I will remove unhatched eggs on Saturday (5/7). Hope there is not still 3 of them though. Thanks.

[The Original Bluebird Nut]

Technically, you don’t have to remove them at all. In the wild, birds don’t have people to remove the eggs for them. Unless they break (which isn’t common), there’s no need to remove them.

Central NY
TMB Studios

[LantanaAl]

But isn’t it better to remove them to prevent problems (like if they break)?

[dogsandbirds]

Somebody here had one break this season so it’s another judgment call. If you can get the unhatched out easily then go ahead and take them out Saturday or so. A plastic spoon works great because it easily slips under the egg.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

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