10 month old FBCM

[Chickenheadmate]

Noticed her eggs are not as dark anymore, at what age does shade coloe begin to decrease?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally eggs are darkest after a period of rest or going out of production, than the eggs slowly lighten the longer the hen lays.

Each season they should start out darker. All hens age and egg quality drops with age. Usually you don't see that until after 3-5 years.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

About how long are the breaks? She was pretty constant once she began to lay. Even during the winter.

Generally eggs are darkest after a period of rest or going out of production, than the eggs slowly lighten the longer the hen lays.

Each season they should start out darker. All hens age and egg quality drops with age. Usually you don't see that until after 3-5 years.

 

[aart]

About how long are the breaks?

The 'breaks' are when they molt, usually starting in their second fall and last from a few weeks to a few months.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

The 'breaks' are when they molt, usually starting in their second fall and last from a few weeks to a few months.

Yeah, no break yet.

 

[aart]

Yeah, no break yet.

So her eggs may get even paler before she takes a break to molt and rest.
When she starts back up after the break, her eggs should be darker again...then fade again as the cycle goes on.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The 'breaks' are when they molt, usually starting in their second fall and last from a few weeks to a few months.

Some of mine will quit laying during the heat of summer. Up to two months or more. They come back laying darker initially.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

And those darker eggs are the ones you want to hatch, correct?
Since I'd like more dark brown eggs.
QUOTE="aart, post: 21137902, member: 175197"]So her eggs may get even paler before she takes a break to molt and rest.
When she starts back up after the break, her eggs should be darker again...then fade again as the cycle goes on.[/QUOTE]

 

[Chickenheadmate]

Should i expect mine to slow down in the summer?

Some of mine will quit laying during the heat of summer. Up to two months or more. They come back laying darker initially.

 

[aart]

And those darker eggs are the ones you want to hatch, correct?
Since I'd like more dark brown eggs.

That doesn't matter.
There's no getting around the fading that happens with dark layers.
...and hatching her darker eggs will not make her offspring lay darker eggs for longer into the cycle.