Brown egg laying chickens - laying white egg

[Saraley]

I have all Rhode Island Reds and ISA Browns - that have been laying for 9-12 months (all brown eggs). Recently I have been collecting very light brown eggs (1-2 a day out of 30 chickens) - that have been getting lighter. Today there was one egg that was completely white. Something I should worry about ??

 

[chickentrains]

Hm, how strange. I have no idea what would of caused that.

@aart , I know you know quite a lot

 

[aart]

Something I should worry about ??

No.
It's normal for the coating pigment to fade as the laying cycle progresses.

 

[Bridget B]

I wonder what is happening to our brown eggs also. They are turning nearly white. I have BR's and some type of Production reds. Their color has gone from med. brown to almost white. My birds just started laying in March.
Maybe it is the temperature getting hotter or stress from the heat. The temps. have been over a hundred for about a week now. At first I thought it may be due to feeding them cold cantalope melon. If anyone has some advise I will appreciate it.

 

[Bridget B]

advice

 

[aart]

The temps. have been over a hundred for about a week now.

Could be part of the issue...it's not the cantaloupe.
Are the birds visibly suffering, panting, wings held out, lethargic?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[Bridget B]

Yes my birds are panting, also have wings held out. We are in for a hot summer of course. I have been trying to get them into a new coop and run that we built for them. Only a few more days before we can move them. I have been offering them frozen fruit and vegetables in the afternoon and ice water for them to drink. They do seem appreciative of these measures. I think we can continue to make them comfortable for a few more days. We will probably install a misting system in the new run. It is deeply shaded with a complete roof overhead, nine feet tall. We are waiting for a 15 foot shade cloth for one side, it will be here tomorrow.

 

[Bridget B]

I just read your article on cooling your birds, great ideas! I can move a tray full of water into the old run for them. It should help with getting the legs and feet wet. Fortunately the birds are not lethargic yet. It was 106 yesterday, and will be that again for the next few days. I'm in Phoenix AZ. so we need to make any kind of change necessary in the next few days. When it becomes over 110 I will need to have my eyes on that run all day in case a bird starts to fail.

 

[aart]

Not sure frozen foods really help, and they don't eat as much when it's hot so you want them to eat their ration for max nutrition.

I can move a tray full of water

Just an ice block, not water added needed.
I don't do ice water because I saw a bird gorge on it and almost keel over with what I swear was n 'ice cream headache.

in Phoenix AZ.

In your climate, misters might really help.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Bridget B]

Not sure frozen foods really help, and they don't eat as much when it's hot so you want them to eat their ration for max nutrition.


Just an ice block, not water added needed.
I don't do ice water because I saw a bird gorge on it and almost keel over with what I swear was n 'ice cream headache.


In your climate, misters might really help.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2702170

Our birds are doing well, now that they are in the new coop and run. We have a box fan and misters. The temps. are 15 to 20 degrees cooler, and it only took one day for them to figure out that the fan and misters wont eat them. They migrate towards the fan as the day gets hotter.