Brown eggs turning white with brown blotches on them??????

[Chase9k]

Picked up 2 new sexlinks (17-18 weeks old), they started laying about a week later. The eggs were fine. A week or two later one of them started laying a VERY faded, almost white egg and on it it had a brown blotch/circle??? and is laying occasionally outside the coop in the run. The reason i ask if this is ok is because we also noticed that her butt/egg exit looks very red and irritated. Im still a rookie at this so I ask for a pros advice. Thanks

 

[drohan]

I think the irritation will go away with age. They are still pretty young. I found information from a poultry expert, Katie Thear about what might be going on with the discoloration. According to her, “All eggs are initially white, and shell color is the result of the pigments called porphyrins being deposited while the eggs are in the process of formation. In the case of the Rhode Island Red, the brown pigment protoporphyrin, derived from haemoglobin in the blood, is what gives the shell its light brown color. The Araucana produces a pigment called oocyanin, which is a product of bile formation, and results in blue or bluish-green eggs. Interestingly, the color goes right through the shell, making the eggs difficult to candle [i.e., test for freshness by holding up to the light] during incubation.” She goes on to state that strong sunlight will cause the egg color to fade even before it is layed. This is especially true for free range chickens in hot climates. “Although shell color is mainly determined by genetics, the effect of strong sun and high temperatures on the hens can produce a fading effect on the shells. Why too much sun affects the surface pigmentation in this way is unknown, but it can be a problem for those who sell such eggs,” Thear says. She notes that stress, premature laying, changes in diet, bullying, viral infections, and the presence of predators can also lead to eggs with pale colors."
As long as they are acting healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can try making a mash for them and adding carrot juice to it. This will cause their legs and beaks to become darker yellow/orange, but it might also help the shell color. I would add the carrot juice only once a week.

Hope it helps.

 

[ChicKat]

I think the irritation will go away with age. They are still pretty young.  I found information from a poultry expert, Katie Thear about what might be going on with the discoloration.  According to her, “All eggs are initially white, and shell color is the result of the pigments called porphyrins being deposited while the eggs are in the process of formation. In the case of the Rhode Island Red, the brown pigment protoporphyrin, derived from haemoglobin in the blood, is what gives the shell its light brown color. The Araucana produces a pigment called oocyanin, which is a product of bile formation, and results in blue or bluish-green eggs. Interestingly, the color goes right through the shell, making the eggs difficult to candle [i.e., test for freshness by holding up to the light] during incubation.”  She goes on to state that strong sunlight will cause the egg color to fade even before it is layed.  This is especially true for free range chickens in hot climates.  “Although shell color is mainly determined by genetics, the effect of strong sun and high temperatures on the hens can produce a fading effect on the shells. Why too much sun affects the surface pigmentation in this way is unknown, but it can be a problem for those who sell such eggs,” Thear says. She notes that stress, premature laying, changes in diet, bullying, viral infections, and the presence of predators can also lead to eggs with pale colors." 
As long as they are acting healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  You can try making a mash for them and adding carrot juice to it.  This will cause their legs and beaks to become darker yellow/orange, but it might also help the shell color.  I would add the carrot juice only once a week.

Hope it helps.

Hi Drohan,

Thanks so much for the detailed information. I was just noticing how light the egg shells have become around here lately---and your expert's information makes so much sense. It is awfully sunny and awfully hot---and my green egg layer, as well as my brown egg layers have noticeably lighter shells in just the last week.

Hi Chase9k---
Welcome to the BYC forum and thanks for the great question.