Can the same hen lay different shades of eggs?

[joyous]

HI, I have two 8 month old black copper marans. Seems like I am getting 3 different shades of brown eggs. They usually lay an egg every other day. Both today and yesterday I got eggs( 3 shades). I also have other pullets at approximately(I think) 12-15 weeks of age. What do you think?

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, especially the dark egglayers. If they lay too often, the eggs fade faster since it takes longer to "paint" a dark egg. Shades vary as they get closer to molt, as they just lay more and more eggs.

 

[KittyKelly]

I wonder...Is there any way to keep them laying dark eggs?

 

[Tala]

I think Leghorn white eggs are so boring!

My Redstar lays brown eggs and I like the subtle variety. Definitely makes egg collecting more interesting.

We used to buy brown eggs from the store, and they had variety too, so I'm sure it's plenty normal.

 

[catfish/okie]

Yesterday my wellie laid her first egg it was long and skinny and light brown. Today it was shorter more round and darker brown with speckles.

 

[felidaet]

My two Welsummer's eggs vary quite a bit in color and speckling. They seem to be getting more consistent the last couple of weeks and in a good way. Lately most of them are a nice terra cotta color with very dark speckles. Some days the don't have speckles. These are hatchery birds, not pure bread. If I ever get more welsummers I will probably look to get the from a breeder. I understand there is a great breeder of them about 60 - 70 miles from my house.

 

[Mahonri]

One of my EE's used to give me small dark green eggs infrequently.

now they are LARGE... very light green and more frequent.

 

[Pupsnpullets]

Quote:
I have one leghorn and her pure white egg makes a lovely contrast to the pinkish, taupe and brown eggs I get. Probably wouldn't want too many white egg layers, though.

My brown eggs in hue from day to day, but the pinkish one is always a perfect clone of the one the day before. The taupe one is, too, though the size on that one fluctuates more. She's also the least aggressive of them all and the least greedy. If I throw treats out she'll have to flip it over 2 or 3 times and nibble at it to eat it and by the time she's consumed one or two treats the others have scoffed them all. That's possibly why the egg size fluctuates.

 

[Lucy4]

Well, one of my ameraucanas previously laid green eggs, and now is laying brown. I did not think that was possible. But I only have four hens (2 EE, 2 BO) and was previously getting 2 browns, 2 greens a day as anticipated. Then several weeks ago, it changed to 3 browns and one green. Bizarre.

They're laying less now so it's harder to know whose egg is whom. But I'll be interested to see what happens next spring.