Can you tell which egg is from which breed just by looking at them?

Bella54330

Chirping
7 Years
Nov 4, 2012
41
30
99
Chicago, IL
Hi there everyone! I have a very confusing question. I hope that I don't sound loony, and that someone can help me out here. LOL Ok- here goes...

I recently purchased my 1st chickens from a well known reputable poultry store here in Chicago. The owner told me that I was buying 2 ISA Browns and 1 Rhode Island Red all approximately a year old. He said that the ISA Browns are every day layers, and the RIR is an every other day layer.

I have consistently gotten 2 eggs a day (except a couple of days when I only got 1, but that was due to changes in the coop, I'm sure) since I purchased the girls 2 weeks ago. One egg is very large and dark brown, and the other is medium and light brown, almost a beige color.

Here's my dilemma. I think that one of the ISAs isn't laying at all, and that the other 2 are laying every day. I know for a fact that one ISA is laying, and I know which one it is (Daisy). I was outside yesterday and sat there and waited for her to lay her egg just to be positive. It was a big brown one. I'm fairly certain that the RIR (Rose) has been laying because I catch her in the nesting box every now and again, but haven't actually caught her in the act. I did see her leaving the nest box area as I was approaching this morning (although she could have just been hanging out in there because it's chilly this AM), and there was a nice XL Brown egg. I don't know if it was Rose that laid it though, because it looked exactly like the one Daisy laid yesterday. Before this happened, I JUST miss someone laying the lighter colored egg early this morning. And as far as I can tell, the other ISA (Lily) hasn't been in the nesting box at all.

Here's what I know. Daisy lays eggs. Big brown ones. Rose at least goes into the nesting box. Lily hasn't been in the box that I've SEEN (they're not in sight from my house). I get 2 eggs a day that look very different. If Lily were laying eggs, would they look similar to Daisy's since they're the same breed? If that's the case, I know by order of deduction that my smaller beige egg is always from my RIR, and my big brown ones are always from my ISA(s?).

I know that I'm totally over thinking this, but I'd like to know if I have one chicken that isn't laying at all. Pics of eggs included, and a couple of my girls in their new sand coop (we converted from straw VERY quickly), just cause I'm so proud of them;)

 
Sometimes you can tell which hens are laying either in the slight difference in color or shape of the egg. Since you only have three hens it might be easier just take all eggs you get next couple days and look at them close there might be a certain mark or shape that is distinctive to each hen. I hope that makes sense. Good luck
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@GameBirdsOnly- Thanks for the advice. Strangely enough, after 14 full days of having chickens, I got THREE eggs for the 1st time this morning. Two were big brown ones and one was the beige medium one. I think this answers my question. One of the ISAs wasn't laying, and I know who it was (Lily) while my RIR has been an excellent every day layer, unlike what the store told me.

New problem- the 3rd egg was wonky and soft and kinda wet and gritty. wth? I don't understand what's going on here. I give them Egg-A-Day feed, lots of fresh fruits, veggies, greens, mealworms, and oyster shell every few days. What gives? Do I just have a bad layer? Here's today's collection.
Any ideas on what's going on here? The 3rd egg had all of the components it ought to have- shell (though soft), yolk (though had spots of red) and white. Thanks for any advice! It would be really great to be able to get 3 eggs at least some of the time. I do giver her an A for effort though.
 

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