Coturnix Quail Laid a Green Egg

[Floydie]

The celadon gene produces blue/green eggs. A bird with 2 copies of celadon lays blue eggs, a bird with one copy lays a normal speckled egg, but when opened, the egg shell is usually blue inside. This egg looks like an egg laid by a celadon carrier, that didn’t get the bloom (aka paint job). I’m guessing some type of stress was involved, like she was startled and passed an egg early, or whatever, but if she doesn’t lay another, I wouldn’t worry, this happens from time to time. If she keeps laying these, it may indicate issues in the reproductive system and she may need vet care, but usually it’s a one time thing.

Nope white egg inside, they usually lay white speckled eggs. No stress but I did feed them some dried shrimp that my fish wouldnt eat .

 

[nanasquail]

So I've had Coturnix for about a year now. They are all laying great and seem healthy, but today one of them laid a GREEN egg. It is so green I almost would have thought someone colored it if I didn't know better. I don't really mind if they lay a green egg every once in awhile, but I'm pretty sure green quail eggs are not normal. Is this a sign of a health problem? Does anyone know why the egg is green? They get game bird feed, bird seed, and grit.

I was watching Corturnix Corner tonight and his guest said she gets olive eggs from some quail. She was from Australia I think.

 

[little-beep]

.... try incubating it... maybe you'll get achick with the same gene as the mom and lay green eggs too... it may become a new breed of quail like the easter Eggers in chickens who lays greenish eggs.... but as you said it might be a disease. ...

or perhaps you'll end up with a green eyed baby monstrosity "frankin-chick"

 

[AlpineOne]

So I've had Coturnix for about a year now. They are all laying great and seem healthy, but today one of them laid a GREEN egg. It is so green I almost would have thought someone colored it if I didn't know better. I don't really mind if they lay a green egg every once in awhile, but I'm pretty sure green quail eggs are not normal. Is this a sign of a health problem? Does anyone know why the egg is green? They get game bird feed, bird seed, and grit.

 

[TwoCrows]

Green eggs can be what they call "stress eggs". The egg was ready to be laid but stress prevented the hen from laying it that day, the egg got another coating in the shell gland before it was eventually laid. This can be common with Celadon Quail that lay blue eggs. I've heard of other funky colors when an egg is held too long.

 

[AlpineOne]

So I've had Coturnix for about a year now. They are all laying great and seem healthy, but today one of them laid a GREEN egg. It is so green I almost would have thought someone colored it if I didn't know better. I don't really mind if they lay a green egg every once in awhile, but I'm pretty sure green quail eggs are not normal. Is this a sign of a health problem? Does anyone know why the egg is green? They get game bird feed, bird seed, and grit.

One of my girls laid a dark green egg today…..

 

[Susan Skylark]

I know this is a ghost post but I do have to reply to some of the older theories! Unless your quail is laying copper coated eggs that then have years to oxidize this is not the problem, that much copper (a trace mineral!) in the system of anything is toxic, interesting theory but about as relevant as saying it looks like my dyed quail eggs and thinking that’s the answer! As for being able to paint their eggs like a cartoon chameleon, that theory also belongs in the funny papers. One anomalous egg is a freak Not a problem, a daily issue is different, either genetics or some issue with repro tract including nutrition, infection, hormones, or malfunction…

 

[Finchbreeder]

Re the mention of Green eggs from Australian Quail - they are probably refering to King quail eggs, as our birds lay them in shades of green all the time.