Dark Egg Layers Turning Light...

[Poulets De Cajun]

What would cause a Marans hen who laid dark eggs last year, to lay lighter eggs this year?

 

[Krys109uk]

I can't say that this is the reason for your hen to lay lighter eggs this year, but usually the eggs from the dark egg laying breeds get lighter as the season progresses.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I have read their eggs get lighter as they get older!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

With any non-white egg, as a bird continues to lay the egg colour gets lighter and lighter until she goes broody, molts or for some other reason goes into a non-laying cycle. Once she begins laying again the eggs should be as dark as they were at first. It's a cycle that repeats over and over. You can also see the pigment loss in her legs, at least on yellow legged breeds.