different color eggs

[KingFisher]

I have eight golden red hens that have been laying since labor day. I have noticed that the eggs seem to be three distinct shades of brown. Some dark, some light and some chalky brow. I was wondering why this is, because they are all the same and eat the same food and such.

 

[the1much]

if you look real REAL close, all eggs are pretty much different,, my daughters can pick a brown egg out of 5 and know which hen laid it,, and their RIR's.,, but it may be a deeper genetic thing going on,,i'll let the smart people actually say why,,hehe

 

[KingFisher]

I just find it strange that there are three distinct colors between eight hens. could it mean that they have different genetics, even though they came from the same source?

 

[the1much]

yup,,, and you need to figure in where "their source" came from, and then theirs,, unless you KNOW that the breed you got is PURE, it could be their great great great gramfathers fault,,,so blame him,, hehe

 

[hinkjc]

The color on the brown egg is actually "sprayed" on by the hen when they are passing the egg. Think of it as a can of spray paint and they each have their own shade or mixture. They are typically not identical and each hen may provide a different concentration of the color , even on her own eggs. Meaning, one day's may be darker or lighter than the next day.

Jody

 

[WA23]

Quote:
That maybe answers a question I have had for a long time.

Every hen will not usually lay the exact same shade of color from day to day? What about the different shades and glossyness of white eggs?

 

[the1much]

Quote:
i think i just ate my last egg!

i wonder if that goes for humans too,,my daughter is at least 5 shades darker then me

 

[hinkjc]

The shade and glossyness of the shell is dependent on what the hen applies during egg development. Glossyness is the "bloom" that is applied at the end (just before the egg is laid) that protects the egg from bacteria.

http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/poultry_parts_embryo.html

http://www.afn.org/~poultry/egghen.htm

Jody