Do chickens always lay the same color eggs?

[fshinggrl]

I didn't know where to post this, so here goes. I was just wondering if ONE hen would always lay the same color egg? So, from what I understand, EE's can lay various colored eggs. BUT.. do each hen lay a different color at any given time, or do they stay with the same color all the time? For example, if I had ONE hen, would I get the same color egg every time. I hope I'm explaining myself well.

Thanks!

 

[sherrydeanne]

Yes, you would always get the same color. Now, they will lighten up some when they're getting close to a molt, but they don't change from say, blue to brown

 

[IggiMom]

Righto--it is like a fingerprint, if there are any distinguishing characteristics about the egg, they will always be there. At least this is what I have always been told.

Catherine

 

[am040608]

I was wondering this myself, as I have 11 hens, how can I tell who's eggs are who's or at least, how many hens are laying I guess. I can see 3 different colors / shapes here. Would that be a good indicator that I have 3 hens laying for example?

 

[shortgrass]

Yep, they will always lay the same-ish colored egg... Same shape too! I even have one that consistently has speckles...

You can actually use it to your advantage to figure out who lays how many days a week etc.... It can be tricky if you have numerous birds of the same breed, but a close eye can pick up a difference in sheen, shape, and color.

I've got mine down to knowing whose is whose, except the 7 BRs all look very similar.. I've sorted these so we can see how easy it can actually be...

Also helps when I want a specific egg... Lol peaches is my only red star, and she lays the biggest, darkest, prettiest eggs... For some reason, I always grab her eggs, they're big

The white ones are Ancona, the cream ones are Buttercup, there's 2 EES laying right now, one has minty colored and one has olive colored eggs.. I have a silkie that lays an almost purple egg and the other lays cream colored ones.. The Wyandotte's lay a lighter brown but oddly oblong egg, the red star lays the dark brown one, and the BRs are all in the right hand tray, each a different shade or texture..

Don't ask me to tell you WHICH BR laid WHICH brown egg though lol

 

[shortgrass]

I was wondering this myself, as I have 11 hens, how can I tell who's eggs are who's or at least, how many hens are laying I guess. I can see 3 different colors / shapes here. Would that be a good indicator that I have 3 hens laying for example?

Good example there... Just for giggles, is the oblong lighter one from a Wyandotte?


I've read of a "lipstick" test... Lol I guess you put lipstick(that you never want to use again lol) around the vent of the chicken in question, then when she lays, her egg will be streaked with lipstick, telling you who lays which egg...

I don't use lipstick, so I don't have any on hand to try... I don't know whether to be bummed I can't try it, or glad...

Edit, I see 4, possibly 5 different hens' eggs in that basket, unless someone had an off day and laid a dinky

 

[lazy gardener]

I've heard of using vegetable dye for id'ing a layer's egg. I'd be a bit concerned about putting red around a vent, or any where else for that matter due to chicken's cannibalistic nature.

 

[am040608]

Its only been 6 days since we had our first eggs. The wait felt like FOREVER!
Two in the morning and one later that day. It was so tiny, about the size of a fifty cent piece, though in the photos it looks larger. I assumed it was from one of our youngest. Either one of 2 black orps, or the youngest wyandotte.
Then we got the funny oblong one yesterday. We have 5 older wyandottes as well.
I feel confident that I know our one golden sexlink has to be one hen that is laying because she is ever in the nesting boxes.
We also have an EE. She is one of the younger 4. She has been doing quite a bit of squatting and rooting through the nesting area, but I dont think any of these could be hers?
Today we got another teeny egg.
However, of the 2 to 3 eggs we get a day, mostly they are the darker brown larger ones.
Last night we got another darker one as well. Here is a good mix.