Easter Egger Question of Egg Color

[TallChickMagnet]

This question is hard to frame with out sounding dumb, at least for me....

I am looking to expand my flock. I am going to the Mira Loma Auction tomorrow. I've heard of the non-bread of chicken called the Easter Egger, and might get a few. I've never actually seen one in person, but I have read up on them and seen pictures.

I know that Easter Eggers can lay pink, green, or blue eggs but what I'm confused about is if each individual chicken can lay all of those colors, or if each bird only lays one of those colors for life. I hope that I am clear. Please help.

 

[MeringueHasAHat]

My understanding is they lay one color in that range. So one chicken would only lay blue eggs, or green eggs.

 

[donrae]

One hen lays one color of eggs. She can vary the shade somewhat, but a green egg layer will lay green eggs.
You will probably want to buy birds being sold as "Americaunas" or "Aracaunas" with variations on the spellings. Those are the names hatcheries use when selling easter eggers, so that's what most folks call them.

Pea combs are strongly linked with the green/blue egg genes, so look for those on your potential purchases. Contrary to popular opinion, leg color has nothing to do with egg color.

 

[TallChickMagnet]

Thank you very much, and an extra thanks for not calling me stupid....

 

[Ridgerunner]

The only stupid question is the one not asked. We all have to start somewhere. You may occasionally run into jerks but most of us seem to understand that. Never be afraid to ask a question on here.

The egg shell color is determined by genetics. The exact shade may vary a bit because of different things, but the basic color never changes because the underlying genetics don't change.

There is one pair of genes that determine if the basic color is blue or white. You can crack an egg and look under the membrane to see the basic color.

There are many different pairs of genes that determine the shade of brown that goes on it. That's why you can get so many different shades of brown or green, there are so many different genes involved. A green egg is simply brown on top of blue, You might look at it this way:

Basic white + no brown = white
Basic white + brown = brown
Basic blue + no brown = blue
Basic blue + brown = green

The exact shade may vary depending on how long she has been laying since her last molt or because of what she is eating. I've had a hen that lays a pretty dark brown egg right after her molt lay a much lighter, almost whitish, egg just before her molt. But it is still a brown egg.

 

[tikitiki]

What egg color do you think my EE hen will lay? She is 23 weeks old and hasn't started laying yet. I'm really curious! I've heard that you can tell by the color of their earlobes (her's are pink with a blue-green tint) but I don't know if that is true. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[tikitiki]

She laid a pale blue egg, and she'll be a year old in 2 days.

 

[gaitngirl]

I get mostly green eggs from my 8 EE's. 2 lay pinkish eggs, 2 lay blue, and the other 4 lay green. Someone laid a cream colored egg today but I have no idea who it might have been. I have brown egg layers, too (Isa Browns, Black Sex Links, Cuckoo Marans, and a Barred Rock) so it could have been one of them . . .

 

[Bells AZ]

Our Easter Egger was laying blue eggs. We have 8 chickens (1 Easter Egger) and we have had no blue eggs for 6 months. Is it possible that the Easter Egger is now laying brown eggs?
We had a molt during that period.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Our Easter Egger was laying blue eggs. We have 8 chickens (1 Easter Egger) and we have had no blue eggs for 6 months. Is it possible that the Easter Egger is now laying brown eggs?
We had a molt during that period.

No - if she was laying blue eggs she is not now laying brown eggs. Blue eggs are actually blue throughout the shell -- whereas brown eggs are white throughout the shell and then have a layer of brown pigment applied to the outside of the shell.
How old is the EE? When was the molt? Are you in a location where spring is starting? Are your birds confined at all times or allowed to free-range for part/all of the day? Have you picked your bird up and taken a look at her vent to see if she is showing signs of being in production?