Egg Size and Color.

[dantodd]

I have 3 chickens who are at 23 weeks. I am getting 2 eggs a day (occasionally 1) now but I don't know which are laying. I have 2 Delaware and a RIR.

The eggs are different shades of brown one is fairly brown with a little redish tint, the other much more of a coffee with a lot of milk color. By appearances and actions (squatting) it seems the 2 layers would be the Delawares but I'm not sure if they'd be laying such different colored eggs. They were bought from the same batch at the local feed store but are unlikely from the same hen/cock, their coloration and size are somewhat different.

So, now I'm wondering if maybe the RIR is laying along with only one of the Delawares.


Also, how long does it take for the eggs to reach "full size?" These still seem like "pullet eggs" weighing between 1.5 and 1.8 oz in shell. (small to medium sized)

ETA: They've been laying for about 3 weeks now.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

A pic or two would help LOADS.

 

[dantodd]

your wish is my command.

It's a bit tough to get good color reproduction on a camera phone but this should at least show the color difference. The eggs are sitting on a very white cloth diaper for reference. As I said they are between 1.5 and 1.8 oz and the two chickens started laying within 4 days of each other.

 

[dantodd]

So, any ideas? Would these 2 eggs likely come from 2 different Delawares or more likely a Delaware and a RIR?

Also, how long does it typically take before the eggs are "full sized?"

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Every individual bird is different. Breeds have traits but there are those that don't follow the rules.
That said, I'm pretty sure those eggs are from 2 different breeds.
They gradually get bigger, in a couple weeks you'll notice a change and after a couple months they're an acceptable size. 6 months in you'll get lots of big ones. Even then occasionally there will be a small one.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Mine did that as well, the lighter one looks like some calcuim film on it that will get darker..I have 2 that lay every day and one hen that is on and off still, since they free range all day I'm wondering if she is laying somewhere else. Keeping a routine is important, I try to leave them in the coop until they are done, but the one doesn't lay until the afternoon, so....just letting nature do her thing

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Once they're out of the pullet stage when laying is irregular, most productive breeds produce an egg every 26 hours or so.
They rarely lay at night unless they let one slip from the roost. They'll all lay at all hours of the day, later and later each day till they skip a day. Then they'll lay in the morning for several days while shedding the eggs that would have been laid at night. That's why it seems like they lay in the morning.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Those eggs look like they are from 2 different pullets. Coloring can change slightly, but shape usually doesn't.

I think the RIR is laying the egg on the left and a Delaware is laying the egg on the right. Congrats on the eggs!

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

My NH Reds lay the lighter pinkish while the Australorps lay the darker brown. Looks like one is the RIR.

 

[hispoptart]

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