eggs are lighter and lighter in color?

[cposz]

Curious question - why would a hen's eggs become increasingly lighter in color?

 

[usschicago1]

Is she a pullet or an older bird? Is she stressed out lately?


I wouldnt worry too much

 

[cposz]

She's 2 and has just emerged beautifully from a molt (and she laid all during her molt except for a few days here and there). She's a red sexlink and seems a bit less perky than usual today. But she gets like that every once in awhile and perks back up in a couple of days.

We recently lost a hen, though, and we don't know why. She was only 1 - a buff orpington. And she began laying very pale eggs several months ago. We don't know why she died, but she laid only the day before we found her.

 

[usschicago1]

Wow thats weird ive never heard of anything like it. I can only wonder do you feed oyster shell to them and worm your birds?
Maybe i would check for lice and mites and smell her breath

 

[cposz]

Yep, they get free choice oyster shell and grit, and have been eating layer crumble since we got them, with treats of greens and scratch. I'll give her a good onceover and see what I see.