Help with new layer eggs (finding strange eggs all of a sudden)

Prof-grubbly-plank

In the Brooder
Mar 15, 2024
18
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Hi! I have 8 chickens in my mixed flock (this is my first time raising chickens so I’m brand new to it) and 4 have just started laying within the past two weeks. Our Black copper Maran started laying these perfect, super dark brown eggs with a hard egg shell. Now all of a sudden I am finding these shell-less eggs in the coop (sometimes two a day) that are empty. They are like floppy shell membranes left behind. They are significantly lighter in color so I didn’t even consider that they were coming from her. However, today I saw her lay an egg and it was super light brown and cracked so easily when I was holding it gently so I am now assuming these are coming from her. Do you think this is normal because she is a new layer? Nobody in the flock is acting sick or out of character. I feed them New Country Organic corn/soy free layer feed, mixed organic herbs, oyster shells, dried larvae for fun sometimes, and they get to forage around my backyard which isn’t much because we live on a island but they do have access to some weeds, worms, etc. The pics are of the egg I found today sitting next to her “normal” egg and then today’s egg opened in a bowl. I forgot to take a picture of the floppy shell-less egg before throwing it away. Thank you to anyone who has advice!!!
 

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I also forgot to mention that she also laid a slightly asymmetrical light colored egg as well! Not sure if that helps give more info!
 
When chickens start laying, it's normal to get abnormal eggs. With Marans, their eggs are covered in speckles, which gives them that chocolate appearance, instead of a pigment. That being said, getting darker and lighter eggs is normal. I have heard with other dark egg layers from other people on here, that they'll sometimes lay darker eggs depending on the season or if they just finished a molt.
I would keep an eye on her eggs though. I had two French Black Copper Marans, and their eggs never straightened out. I had constant troubles with their eggs and now I wouldn't want to get another Marans.
 
When chickens start laying, it's normal to get abnormal eggs. With Marans, their eggs are covered in speckles, which gives them that chocolate appearance, instead of a pigment. That being said, getting darker and lighter eggs is normal. I have heard with other dark egg layers from other people on here, that they'll sometimes lay darker eggs depending on the season or if they just finished a molt.
I would keep an eye on her eggs though. I had two French Black Copper Marans, and their eggs never straightened out. I had constant troubles with their eggs and now I wouldn't want to get another Marans.
Thank you so much for your response and all of that information! It makes me feel a bit better knowing all of that. I appreciate and thank you for your knowledge :)
 

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