Marans laying weird colored egg

[Smileybans]

So my marans were laying dark brown colored eggs. They’re new layers, only about three months in, but now they lay light brown eggs. I think only one is laying and the other has stopped. Neither are acting sick. They share a coop with two light brahmas so I can tell the difference between the eggs. It is possible they are laying somewhere else in their run. I have not checked thoroughly since it’s been we here. They eat flock raiser 20% protein with oyster shells on the side.

Eggs laid today. Pretty sure this is from one of the marans.

This is the marans egg and a Brahma egg. Both are eggs I got today.

 

[sourland]

Egg color can lighten as the laying cycle becomes longer, but lightening after 3 months is rather soon.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I have an olive egger who I believe is part marans. Her eggs regularly cycle dark to light to dark again through out the month.

 

[Smileybans]

So I shouldn’t worry too much? They have been laying lighter eggs for a week or two now. I just want to make sure I’m not overlooking anything.

 

[aart]

Unfortunately, not all Marans lay dark eggs.

 

[Smileybans]

Unfortunately, not all Marans lay dark eggs.

It’s fine if they don’t lay dark colored eggs. I just want to make sure they’re healthy and that they change in color is normal.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I just want to make sure they’re healthy and that they change in color is normal.

If they are acting normal and the eggs are normal (except for color). they are OK.

The basic egg shell color should not change, though there can be exceptions to that which are still OK. Brown can become white, green can become blue. Even that is not a sign that something serious is wrong. But it doesn't hurt to ask. Since you have a question with yours it is good to ask. No need to worry unnecessarily.

It is normal for eggs to gradually get lighter as the hens lay. The darkest eggs are typically laid when a pullet first starts to lay or a hen starts laying after a molt. I'm not sure why that happens but practically all mine do. Totally absolutely normal.

But you have something else going on that @sourland did not remember or notice. He's right that it normally takes longer. (How's it going George, hopefully you and the Princess are doing OK) Yours are pullets. A pullet or hen tends to make a limited amount of pigment each day. A pullet starts out laying a pretty small egg but they get larger the longer they lay. The eggs you are getting today are probably a fair amount larger than the first eggs. So that limited amount of pigment needs to be spread over a larger area. That is naturally going to make them lighter.

 

[MountainWoman73]

My cuckoo marans always layed eggs that color, usually speckled.

 

[Smileybans]

The basic egg shell color should not change, though there can be exceptions to that which are still OK. Brown can become white, green can become blue. Even that is not a sign that something serious is wrong. But it doesn't hurt to ask. Since you have a question with yours it is good to ask. No need to worry unnecessarily.

I didn’t know this and always feel like I’m asking silly questions or too many. But I’m shy and it’s easier to talk to people over text or the internet than ask someone in person about my chickens. I’m just glad you all are patient and kind.

 

[Smileybans]

So I think the marans who laid this egg has been laying a soft shell egg too. I’ve been finding broken eggs in the nest box but thought it was the brahmas, because the brahmas lay in a different area and I’ve been finding this egg where they lay. The shell has been soft and light colored. Again why I thought it was the Brahmas. But I have also been getting one egg that is a dark marans color. So one of my marans is still laying a dark egg. The other I think is laying this weird egg and a soft shelled egg.

I have been giving them yogurt and trying to boost their calcium. But since I didn’t know who was laying the soft egg I’ve been giving the yogurt to everyone. When I give the yogurt it helps for the next day. Then I find a soft shelled egg when I don’t give yogurt. Is she just not eating the oyster shells? Should I give all of them calcium citrate? I don’t want to start them on layer feed since they will be integrated into my flock next month and I’ll have to switch feed again then.