My white leghorn is laying brown eggs????

[JocelynMc25]

After waiting anxiously for weeks for my "leghorns" (henceforth to be referred to as The DeeDum....they earned the names Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and since they are nearly identical and we can't tell them apart, we collectively refer to both of them as one until- The DeeDum) to start laying, I went out to the coop this morning and discovered this oddly dark egg- none of my other girls have ever laid eggs of that shade- we have two EE's, two Black Stars, one RI Red, one Japanese Fantail Bantam, one Frizzle Bantam, and The DeeDum. We thought we would know for sure when they started laying, as leghorns lay white eggs, right?

Now I am wondering if they are perhaps White Rocks! Getting a close look at their earlobes will have to wait until they head back inside for the evening.

Can my other hens suddenly have such a dramatic change in the color of their eggshells? I have had my original crew of the EE's, RI Red, and Black Star for two years now- it's obvious who lays the blue/green and who lays the mini eggs

 

[JocelynMc25]

Ok...I got a shot of a DeeDum...would the "earlobes" be those cute feathery bits? (which are white)? In which case, she is a Leghorn, and then who knows what the story is with the egg!

 

[Michael OShay]

Ok...I got a shot of a DeeDum...would the "earlobes" be those cute feathery bits? (which are white)? In which case, she is a Leghorn, and then who knows what the story is with the egg!

The earlobes are the fleshy parts developing below those cute feathery bits. I can't get your pic to enlarge, but based on what I can see it looks to me like she has red earlobes coming in which means she's a White Rock (definitely so if she's laying brown eggs). Also her general build looks to be that of a White Rock rather than a White Leghorn.

 

[season1223]

The earlobes are the fleshy parts developing below those cute feathery bits. I can't get your pic to enlarge, but based on what I can see it looks to me like she has red earlobes coming in which means she's a White Rock (definitely so if she's laying brown eggs). Also her general build looks to be that of a White Rock rather than a White Leghorn.

Is she a really big hen? I have one that looks just like her and im wondering if mine is a white rock as well! Im pretty sure mine just started laying the same color eggs too! Mine doesn't fly! Her run is sooo funny it makes me laugh cuz she kicks her feet out to the side as she runs!

 

[JocelynMc25]

Hi!

She is very, very large- I have two of them, and they were much daintier when we picked them up as pullets. I are larger than all of my other hens, very white and fluffy and "classic chicken" looking. However, The DeeDum does fly, excellently, in fact! They like sitting up on top of the coop and hanging out, and are always the last ones in at night!

 

[JocelynMc25]

Thank you, Michael- The earlobes are most definitely red, not white. I will see if I can catch a DeeDum in a nest box...that would settle that, for sure!

 

[season1223]

This is a pic of my Chick Pea! I got her from a friend when she was a baby along with another one like her and a duck (all about the same age)! He had bought them and decided he didn't want em which is how my flock began! He didn't know what gender or breed they were! I know shes a hen now and im thinking she might be a white rock too since she looks just like JocelynMc25's...am I right? She just started laying eggs and hers r brown eggs too!

 

[drumstick diva]

Meat birds usually have to be "processed," very early . They have such explosive growth weight wise that their legs give out and their organs as well. Most don't live long enough to lay eggs.

 

[Beekissed]

Meat birds usually have to be "processed," very early . They have such explosive growth weight wise that their legs give out and their organs as well. Most don't live long enough to lay eggs.

Tell that to the many here on BYC that are eating eggs laid by meaty hens.

Aoxa would be mighty surprised to find she should have processed those hens she bred to her Barred Rock male and is currently raising their offspring. I've known of people getting their CX hens to the age of 3 before they died of health issues.

The offspring of her CX....

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you, Michael- The earlobes are most definitely red, not white. I will see if I can catch a DeeDum in a nest box...that would settle that, for sure!

You're welcome.