Mystery egg!

[tn_artist]

I have a pen with 2 Buttercups, one Welsummer, 4 bantam Cochin, 4 old English bantams and one buff laced seabright. All birds are 8-9 months old.
The last two days, I have found an egg that is different than the rest.
All the birds in that pen should lay white, off white or cream eggs, except the Welsummer. She lays a large, dark brown egg with darker brown Speckles. The mystery egg is pinkish brown with purple spots, and between bantam Cochin and buttercup size.
Any ideas on who could be laying this egg? I thought, maybe, the seabright, because I'm pretty sure she wasn't laying yet, as of last week. But, I looked it up, and her eggs should be small and white or cream, about the same size as the old English.
First picture is an OEGB egg on the left, bantam Cochin next, the mystery egg, then a Buttercup egg on the right.

Top-middle in picture below, between buttercup eggs.

Yesterday's egg on the left, today's on the right.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Your Welsummer is laying those eggs. As pullets and hens get more into production the amount of brown coating on each egg laid decreases. The eggs are darkest when the hen starts laying and the lightest when she has been laying well for a few months.

 

[tn_artist]

Your Welsummer is laying those eggs. As pullets and hens get more into production the amount of brown coating on each egg laid decreases. The eggs are darkest when the hen starts laying and the lightest when she has been laying well for a few months.

Both Welsummers have been laying for a very short time (only 2 weeks for one of them), and these mystery eggs are smaller, by a lot.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Both Welsummers have been laying for a very short time (only 2 weeks for one of them), and these mystery eggs are smaller, by a lot.
View attachment 1947249 View attachment 1947251

Most likely your bantam Cochin, they lay brown eggs.

 

[tn_artist]

Most likely your bantam Cochin, they lay brown eggs.

It would have to be Esther then. All the other Cochins are broody. The other three lay cream colored eggs. I think I'm going to try the lipstick test, to be sure. I don't normally wear makeup, so a run to Dollar Tree is in order, for the cheap stuff.

 

[MysteryChicken]

It would have to be Esther then. All the other Cochins are broody. The other three lay cream colored eggs. I think I'm going to try the lipstick test, to be sure. I don't normally wear makeup, so a run to Dollar Tree is in order, for the cheap stuff.

Most people would use food dye in the vent of a chicken to see who's laying.

 

[tn_artist]

Most people would use food dye in the vent of a chicken to see who's laying.

Even better. I have about twelve colors of food dye paste!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Even better. I have about twelve colors of food dye paste!

Hopefully this solves your mystery egg situation.

 

[aart]

Even better. I have about twelve colors of food dye paste!

Do let us know how this works out.
Have read it suggested lots but not any first hand results.
Take pics, of application and 'marked' egg....please?

 

[tn_artist]

Do let us know how this works out.
Have read it suggested lots but not any first hand results.
Take pics, of application and 'marked' egg....please?

I will. Will probably wait until early Saturday, so I can be there all day. I'd much rather be at home with my chickens than at work.