Observations on Egg Blooms

[Jpajinag]

Congratulations! I can't wait for my Ameraucana to start laying. How many weeks old are yours?

We got them in early October as day old chicks so they are about 6 months old. We had a rough go with all the rain and they and our brahmas didn’t see to thrive for a bit. Maybe that lead to late maturity? Or maybe 6 months is normal? The egg sure is pretty though. Here are a few pictures from last month. They are much more skittish than our other chickens and would prefer to hang out with the goats. We call them the “goat chickens” when we as a family discuss them lol because they ended up moving into goat pen one day and wouldn’t leave for about 2 months. Then one day about a month ago they started hanging out with the rest of our crew.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a question on bloom, people always say on the green bloom, egg color, "Is the egg washed?" but as far as BCM eggs, I don't see any one asking if the egg was washed or scrubbed first, before color tested.

 

[AmaranthineAcres]

I have a question on bloom, people always say on the green bloom, egg color, "Is the egg washed?" but as far as BCM eggs, I don't see any one asking if the egg was washed or scrubbed first, before color tested.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I always want to see both the dry and wet colors for EVERY egg, even plain ol' tan ones! (Hence the wet stripe on my BCM egg above.)

 

[gimmie birdies]

unwashed egg with spots, and washed-scrubbed..same egg.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I add a white egg layer, because it makes all other colors pop.

 

[JanetMarie]

Eggs from my flock. Only have one Ameraucana. The green eggs are her offspring mixed with a rooster with the light brown egg gene. I don't know what the bloom is on any of these, but just sharing the mix of colors.

 

[Perris]

and very pretty they are too!

 

[Growingthehome]

This is long but very informative https://academic.oup.com/ps/article/92/11/3026/1603810

 

[ScottyGill]

This has been wonderful to read. Now I have successfully hatched and integrated my chicks the next thing is waiting for the eggs. As it's obviously winter and there is lots of rain and gloom in west coast Scotland I don't expect a thing till next spring, I believe CCL, and Marans take a little longer anyway. We also have a CCL/BCM cross. I'm looking forward to pretty eggs. My husband says they will be the most expensive eggs.

 

[AmaranthineAcres]

This is long but very informative https://academic.oup.com/ps/article/92/11/3026/1603810

That link seems to lead to an article that's no longer available, but still, wow! What an interesting resource. I typed "cuticle" and tons of information came up that might relate to blooms.

I'm sorry I've been away so long. Life got crazy and my ladies have been living with my ex. Hoping to have proper accomodations for them soon. I miss my chickens so much! No super heavy blooms these days, but the egg carton has some color anyway...