Old English Pheasant Fowl hatching egg color

[Weeg]

A friend of mine who is starting a small breeding business ordered some Old English Pheasant Fowl eggs about a week ago. After going after the GreenFire Farms auctions for weeks and not getting anything, we found a listing from another seller who supposedly got their parent stock from GreenFire Farms. Since GreenFire Farm's auctions were so popular, we decided to go with the different person. We won the auction and got the eggs a couple days ago. Air cells look okay, and eggs were packed alright, but the thing thats really bugging me is the eggs are brown, and cream. Old English Pheasant Fowl are supposed to lay white eggs. Is it possible for them to lay cream or brown? I have no experience with the breed, but am slightly confused. I sure hope they're the breed we purchased. Wanted to get some opinions on that.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Sometimes, a standard that says "white" can also mean tinted, or slightly cream. It never means brown, and I cannot find a source anywhere that says they lay brown eggs. If the eggs are truly brown, then I hope your friend paid with Paypal. I'd definitely be raising a dispute.

 

[Weeg]

Sometimes, a standard that says "white" can also mean tinted, or slightly cream. It never means brown, and I cannot find a source anywhere that says they lay brown eggs. If the eggs are truly brown, then I hope your friend paid with Paypal. I'd definitely be raising a dispute.

None were pure white, cream for sure. I wouldn't be to worried if they were all cream, but we have a couple that are darker cream, and some tan. Not a dark brown, but definitely tan. I'll have her get a photo.
Gosh darn it, that is so frustrating.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Sometimes, a standard that says "white" can also mean tinted, or slightly cream. It never means brown, and I cannot find a source anywhere that says they lay brown eggs. If the eggs are truly brown, then I hope your friend paid with Paypal. I'd definitely be raising a dispute.

That's all I have read as well. I don't believe anyone has imported them other than Greenfire so I don't think you could even blame it on a different line getting crossed in (which is a stretch to begin with). I wonder if other breeds have been crossed in to improve genetic diversity because they are pretty rare... I know Deathlayers are being outcrossed with other breeds because they are having severe genetic issues from inbreeding. I would wonder if a similar situation is happening here...

 

[Weeg]

Here is a photo of the eggs-

 

[sylviethecochin]

Those are borderline, but I'd also call them brown. I wonder if Greenfire farms would send a picture of their eggs, if you asked?

 

[Weeg]

Those are borderline, but I'd also call them brown. I wonder if Greenfire farms would send a picture of their eggs, if you asked?

The camera also makes them look a bit lighter than they are. They’re a little darker in person. I’ll see if they can send me a photo, I sure hope we get the right breed.

 

[Weeg]

Wanted to update for anyone who finds this thread in the future with the same question. The chicks hatched yesterday, and they definitely look like Old English Pheasant Fowl. Very happy about that, huge relief.