Pigmentation in eggs...input??

[wabbit1964]

Last year my SIL got 4 pullets from me. It turned out two of them laid dark brown eggs and one was an easter egger. She sent the Ee here to mate with my rooster. today the blue ee egg was almost white. Thoughts?? Any suggestions on getting them back to laying the quality they were before visiting here?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Pigment does lighten up as the season progresses, as well as there being an occasional lighter than normal egg. My thoughts would be stress caused it. If they are routinely lighter you may just have to wait until next season after the molt for the eggs to be darker again, and for your hen to replenish herself.

Blue color based eggs have biliverdin in them, which is a component of hemoglobin, or blood, so it is metabolically costly for hen to produce them.