Purple egg?

[Dora'smom]

Poor little doll! She needs help. You need to get her out of that situation or there will be nothing left of her.

I have had one mystery purple egg, too, but it was a single instance from birds that had been laying for quite some time. I don't know why that one happened, I just enjoyed it.

 

[Jeeper1540]

thats what i was thinking, she is in bad shape. you need to separate her and/or get a saddle so her feathers can grow back

 

[Jeeper1540]

Oh good. I was worried about that girl. my neighbors had a REALLY mean roo and he just tore his hens up, worse than that, and last year they introduced new chicks he pecked their heads to the bone. They finally culled the roo, but it took about 6 months for the hens to finally start laying again after the roo was gone. note they hadnt been laying for almost 2 years.

thats one reason i wont get a roo. I think its stressful to the hens. I want my hens to be happy. If i ever decide i wanna hatch eggs, i'll buy some
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[Jenski]

Sounds like your hen has a nice place to heal! Good for you. (looks like not everyone read your entire post, LOL!)

Now she might have some Langshan blood in her - - they have been known to lay a purplish-bloomed or plum egg. True "Croad" Langshans are very rare in the states, but there are a few. Fabulous, majestic birds with a gorgeous egg color.

http://clarescroads.webs.com/eggcolour.htm
http://www.treemo.com/files/treemo.mikekk.134359.or.jpg
http://homepage.virgin.net/mike.kellaway/croadlangshanclub/

 

[hallerlake]

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I'm relieved to hear that. I'm wasn't judging you. I just felt so sorry for the poor thing. They'll be happier now.

 

[alicefelldown]

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True Croads in AUS or the UK are categorized as brown eggs because of the impermanence of the purple bloom coating. As noted above, just about everything can wash or rub off the bloom, leaving a plain brown egg.

Considering how rare they are here in the States, it's very unlikely the OP's hen has any of "Croad" blood in it. However, it's very very possible that her hen just has bonus bloom - as do a lot of other hens of many breeds. I just tried to hatch out some Delawares that had a heavy bloom coating, making them appear purplish. It's common in some Marans, and Welsummers as well. There's pictures all over this forum of people's "purple" eggs, from just about every breed possible, (although usually brown).

It's a very cool thing, and the OP's got herself a special hen. If I were her, I'd be trying to propagate that feature - mating with anything that would improve the purple shading, keeping in mind though, that it's nigh impossible to alter the actual color of the egg (either the calcium carbonate shell (which is white or blue only), or the outer pigmentation layers of brown eggs).

Congrats on your special girl - a lucky find indeed!

 

[NRacine]

We have a Cochin who lays pinkish-purple eggs. I think it's just from a heavy bloom coating as the last person said, but it's still awesome! (on the left)

 

[Jenski]

Ohhhh, NRacine, that's just gorgeous!

OP, you are indeed fortunate to have lucked across a hen who lays a lovely-colored egg. Hope you post pics for us when she is looking fabulous after being at your hen retreat!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I had a barred rock lay a few purpleish eggs, but as someone else already said, it was the bloom over the pink because it wash up to be a lovely pink.

 

[Suburban Sprouts]

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OMG... I waaaaaannnntt some!

Those eggs are to-die-for GORGEOUS.