Same chicken, different eggs??

[Linzie381]

Can someone explain why my RIR sometimes lays eggs with little speckles and sometimes they're speckle free? We only have one other girl laying and she lays white eggs. The two others who could be laying are both Ameraucanas so we're expecting blue eggs from them. Anyone have any ideas??

 

[Chickassan]

Just a glitch in the paint booth, sometimes more coloration is deposited sometimes less it just depends on how much is in and how long it stays in the paint booth part of the hen.

 

[azygous]

Yes, it's a feature of colored egg layers except for pure blue egg layers. The tint is laid down after the shell is formed, and depending on stress factors and other conditions, the egg may vary in tint intensity and smooth appearance of the color. Freckled eggs on occasion is one of the charming things about getting colored eggs.

Did you know, by the way, the color laid down in tan eggs, red eggs and brown eggs, as well as olive green eggs from EEs, is formed using spent red blood cells? Deep red and chocolate brown eggs have such a thick layer of these red blood cells on them that you can easily rub it off. In fact, I've seen what appear to be scratches on the "paint" from debris on the hen's butt caused by passing through the crusty butt feathers. It's one reason I try to keep butts clean with occasional butt baths.

 

[Chickassan]

I don't like when they scratch the paint either, plus it just makes the eggs look like they were really painful!

Yes, it's a feature of colored egg layers except for pure blue egg layers. The tint is laid down after the shell is formed, and depending on stress factors and other conditions, the egg may vary in tint intensity and smooth appearance of the color. Freckled eggs on occasion is one of the charming things about getting colored eggs.

Did you know, by the way, the color laid down in tan eggs, red eggs and brown eggs, as well as olive green eggs from EEs, is formed using spent red blood cells? Deep red and chocolate brown eggs have such a thick layer of these red blood cells on them that you can easily rub it off. In fact, I've seen what appear to be scratches on the "paint" from debris on the hen's butt caused by passing through the crusty butt feathers. It's one reason I try to keep butts clean with occasional butt baths.

 

[aart]

I don't like when they scratch the paint either,

IKR!? Thinks most the scratches come from toenails.

 

[Chickassan]

I hope most of them come from toenails!

IKR!? Thinks most the scratches come from toenails.