Shade of eggs

[cknmom]

We have an older hen that lays large brown eggs. Sometimes the shells are light brown and other times they are darker brown. Is it from what she's eating? They free-range and we give them laying feed, and assorted veggie scraps and egg shells. Her shells are thin also. I had read on here that maybe giving them eggshells would help that, it has but they are still thin. Monica

 

[Picco]

Egg shell color depends entirely on genetics. The color of a hen's egg can change over time and this is completely normal. The shell thickness and quality of the egg depend on diet. Offer a good commercial feed and oyster shell and the the shells should be thicker. Egg quality also deteriorates a bit with age so it could have nothing to do with diet.

 

[blue90292]

don't mix the oyster shell with the feed, though. give it to her in a separate container so she can eat it when she feels the need to.