To be speckled or not to be speckled...

[chickarita]

We just started getting eggs from our 22 week old hens but we are never home during the day to tell who is laying them. So far, have gotten smooth, beautiful brown eggs every day, but today we got an egg covered in dark brown speckles. WHO IS IT?? We have two barred rocks, two buff orpingtons, one RIR and one white leghorn (clearly it's not her!)

 

[Chickens? WOW]

I have a buff and two barreds along with some sex links but I have never noticed a certain breed laying the dark spotted eggs. I just always guessed there was something strange with the hen that day. My guess would be the barred rocks though Hopefully this will help

 

[NovaAman]

Well, the spots could be a one off... I sometimes get eggs with spots... sometimes not. But mostly they come from the light sussex/faverolle girls. I have 3 of those. Some days they are just solid color, other they have spots. SO, either you have a girl who is going to give you personally decorated eggs, or it is going to be a random thing.

 

[ibarbidahl]

My BR gives me beautifully specked eggs. I wanted to trade her in for a fluffier and quieter model (brahma) because she talks ALL DAY LONG...but her eggs have kept her in my flock. I just can't live without seeing those spots every day!

<3

 

[chickarita]

We haven't had another since! Maybe it was a speckled kind of day...

Do certain hens lay earlier than others?

 

[ibarbidahl]

Yes, some hens lay earlier than others. Hens bred for laying will lay bewteen 18-22 weeks and other hens (think heritage) usually lay 20-26 weeks. You may have gotten an egg that just got a little extra in the paint department, or maybe it's a new layer? Hang in there. It will all sort out soon. It takes about a month - 6 weeks for their systems to get the hang of things and then you'll know better what to expect.

When the hen that gives me speckled eggs first laid they were plain brown eggs - clost to light brown. Now they are medium brown and dark brown spots. Dusty (brahma in my avatar) had all kinds of misfires at first and her eggs were white (cream really) now they are light brown with a white/cream coating on top. Only one that never changed is my RIR medium brown all the time. The second one that is speckled in the picture that i posted is one of Dusty's misfires. The only specked egg I got from her. Double yoke.