What makes some eggs "freckled"

[Lesa]

My nephews are fascinated with the chickens and their eggs. They are especially enamored with the "freckled" ones. I only have RIR's, and I only get freckled eggs occasionally. They all free range, so I am assuming some of them eat something that changes the shell of the egg... Is it dirt, stone... What do you think. I have 24 chickens and I am continually amazed at the different colors of the eggs. Thanks for helping the "chicken lady" answer her nephews questions!

 

[rdranch]

Hello
Considering that you have RIR's my guess would that it's some of the pigment that gives color to the shell.

I have several breeds and at least two do this once in a while. Just yesterday I actually saw it happen with my Wyandotte.

Over time you will probably see many egg oddities. Chickens never cease to amaze me.

 

[ibpboo]

I have no idea why they are freckled sometimes, but my hens do the same thing. I also have RIR's. And they come in different shades sometimes too.

 

[crzychickenlady]

This is interesting.

I had the same question, but I figured it was the breed on mine.

I have a Speckled Sussex that lays these eggs often, I just figured that they were sposed to be that way, lol..........

 

[Wildsky]

I noticed after I fed my chickens veggies with BUTTER that there were alot of speckeled eggs after that. Butter isn't the best for them and they only got those leftover veggies cause I didn't want to throw them away.

I'm betting the butter had something to do with it. Give it a try if you want to test - just some veggies with butter melted on em. And letus know.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Never fed the chickies butter, and I get speckled ones from time to time.

 

[mksenoj]

I've had the same question. Couldn't find answer.

 

[pips&peeps]

I've heard from egg producers that it is stress related.

 

[bluey]

My chickens have the life of riley and they still pop out a freckled one here and there...

 

[tanekahachicken]

I get speckled eggs from my light sussex cross every day, and the other chickens (mixed breeds of some kind) only pop out a speckled one from time to time. I thought it was just the breed too with the light sussex. They seem to have a good life free ranging everywhere with no predators so I'm hoping it's not due to stress.