White egg from a brown egg layer???

[JurassicChicken]

I have three laying hens, a Wellsomer, a Barred Rock, and a Golden Laced Wyandotte, all brown egg layers. Today there were only two eggs in the coup, one dark brown with speckles from the Wellsomer, and a pure white egg from one of the other two. All three hens appear to be in excellent health. I feed them good layer pellets, a rich scratch mix, and fresh greens, usually chickweed.

Is it normal for a brown egg layer to lay a white egg on occasion? Is there a health or feed issue I should be concerned about?

And as long as I am posting a question; there are enough nest boxes in the coup for each hen to have her own, but they all use the same nest to lay their eggs in. Any guesses as to why?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Brown eggs are actually white eggs that have a coating of Brown pigment applied just prior to being laid. It is possible for a Brown laying hen to have a glitch in the system which would result in a very light or nonexistent coating on a given day. Many eggs appear pure white until given the "tissue test" like you see on the commercials for toothpaste these days. Placing the egg on a white paper towel or next to a store bought white egg often results in seeing that the egg is actually a very very pale cream color

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

Haha I had eight next boxes for like 20 hens and they all used the same two! I think they just like to keep the eggs together for you so you have to do less work!....

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x plus we've all learned that no matter how many nest boxes you have, they all want the same one, ha ha

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The presence of another bird's egg is like the good housekeeping seal of approval on that nest making it the place to go. Another bird's egg in that nest tells that hen that this is a safe place to lay your egg.
Generally the suggestion is to have one nest Box or every 3 to 4 hens in a flock.

 

[JurassicChicken]

Brown eggs are actually white eggs that have a coating of Brown pigment applied just prior to being laid. It is possible for a Brown laying hen to have a glitch in the system which would result in a very light or nonexistent coating on a given day. Many eggs appear pure white until given the "tissue test" like you see on the commercials for toothpaste these days. Placing the egg on a white paper towel or next to a store bought white egg often results in seeing that the egg is actually a very very pale cream color

You are correct, the egg in question is a pale cream color. Thank you.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

My Barred Rock, Sweet Pea, lays eggs that can vary, and I'm not sure why. I wonder if it due to what they eat. I feed pelleted feed and cracked corn with meal worms as treats, but also supplement veggies. Autumn her eggs were the darkest, and I happen to provide pumpkins. Right now she is laying eggs that are a pale brown, like if you ever made a glass of milk using Ovaltine, that color. I give them cabbage in winter. In Summer I feed them watermelons, yellow squash, zucchini, and her eggs are creamy or almost white. I'm not sure if it is all related, guess I will find out in time.

Oh, the nest boxes, that is funny, even with several they all wanted the same 2 boxes, and would either go in together or wait their turns. So their favorite 2 boxes have recently been expanded, now 4 hens can fit in there, yet I often see 6 piled in, time for another remodel I suppose. LOL

 

[Kat C]

I suspect that it is from your Wyandotte or your Rock not your Welsummer. However I found this article that indicates that even Welsummers can lay almost white eggs and some of the reasons for that http://www.chickens.allotment-garden.org/eggs/pale-eggs-egg-shell-colour/
Our hens also just lay in a few boxes, but suddenly a box that hasn't been in use will become the new favored box.

 

[aart]

The presence of another bird's egg is like the good housekeeping seal of approval on that nest making it the place to go. Another bird's egg in that nest tells that hen that this is a safe place to lay your egg.
Generally the suggestion is to have one nest Box or every 3 to 4 hens in a flock.

Fake egg/golf ball in all the nests will help 'spread the love'.
I have 12 layers and 4 nests, they use them all most days.