Why are eggs changing color??!! Does anyone have an answer?

[Etakeh]

When I worked at a farm store during "chick season", a woman came in and said that they used to alter the protien content in the feed in order to get different colored eggs.

I have no idea if that is a real thing...but it sounds like it could be?

 

[pips&peeps]

Brown eggs can loose pigment as the laying season progresses. Also the longer the egg is in the oviduct, the darker it will be. I think this is factor in the marans color development.

Younger birds usually take longer for the egg to travel through the oviduct and get more pigment. Older birds that are very profficient layers will have less pigment.

Also disease and stress can change the brown pigments.

 

[JaciesCoop]

pips&peeps :

Brown eggs can loose pigment as the laying season progresses. Also the longer the egg is in the oviduct, the darker it will be. I think this is factor in the marans color development.

Younger birds usually take longer for the egg to travel through the oviduct and get more pigment. Older birds that are very profficient layers will have less pigment.

Also disease and stress can change the brown pigments.

Thank you for that explaination. My girls all seem healthy. They eggs are fine except for the light color and I'm going to watch and see if it's my older birds that are laying the lighter eggs.

Thanks again
Jacie​

 

[KellyB1]

I have the same thing. I have a silky, Rhode Island Red, Leghorn mix, and a unknown Black hen. They are six month old. I am assuming that the tiny white egg is from the silky who is much smaller than the others, but I was getting 2 tan eggs and a chestnut color egg every day. Now I am getting a small white egg, a tan egg and 2 large white/ cream colored eggs. The egg quality has been good. Firm golden yolks with nice whites. Also nice thick shells and good egg shape!

 

[drvining]

Glad to see this thread. For the first time today one of my chicks layed a pale, almost pink/purple egg instead of her usual brown. The hens were bought a couple months back as 17-week started red pullets and we adore them. So I am hoping it's stress (extra visitors yesterday) and not illness. Suppose time will tell.
Donna

 

[JaciesCoop]

Mine are still laying about half and half. Some the dark brown and some almost white. Been doing this for over a month now. But the eggs are good and they hens seem healthy so I'm just going to go with it and see if it changes.

Jacie

 

[drvining]

Well, color me educated- I decided to photograph the pink egg along with the next day's which was brown again. The difference was striking. But I noticed a few brown marks where I'd touched it. Sure enough- when I rinsed the pink egg, the film came off and it was as brown as ever! I don't normally rinse my eggs; I read that the thin coating helps keep them fresh. And I still don't know why the change but am so relieved. Maybe all those tomatoes she was fed the day before changed the color of the coating? This must be nature's way of preparing me for future excitement with the chickens. Jacie- I'm with you. I'll just go along and see what's next. Thanks!

 

[JaciesCoop]

Wow! That is weird. Maybe I should try washing the brown and see if they turn white or try washing a white and see if it turns brown.

That is really strange. Keep us posted.

Jacie

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I've found that while my hens are molting, sometimes the egg color does seem to fade out, much the same way as the old feathers seem to fade. But once they have all their new feathers, the eggs go back to being nice and brown again.

HTH

 

[JaciesCoop]

Quote:
Oh that is good to know because mine are molting right now. Especially my JG girls.