[Leah]

I have a sussex and a speckled hen that both lay very pale eggs. I thought that they were supposed to lay dark brown eggs. Does anyone know why this might be?

[kimT]

This might help.

http://www.poultry.allotment-garden.org/Chicken_a/egg_shell_color/egg_shell_color.php

[Leah]

Thanks, the article is very informative but none of the reasons seem to apply to my hens. I guess it doesn't really matter as the eggs are really tasty with lovely orange yolks.  At least I now know it's nothing I'm doing wrong.

[jammy]

I have two buff sussex, two sisters, and one lays a brown egg and the other lays a white one  

[Foxy]

I had a couple of sussex crosses -laid a pale egg.
Marans or marans crosses lay a very dark brown egg. They lay a darker egg early in the season and becomes paler as less pigment is laid in the shell later in the year.