[betty]

My Marans hen is doing the same thing.  The egg color was off yesterday, looked like it had that white chalk on it, and today there is less.  I thought it was because she is young and just started laying?  It has something to do with the amount of time it's in the ovia? to absorb the right amount of color, I read that somewhere.  Oh boy spring and problems are on their way

[Paddywack]

The reason that there are only 3 hens is thats all i have (at the moment  ).

You are right Aunty it must have been too much for the girls, he is a big cockerel and his claws are sharp, so thats why he has been removed from them and in the future will only get limited access.

[betty]

Rob I went to the sight you recommended on egg color.  It mentioned stress as a factor, that maybe the reason for the pale egg I got.  My question is will the color come back?  She laid a dark egg before this.

[poultrygeist]

Hi betty. My interpretation is that the pigment is part of a genetically predetermined process and therefore the colour change is temporary due to short term stress.
As soon as the bird is once more 'happy', I would have thought the colour would return, assuming there is no physical change in the hen.
I hope she returns to normal very soon 

Rob

[Paddywack]

Hi all,

Would like to say thanks to Aunty for the suggestion to remove the cockerel, i did and egg laying back to normalish (see photo)

Here is a photo of my normal Maran egg and one that was laid today,




can anyone tell me why the Maran egg is so pale, is there something she is not getting ?