Eggs are white but used to be brown

[MMerriman3]

Hello,
I've got a buff orpington that went broody. The past 2 days she has had a tiny off white egg underneath her. The shell is hard. She usually lays medium to large light brown eggs. I know broody hens can lay smaller eggs while their hormones are changing but Is the color change because she's broody too? At first I thought mh americauna was starting to lay earlier than expected but my girl hadn't left her nest until I kicked her out. I don't see any sign of illness.

 

[SueT]

Broody hens don't usually lay eggs at all. They may not be hers. Are you sure she is broody?
The Buff Orpington I had laid very light eggs.
How old is she? I currently have a Sussex who is 8 yrs old and her eggs have become progressively lighter as she ages. They were light brown and are now almost white.

 

[MMerriman3]

Broody hens don't usually lay eggs at all. They may not be hers. Are you sure she is broody?
The Buff Orpington I had laid very light eggs.
How old is she? I currently have a Sussex who is 8 yrs old and her eggs have become progressively lighter as she ages. They were light brown and are now almost white.

She's a year and a half. This is her 2nd spring/summer laying. I'm certain she's broody. She was in the nesting box the past 2 days. Her feathers ruffle up and she has burrs when I checked up on her. She went broody last year too and I have another broody one I'm dealing with. They are all blocked from getting back in their nesting boxes today. I am pretty sire they're hers. My americauna might just be laying early. Idk. They usually lay later from what I've read but she is old enough by chicken standard. She's supposed to lay blue eggs though, but I know the blue might come after a little bit. I cracked them open. They do have a small yolk. Looks normal otherwise.

 

[SueT]

When I have a broody that I don't want to hatch eggs, I put her in broody jail. It's a wire bottom cage which is in our basement. I learned about this here on BYC, many use this method. It takes 2-3 days/nights to break the broodiness. Then she goes back to normal.

 

[MMerriman3]

When I have a broody that I don't want to hatch eggs, I put her in broody jail. It's a wire bottom cage which is in our basement. I learned about this here on BYC, many use this method. It takes 2-3 days/nights to break the broodiness. Then she goes back to normal. View attachment 3849441

I have a cage for them too, but we have had non stop rain lately with possibilities of tornadoes. Where Im able to keep it, they would get also get wet. And id rather them be in their coop during the 80mph winds. I'm waiting for next week when it's expected to be dryer. Or take them on a car ride lol.

 

[Ridgerunner]

She's supposed to lay blue eggs though, but I know the blue might come after a little bit............ They do have a small yolk.

A true Ameraucana is supposed to lay a blue egg according to breed standard. Most Ameraucana sold by hatcheries are not true Ameraucana, they may lay blue, green, pink, white, or brown eggs. The blue is not something that comes later, if they lay a blue egg they start out laying a blue egg. Most of my broody hens are OK with another chicken laying in their nest. Some broody hens will collect an egg from another nest and carry it back to their nest. With the egg being small like a pullet's first egg and the yolk being small I think your Ameraucana is the most likely culprit.

A brown egg actually has a white shell with brown laid on the outside during the last half hour or so that the egg is in the shell gland. if something causes the egg to be laid early what would normally be a brown egg is actually white. With this being a small white egg and two days in a row this is not likely.

I don't know what other hens you have or what other possibilities may be at work but to me it sounds like your Ameraucana laid it.