Future plans for 2025! Breeding for large meaties, barring, lacing and EE

[DemeterAD9]

Actually they do effect color. We will just have to agree to disagree.

To the person who has the hen laying these eggs. What happens with the white speckling when you wash the egg? Does it disappear while white and then come back once dry?

Yes, they do disappear when wet and I did try washing the bloom off with dish soap but when it dried they reappeared.

 

[DemeterAD9]

The smallest BJG lays small light brown eggs.

SLW lays cream colored with white dots.

BJG left, SLW right

Brown EE has been sleeping in the nest box lately, curious to see if she is trying to be broody or just has an odd habit.

The two large fowl mix pullets seem to of stopped laying. I hope they don’t molt right now, it’s a bit too cold for that!

 

[RememberTheWay]

Huh. Okay!

Here is an example of a heavy bloom, similar to the OP's egg in question. These eggs are all from the same breed of chicken, one of these hens lays a very heavy bloom. Which actually causes her eggs to look like a completely different color. The bloom is whitish and appears to be kind of matte/chalky. When it is wet it actually disappears and you can see the egg is the same brown underneath. The subsequent photos were taken within about a minute while the egg dried, and you can see the original color (bloom) returns as it dries. Bloom can effect eggs color greatly. We mostly breed for actual pigment (blue and brown which are also responsible for green eggs when bred together) but I am aware of some that also select for blooms because it alters the end egg color, by subtly changing the color or finish on the egg.

The egg in my photos looks more purple in person because of the matte finish on top of the brown. That is solely caused by the heavy bloom on the egg, no other pigment gene is doing that.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Yes, they do disappear when wet and I did try washing the bloom off with dish soap but when it dried they reappeared.

I posted a photo of one of my heavy bloom eggs wet and then while it dries. The matte white speckling is very similar to eggs I've seen laid here and on others farms and as far as I am aware it is the bloom that causes that. Nothing is actually wrong with the egg, just how her body lays them. I know people who actually select for heavy blooms when breeding for egg colors because that is the only way to achieve certain shades/colors of eggs.

 

[pecky33]

Here is an example of a heavy bloom, similar to the OP's egg in question. These eggs are all from the same breed of chicken, one of these hens lays a very heavy bloom. Which actually causes her eggs to look like a completely different color. The bloom is whitish and appears to be kind of matte/chalky. When it is wet it actually disappears and you can see the egg is the same brown underneath. The subsequent photos were taken within about a minute while the egg dried, and you can see the original color (bloom) returns as it dries. Bloom can effect eggs color greatly. We mostly breed for actual pigment (blue and brown which are also responsible for green eggs when bred together) but I am aware of some that also select for blooms because it alters the end egg color, by subtly changing the color or finish on the egg.

The egg in my photos looks more purple in person because of the matte finish on top of the brown. That is solely caused by the heavy bloom on the egg, no other pigment gene is doing that.

Oh okay! That is really cool, but also makes some sense now because one of our Cuckoo Marans lays eggs like that.