Maybe it's a dumb question, but do EE lay only one color egg or multiple colors?

[luvmychis]

I guess I really need a Egg Colors for Dummies book. So I'm confused about Easter Eggers. To me, the name implies they lay various colored eggs and when collecting, it's like "yeah, we got a mint one today." Like a different color on different days and you never know what color until you pick it up, hence the name, Easter Eggers. Now, I'm told that's wrong? EE only lay one color of egg, just like every other chicken. So which is it? If they only lay one color, why are they called Easter Eggers? Please educate me. If they only lay one color, I don't really want one. I was looking forward to the surprise every day.

Lisa

 

[steven29128]

Each chicken will lay a little different egg. I have several. some lay light blue. Some lay light green. some lay white. some lay light brown. Easter eggers are more of a mix breed. At least that is what I have been told.
I hope this helps.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What color of egg a chicken lays will be mainly determined by genetics. White, brown, blue , or green, and which general shades are determined by genetics. Genetics don’t change. There can be variations if some part of her egg making factory screw up, an over time the eggs might get lighter, but one hen practically always lays eggs the same color.

They are called EE’s because there is no one set color an EE should lay. Different hens that are EE’s might lay white, brown, blue, or green eggs so you can get an Easter Egg basket from a flock of EE hens but you need different hens to get different colored eggs.

So do not get one. You will be disappointed.

 

[junebuggena]

Easter Eggers can lay a variety of shades and colors, but each individual hen will a single color. You never know what color a pullet will lay, until she starts laying. She will then only lay that particular color egg for the rest of her life.

 

[luvmychis]

What color of egg a chicken lays will be mainly determined by genetics. White, brown, blue , or green, and which general shades are determined by genetics. Genetics don’t change. There can be variations if some part of her egg making factory screw up, an over time the eggs might get lighter, but one hen practically always lays eggs the same color.

They are called EE’s because there is no one set color an EE should lay. Different hens that are EE’s might lay white, brown, blue, or green eggs so you can get an Easter Egg basket from a flock of EE hens but you need different hens to get different colored eggs.

So do not get one. You will be disappointed.

Thank you for that very simple and easy to understand explanation, Ridgerunner. I appreciate you taking the time to help me here. Yep, you're right. Unless I had a flock of EE, I would be disappointed. My husband will be too, when I tell him. He didn't know either and as we were looking into what types of chickens to get next, this was the only thing he wanted..because of the different colors. Sigh! Oh well, guess we'll have all brown eggs for now. They all taste the same, so no worries.

Lisa

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

Okay, so let's see if I understand this...I just got some EEs and was wondering the same thing.
They are actually Ameraucanas, if that makes a difference
They are 38 straight run chicks, and assuming about half will be hens that'll be 19 girls.
Each will always lay the same colour egg, but they could, together, lay 19 different colour/shades?

 

[junebuggena]

Okay, so let's see if I understand this...I just got some EEs and was wondering the same thing.
They are actually Ameraucanas, if that makes a difference
They are 38 straight run chicks, and assuming about half will be hens that'll be 19 girls.
Each will always lay the same colour egg, but they could, together, lay 19 different colour/shades?

If they are truly pure Ameraucana, then they should only lay blue eggs. If they are from a hatchery, feed store, or backyard flock, they are most likely Easter Eggers. They may each lay a different shade, but the differences between some of them might be very subtle.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are truly Ameraucana’s and not EE’s they should all lay blue eggs. There may be some really minor variations in shade of blue but if they follow the SOP there should not be much variation.

Where did you get them? Practically all hatcheries sell EE’s even if they advertise them as Ameraucana’s.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I got them from a local breeder

Don't really care about egg colour, but a variety would be awesome!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can maybe talk to the breeder or ask to see the color of eggs they are getting. It would give you a clue of what to expect. Of course the fun is actually seeing the eggs.

And good luck on the 19 pullets. Straight run is straight run. I once got 7 pullets out of 7 chicks from a hatchery straight run order. I’ve had mostly boys from straight run orders too but nothing like 7 out of 7. Last year in one hatch of my eggs I got 14 pullets and 7 cockerels. In another hatch I had 75% boys. I very seldom get a 50-50 split and it can go either way. With 38 chick you should get a decent number of pullets. Sure hope so.