Part 0800.0005

[Brensmum]

Hi all

My girls were happy and laying daily - both laying brown eggs. They started to lay end of September and everything was problem free. They have a good diet, are regularly wormed, are kept clean, and I dont seem to have a mite problem.

Last week Bren stopped laying and seemed a bit subdued. I then found a yolk so realised she was laying eggs without a shell. I gave her some porridge containing oyster shell (she already had access to shell and grit but I presumed she just wasnt taking it). Anyway, after the first meal containing shell she began to lay again and lays on a daily basis. The only 'problem' is that all of her eggs are now a very pale beige instead of brown.

She seems happy but I just dont understand why her eggs have changed colour. Her room-mate (Petula Cluck ) seems as happy as ever and her eggs are still brown.

Is this a sign of illness or do I just ignore the colour change? Do I use the eggs? Bren was prone to the odd double yolker if this makes a difference...

Has anyone else any experience of this?

[Chucky Mama]

The shell colour can vary. Mine can vary from quite a dark brown to a pale without any problem. However if yours has been laying softies I would be inclined to ensure that she is having a decent fill of pellets with no treats for a while. Porridge is lovely as a tempting treat but will not contain the nutrients required to product a decent shell. You can make up a warm mash out of pellets just by moistening them with warm water and leaving them to soak. Pellets are important as they contain everything necessary to support prolific layers. Supplements can be added such as limestone flour & vitamin D3 in the form of cod liver oil, baked crushed eggshells or Zolcal D. However if the softie laying period was short I would just ensure she is eating enough pellets. (or layers mash)

[coco]

Mine lays all differerent coloured eggs. Lola laid a really pale egg yesterday but today it was really dark brown.