Chickens

James Williams · Feb 24, 2015

I was raised around chickens,but Ive been away from them for 35 years.Just got involved with some White Rocks the other day.There pullets and just started laying,so I have 2 questions
1-I thought white chickens lay white eggs WRONG
2-When chickens start laying are the eggs usally small,and do they get larger

jimmy

sd pete · Feb 24, 2015

(reply to post at 15:24:13 02/24/15)You are getting pullet eggs. The eggs will grow as the hens age. Most white hens will lay white eggs but some breeds will lay brown eggs.

JayinNY · Feb 24, 2015

White rocks lay brown eggs. Yes the eggs will get larger.

Greg1959 · Feb 24, 2015

Egg color is related to the color of the hens ears. I forgot which way it goes...red ears= brown eggs,etc.

You can google it...."Chickens with white earlobes (like this one) lay white or lightly tinted eggs, and chickens with red earlobes most commonly lay brown eggs. There are exceptions, of course, but this is the general rule."

I raised white rocks for years, they are prolific eggs layers.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 24, 2015

Large heavy breeds generally lay brown eggs lightweight breeds lay white eggs.Color of hens has no bearing on the color of eggs.They will increase in size as the hens continue to lay.Be sure to give them some extra crushed Oyster Shells in addition to a good laying mash.

Dave H (MI) · Feb 24, 2015

1) No that is wrong.

2) Usually pullet eggs are smaller than what the more mature hen produces.

Best layers I ever owned were barred rocks from the hatchery in western MI (Townline?). Big eggs.

old · Feb 24, 2015

I have chickens and have for years. Yes the eggs will get bigger but they will also slow down as fall and winter come. If you keep a light in the chicken house they will lay mire often. I get white eggs brown eggs and green eggs. I have mixed breed birds and always keep a rooster with the hens

JRSutton · Feb 24, 2015

Somebody already mentioned it, but to go a little further...

Yes, white ears = white eggs. (in MOST cases).

That's just a handy way of remembering - and it applies to the breed itself.

The egg color doesn't actually have anything to do with ear color.

So in other words if a given breed has white ears, all chickens of that breed will always lay white eggs. You won't get a mix of ear colors within a breed.

Any variations of color within the breed (say dark red to light red) won't have any bearing on the egg color.

Yes, egg size increases with age, up to about 1 year where they level off at their mature size.

Motorcraftman · Feb 24, 2015

I have Mostly RI Reds... Just for the Hobby of it about 20 The R.I."s lay like theres no tomorrow in the Summer and lighter in the Fall and Winter. Its a Good Hobby for me Im retired..

Larry

Chickens

James Williams

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sd pete

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JayinNY

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Greg1959

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Traditional Farmer

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Dave H (MI)

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old

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JRSutton

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Motorcraftman

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