Pale colored chicken eggs are most often caused by stress, fear, and other factors. Hens which lay pale colored eggs may also be suffering from infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease or Egg Drop Syndrome 76 or from the use of chemotherapeutic agents, such as sulfonamides and nicarbazin.
Causes of pale colored eggs in chickens are:
Stress or fear-Stress or fear is a common cause of pigment loss in egg shell color. If your hens are stressed from overcrowding, a predator who may be coming around when you are not looking, from being chased, loud noises, or feel threatened in any way they tend to lay less eggs, no eggs, or pale colored eggs. "Stress-related egg retention in the shell gland and subsequent amorphous calcium carbonate deposition on the shell surface have been identified as a major cause of pale eggs in older hens".
Bird age (older hen)-As hens age (particularly brown egg layers) egg shell pigment decreases and can cause egg shells to become pale. "As the hen ages it is normal for the tapered end of the egg to contain less pigment than the rounded end".
Infectious bronchitis and New Castle Disease-Pale egg color can be an early sign of possible infectious bronchitis ot Newcastle disease in chickens. "Viral diseases, such as Newcastle and infectious bronchitis, affect egg production in poultry. These viruses have a specific affinity for the mucus membranes of the respiratory and reproductive tracts. Because the virus directly infects and damages the reproductive tract, the signs of disease are manifested indirectly in the product of the tract, the egg. Thus, total egg numbers decline and eggshells become thinner and abnormally pale and have irregular contour. Internal quality is also adversely affected (watery whites)".
Bird age (older hen)-As hens age (particularly brown egg layers) egg shell pigment decreases and can cause egg shells to become pale. "As the hen ages it is normal for the tapered end of the egg to contain less pigment than the rounded end".
Egg Drop Syndrome 76-A illness which causes eggs to progressively become pale, then thin shelled, and then no shell.
Use of chemotherapeutic agents (i.e. sulfonamides and nicarbazin)-"The coccidiostat Nicarbazin, administered to hens at a dose of 5 mg per day, can result in the production of pale eggs within 24 hours. Higher doses can lead to complete depigmentation of the eggshell cuticle".
Stress or fear-Stress or fear is a common cause of pigment loss in egg shell color. If your hens are stressed from overcrowding, a predator who may be coming around when you are not looking, from being chased, loud noises, or feel threatened in any way they tend to lay less eggs, no eggs, or pale colored eggs. "Stress-related egg retention in the shell gland and subsequent amorphous calcium carbonate deposition on the shell surface have been identified as a major cause of pale eggs in older hens".
Bird age (older hen)-As hens age (particularly brown egg layers) egg shell pigment decreases and can cause egg shells to become pale. "As the hen ages it is normal for the tapered end of the egg to contain less pigment than the rounded end".
Infectious bronchitis and New Castle Disease-Pale egg color can be an early sign of possible infectious bronchitis ot Newcastle disease in chickens. "Viral diseases, such as Newcastle and infectious bronchitis, affect egg production in poultry. These viruses have a specific affinity for the mucus membranes of the respiratory and reproductive tracts. Because the virus directly infects and damages the reproductive tract, the signs of disease are manifested indirectly in the product of the tract, the egg. Thus, total egg numbers decline and eggshells become thinner and abnormally pale and have irregular contour. Internal quality is also adversely affected (watery whites)".
Bird age (older hen)-As hens age (particularly brown egg layers) egg shell pigment decreases and can cause egg shells to become pale. "As the hen ages it is normal for the tapered end of the egg to contain less pigment than the rounded end".
Egg Drop Syndrome 76-A illness which causes eggs to progressively become pale, then thin shelled, and then no shell.
Use of chemotherapeutic agents (i.e. sulfonamides and nicarbazin)-"The coccidiostat Nicarbazin, administered to hens at a dose of 5 mg per day, can result in the production of pale eggs within 24 hours. Higher doses can lead to complete depigmentation of the eggshell cuticle".
References:
Gary D. Butcher and Richard D. Miles. Factors Causing Poor Pigmentation of Brown-Shelled Eggs. UF/IFAS Extension. University of Florida. Retrieved on November 14, 2020 from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM04700.pdf
Photo courtesy of Alltech Store. https://store.alltech.com/blogs/poultry/20-common-egg-shell-quality-problems-and-causes
Gary D. Butcher and Richard D. Miles. Factors Causing Poor Pigmentation of Brown-Shelled Eggs. UF/IFAS Extension. University of Florida. Retrieved on November 14, 2020 from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM04700.pdf
Photo courtesy of Alltech Store. https://store.alltech.com/blogs/poultry/20-common-egg-shell-quality-problems-and-causes
