Questions & Answers

Welcome to the Paragon Hatchery Q&A and Education Hub — your trusted resource for everything related to rare and specialty chicken breeds. Whether you're incubating hatching eggs, brooding day-old chicks, raising a healthy flock, or exploring breeding techniques, you'll find answers to your most common questions right here. Our expert tips cover topics like egg fertility, chick health, coop setup, feed and nutrition, seasonal care, and more — all backed by years of hands-on experience. Dive into our library of photos and how-to guides to learn more and give your birds the best start possible.

Why Not All Hatching Eggs Look the Same—And That’s a Good Thing!

At Paragon Hatchery, we believe in educating and empowering our customers, not just supplying hatching eggs. One of the most common questions we receive is:

"Why are some eggs bigger or darker than others—even within the same breed?"

Great question! The answer lies in a beautiful combination of biology, breed characteristics, and the natural rhythms of each hen’s life.

🐔 Egg Size Depends on Age & Hormones

Just like people, hens change over time—especially when it comes to laying.

Young pullets (hens just beginning to lay) often start with smaller eggs that gradually increase in size as their reproductive systems mature.

Peak laying age is typically between 6 to 18 months, when hens consistently lay eggs near their breed’s standard size.

As hens age, their eggs may get larger, but sometimes shell quality may fluctuate. This is perfectly natural and expected.

So if you receive smaller eggs from a younger hen, don’t worry—it’s often a sign of healthy new layers. These smaller eggs can still hatch into vigorous, healthy chicks.

🎨 Egg Color Is Breed-Specific—and Ever-Changing

Certain breeds are known for laying uniquely colored eggs, and at Paragon Hatchery, we specialize in several of these rare and beautiful varieties. But even within a breed, egg color can vary depending on several factors:

Black Copper Marans, for example, are famous for their deep chocolate-brown eggs, but their color intensity often fades as the laying cycle continues. The first few eggs after a molt or break in laying tend to be the darkest. As the hen lays more frequently, the pigment builds up less between eggs, leading to lighter shades over time.

Similarly, breeds like Olive Eggers and Crested Cream Legbars produce green and blue eggs, but shades can range from deep sage to light mint or sky blue, depending on individual genetics, age, and environmental conditions.

These changes aren’t flaws—they’re part of the natural beauty and diversity of heritage and specialty chickens. Think of them like fingerprints: no two are exactly alike!

🧬 Science-Backed Facts About Egg Color

Eggshell color is controlled by pigments deposited in the shell gland of a hen’s oviduct.

Protoporphyrin IX gives brown eggs their color (like in Marans and Barnevelders).

Oocyanin produces blue eggs (as seen in Ameraucanas and Legbars).

In green eggs, both pigments combine, thanks to crossbreeding.

Egg color depth is also influenced by health, stress levels, nutrition, light exposure, and weather. That’s why we go the extra mile to ensure our hens are well-fed, loved, and raised with care—so they can lay eggs in their most natural and beautiful form.

💡 The Bottom Line: Variety = Vitality

When you order hatching eggs from Paragon Hatchery, you’re getting more than just eggs—you’re getting genetic diversity, breed integrity, and a front-row seat to the wonder of nature. Whether your eggs are dark chocolate, pastel blue, olive green, or tinted cream, they’re all part of the story—and each one holds the potential for new life.

We promise to always send you the best-quality, freshest hatching eggs available—and a little egg-stra magic with each one.