Why do some chickens lay white eggs while others lay brown or green?

Answer 1

The colour of the chickens egg shell is determined by the breed of the chicken and genetics. The application of pigment is either as the shell is forming in the hens oviduct or after it has formed and passes down the oviduct. In the case of breeds such as Araucana the pigment is called oocyanin and is secreted from a bile duct early in the shell production making it one of the only breeds to have colour all the way through the shell therefore being the same colour inside and out.

Most eggs start out white and those brown shelled eggs are a result of a pigment called Protoporphyrin and deposited over the white shell late in the formation of the shell...Open a brown egg...the inside is always white.

A variety of shell colours are being produced by Araucana chickens crossed with various other breeds, shell colours like Blue, blue/green, olive ( blue and dark brown) and Antique gold (blue/green and pastel rose).

Shell colour makes no difference in the nutritional value of the egg nor do the green shelled eggs contain less cholesterol as is widely rumored.

Answer 2

An egg shell contains about 95% calcium carbonate which is porous, even when hardened . In all chickens with the exception of some South American breeds, the color pigments ( porphyrins) on the shell are deposited last during the trip down the oviduct. Brown pigment or (protoporphyrin) is derived from hemoglobin in the blood stream of the bird. It does not permeate the entire shell through to the inside. Crack open a deep dark brown egg, it will be white inside. The shells of some South American breeds have the pigment (oocyanin) that come from a bile duct far up in the oviduct. Since this is added much earlier in the formation of the shell the color is consistent through the outside to the inside of the shell.If you are lucky enough to get some colored eggs from Araucana or Americana hens you will see the inside of the egg shell is the same color as the outside.

Answer 3

The different colors of egg come from different breeds. It is genetic - like hair or eye color. You can tell if a chicken will lay white or brown eggs by looking at its earlobe. Red - brown egg. White - white egg.

Answer 4

there are so many different egg colers because THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT BIRDS THAT LAY EGGS.

Answer 5

Different hens will lay different coloured eggs. You can get some hens that lay green eggs!

Answer 6

Usually it is down to:

Male/Female

Species of chicken

Passed down in families

Answer 7

It's part of the Easter tradition!