First of all, let’s put an end to preconceived ideas: eggs, regardless of the color of their shell, are the same.
The color of eggs does not indicate whether they are real or fake.
Brown eggs are often associated with “real eggs” and white eggs with “fake” eggs. Just because they are rarely found doesn’t mean you should be wary of them. White eggs are also widely consumed, if not predominantly, by Americans. Brown eggs are no more real or healthier than white or even blue eggs. They are all nutritionally identical. If only their color varies, it is neither a function of the quality of the egg nor the strength of its shell. Only one factor is responsible: the breed of the hen.
Genetics: a major variant
The color of the egg shell is simply dictated by the coat and genetics of the hen, at the time of fertilization. Each breed is different and each brings equally different pigments, nothing else. No injecting dubious products into a blue egg or artificially manufacturing a white egg.
White eggs, the amazing ones
It is more commonly breeds with small hens that lay white eggs. The Andalusian, the Dorking, the Fave-Rolles, the Lakenvelders or even the Leghorn, these are the ones hiding behind the white eggs so dear to Americans.
Beige eggs, the popular ones
Beige eggs, the most common in France, come mainly from red hens, the favorite of French egg producers.
They are not the only ones, since the Sussex hen, the Orpington, the Rennes Coucou, the Forez Naked Cou, the Brahma and the Wyandotte also lay them.
Brown eggs, the spread
Brown eggs are more common than white eggs and come mainly from Marran hens. These hens are larger than average and hold the title of best layers, hence their nickname “the goose that lays the golden eggs”. They are known for their coat that varies between black and brown, highlighting the bright red of their combs. Barnevelder hens, Jersey Gigants, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons and Delawares are also among the layers of brown eggs.
Blue eggs, the rare ones
It is even less common to find them in supermarkets: blue eggs. If they are rare, it is because the hen from which they come comes from Chile. The Araucana, a breed very distinguishable from the others, since in appearance, it has neither wattles nor rumps. Added to that, this hen from the other side of the world is even less of an egg-layer than all the others. Enough to reduce any hope of finding a box of blue eggs on the shelves of French grocery stores.
Multi-colored eggs, the unexpected
Even more original: the so-called “multicolored” eggs. As their color indicates, these eggs are the result of a cross between different breeds: the Easter Egger or Olive Egger hen. It lays eggs of “random” colors, from beige to brown to olive green.
The pink eggs, the fascinating ones
They seem unreal and yet, they are as real as any other egg. Pink-shelled eggs owe their existence to no less than 10 breeds of chickens. Some bring pink to the entire shell, others in a more discreet way. The Barred Rock, the Red Silkie and the Light Sussex, lay the pinkest eggs. The Salmon Faverolles, will give eggs of a paler pink, almost “salmon”. For brown eggs with a few notes of pink, it will be the Croad Langshan, Huff Orpington and Java speckled. In “cream with pink spots” version, it will be the Australop, Silkie and Asyl chickens.
The conditions of the hen: the additional variant
Besides breed, the intensity of an egg’s shell color can vary depending on three factors: the hen’s age, diet, and state of mind.
The eggs of a young hen will be proportionally smaller than those of an adult hen. Since the amount of pigments always remains the same, they will be more “concentrated” on a small egg, making it darker than on a large egg which will be lighter. If you come across a small dark egg, you will know that it is that of a young hen.
The coloring of the egg can also be impacted by the diet and the life of the hen. A sick hen, possibly nervous about the presence of predators around or undernourished will lay eggs different from those that her breed would normally produce.
Now you’ll be the expert for your next egg shopping trip.
