How much can the color of the eggs change? One is led to think that shells can only exist in the light brown pinkish colour. However, in nature, they are found in a variety of shades, some of which are very diverse from each other.
In addition to the classic colour, eggs can be blue, green or even red.
Factors that determine the colour of a hen’s eggs
Hen age and physiology
The factors that lead to a change in eggshell colour can be various. The main factors are the age of the chicken and the physiology of the animal. In any case, the colour of the shell does not cause any substantial difference in the taste of the yolk or albumen, nor do the nutritional properties change.
It is wrong to think that the colour of the shell depends on the hen’s diet.
The breed
Secondly, the colour of the eggshell depends on the breed. Before laying, when the inner layers have formed, the egg passes through the final zone of the oviduct. At this stage, glands secrete lubricating fluids to facilitate laying. It is precisely this liquid, which differs from breed to breed, that determines the eggs coloration.
The most common colours of eggshells
Pink Eggs
They are the easiest eggs to find, especially on supermarket shelves. They usually belong to the “Isa Brown” laying hens, the most common and known breed. They are also widespread in domestic poultry houses and lay about 300 eggs per year.
White eggs
White eggs are usually produced by hens of Tuscan origin, the Livornese hens. Like the previous ‘Isa Brown’ laying hens, the Leghorns also produce around 300 eggs annually. However, one of their distinctive features is that they are not very keen on hatching, as they return to their nesting grounds as soon as they lay an egg.
Brown eggs
The brown eggs belong to the Marans hen, known as ‘the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs’. Unlike the first two, the latter lay up to 180 eggs per year, which are very large and very round in shape, with a strong outer covering.
Blue eggs
The Araucana hens, also known as ‘Blue Egg Hens’, are the creators of this colouration. Unlike other eggs, these are also pigmented on the inside and receive their colour during conception and not during the passage through the oviduct.
How to encourage egg hatching
If you have a garden or a green area, it is a good idea to use it for raising chickens. It will be just a matter of patience and, above all, providing them with maximum comfort. At around four months of age, hens start laying eggs. To facilitate this process, it is very important to provide the hens with a proper environment, such as a nest. Hen House 30 is an ideal solution that provides peace of mind for the birds. It is a robust and durable garden henhouse made from FSC™-certified Nordic pine wood. The wood is protected with an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, anti-mould, UV-resistant and water-repellent impregnating paint.
The house also has an entrance door and a ladder to make it easier for the hens to get in and out. In addition to the indoor environment, it is also very important to choose a suitable outdoor space. The perfect location is to the north of a deciduous plant or hedge. This provides the birds with shade in summer and sun in winter. A final consideration is to choose a location that is not very noisy. Placing the henhouse away from busy roads, other animals or screaming children will provide the animals with the greatest possible comfort.
Eggs have been considered a delicious and popular food in many cultures since ancient times. They are a symbol of rebirth and fertility, used as gifts during spring celebrations even by the Greeks and Persians, so all you have to do is choose your favourite eggshell colour!