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What Causes Chickens to Lay Different Color Eggs?

If you’re familiar with the world of poultry, then you know the value that some growers place on eggshell color. Ask any backyard chicken keeper about their laying hens, and they will likely tell you all about the variety of colors in their egg basket.

Egg color is a point of pride for many keepers, with backyard growers often seeking out breeds that produce a full spectrum of shades. There’s a reason that colored eggs are so popular within farmers’ markets and specialty stores—they stand out.

So, how do chickens lay eggs in different colors?



The egg color your chicken lays is not random or up to chance. Eggshell color is determined by the breed and genetics of the hen, which are passed down from the parent stock.

We’ll cover the wide spectrum of colors your hens might lay—from creamy browns to beautiful blues and greens—and the unique breeds that produce them.

How Egg Color Starts

Initially, all eggs start out as white—this is because eggshells are primarily made out of calcium carbonate, which is a naturally white mineral.

The egg laying process is surprisingly quick. It only takes about 24 hours for an egg to fully develop inside of a hen. 

As the egg travels through the oviduct (a hen’s reproductive tract), pigment will be deposited onto the shell depending on the hen’s breed and genetic makeup. This happens just a few hours before the egg is laid.

While the shades will vary among individual hens, most breeds lay a specific color. The most commonly observed colors are white, brown, dark brown, blue, green, and occasionally pink.

White Eggs

These eggs don't have any pigment, so they retain the natural shade of calcium. These are the classic eggs you'll find in most grocery stores. 

The most popular white egg layer on the market is the White Leghorn, known for their highly efficient production. 

Blue Eggs

Blue eggs get their color from the pigment oocyanin. 

Something unique about blue eggs is that they are blue inside and out, rather than just on the surface of the shell. This is because the pigment is deposited very early on in the laying process, so it penetrates all layers of the shell. 

Americanas are one of our most sought-after blue layers, prized for their beautiful eggs and their friendly personalities. 

Brown Eggs

Brown eggs get their color from the pigment protoporphyrin. 

Unlike blue eggs, the interior of brown eggshells will still be white. Protoporphyrin is deposited later in the egg laying process, so it doesn't penetrate the entire shell. 

Brown egg layers are some of our most popular breeds—Rhode Island Reds, Red Sex Links, and Buff Orpingtons are all great choices for dependable egg production. 

Dark Brown Eggs

These eggs also have the pigment protoporphyrin, but in much larger quantities than a standard brown egg. 

While most brown eggs range in shades from beige to caramel, dark brown eggs are far richer and deeper in color. In some instances, dark brown layers may produce eggs that appear a bit reddish or maroon.

Mystic Marans are one of the most popular dark brown egg layers, famous for their dark "chocolate" colored eggs. 

Green Eggs

Green eggs are a mix of the pigment oocyanin and protoporphyrin. The exact shade of green is determined by how much or how little of each pigment is present. 

Our most popular green egg layer is the Olive Egger, which has the potential to lay a variety of different shades and colors. 
 

The Genetics Behind Egg Color

To achieve optimal output and desired attributes, selective breeding has been a practice in the poultry industry for centuries. With careful breeding, growers can refine certain traits like feather color, comb size, and egg color. 

Long-established purebred chickens have highly predictable genetics, meaning that they will consistently lay the same color eggs. Newer or hybrid breeds are less predictable, due to the way they inherit traits from the parent stock.

White Leghorn Vs. Olive Egger

For example, the White Leghorn is a long-established purebred chicken with strong genetics. This breed has been carefully bred for generations, and is one of the most widely used chickens in the world. Because of their genetics, they will always lay a white egg.

Hybrid breeds like the Olive Egger will not be as predictable as long-established purebred breeds. To get an Olive Egger, breeders have to cross a brown egg layer (usually a Marans) with a blue egg layer (usually an Ameraucana).

Breeding a blue egg layer with a dark brown egg layer generally leads to green eggs, but this is not a guarantee. Since Olive Eggers are not a purebred chicken, their genetics are not as reliable.

As the name suggests, Olive Eggers usually lay olive green eggs. But the shade of green can vary greatly from light pastel to a brownish green—or not even green at all. 

If an Olive Egger doesn’t inherent enough of the blue egg gene from one parent, they will lay brown eggs. On the other hand, they will lay blue eggs if they don’t inherit enough of the brown egg gene. 

They can even lay pink eggs depending on how the genetic traits of each parent interact with each other. 

Hybrid breeds do not breed true, so their appearance and egg color will always vary. This genetic unpredictability is what makes hybrid layers so fascinating—their egg color will always be a unique surprise.

What Causes Speckled Eggs?

Aside from color, another highly sought after trait in eggs is speckling. It adds an additional touch of beauty to colorful eggs.

Most of the time, speckled eggs are caused by uneven application of pigment during the egg laying process. However, speckling can also occur due to excess calcium deposits. 

Certain layers, like Marans, are more likely to lay speckled eggs. This is because they naturally deposit a higher level of pigment than other breeds. 

Unfortunately for growers, there are not any breeds that lay speckled eggs specifically, as it is not a genetic trait like egg color. 

If one of your layers manages to lay a speckled egg, consider yourself lucky to have such a beautiful egg in your basket!

Facts and Myths about Egg Shell Color

There are some long-standing misconceptions about egg color. Let's break down what's real, and what’s just a myth. 

Egg Color and Nutrient Content

A common misconception about egg color is that is affects the nutrition or taste of an egg—that is not the case. Eggshell color is purely cosmetic, and has no bearing on the nutritional content of the yolk. 

If you want to eat more nutritious eggs, then your hen's diet is a great place to start. 

A varied and high-quality diet will have a positive impact on your hens and the eggs they produce. Allowing your hens to forage for insects is a great way to introduce beneficial nutrients into their eggs.

Depending on where you live, we know raising poultry for eggs in your own backyard isn’t always feasible. But what if you want those colorful, farm-fresh eggs that are so popular? 

There are plenty of small, independent stores that will sell locally sourced eggs if you look around. The Myers Poultry team found these beautiful farm-fresh eggs from a great market here in Bedford, Pennsylvania. 

Do Chickens Change Egg Colors?

Chickens do not spontaneously change egg colors over their lifespan. So, if your chicken starts out laying green eggs, they will always lay green eggs.

As your hens age, their egg color may become less and less vibrant, but the color itself will not change. 

Ear Lobes and Egg Color

While it sounds like a myth, this one is actually mostly true. You can sometimes guess what egg color a chicken will lay by looking at the color of their earlobe.

Generally, chickens with white earlobes will lay white eggs. Red ear lobes usually indicate a chicken will lay brown eggs. 

This isn’t a foolproof method, so keep in mind that ear lobe color is not always an accurate indicator of egg color.

For example, Silkie chickens have blue earlobes, but they do not lay blue eggs. Silkie eggs are usually a white or cream color.

The Role of Egg Bloom 

The layer on the outside of an egg, referred to as the bloom, is a natural protective layer that can impact how the color of your egg looks. 

Egg bloom doesn't actually change the color of your egg, but the protective layer may make your eggs look more vibrant. 

If you choose to wash your eggs, then you'll be seeing the natural shade of the egg without the bloom. 

Add Some Color to Your Egg Basket with Myers Poultry

Egg color is one of the most fascinating parts of raising chickens—it adds variety, beauty, and a little extra excitement to collecting eggs each day.

If you're after an egg basket that has all the colors of the rainbow, we have a wide selection of layer breeds to suit your needs. Whether you're a backyard chicken keeper or a large-scale producer, we can help you find the perfect birds for your farm. 

Call or email us today to get started on adding colorful and productive layers to your flock.