Why are eggs different colors?

[Michie]

Have you ever been curious about why chicken eggs can be different colors? While most eggs are white or brown, they also come in colors like cream, pink, blue and green. In addition — and this is no “yolk” — some are even speckled.


Chickens can lay different colored eggs, in which color is determined by the hen’s genetics. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

Nature has provided chickens with diverse color patterns for their feathers, skin patches and eggshells for various purposes, including camouflage, protection from predators and to signal individual identity.

According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service poultry specialist, the color of an egg is mainly determined by the chicken’s genetics. That means the breed of hen will usually indicate what color of egg will be produced.

For example, Leghorn chickens lay white eggs, while Orpington’s lay brown eggs and Ameraucana lay blue eggs. And the “olive egger” breed lays … wait for it … olive-green eggs.

But appearances aside, all chicken eggs have no major differences in taste or nutritional composition.

Chicken earlobes help predict egg color

Continued below.
Why are eggs different colors? - AgriLife Today

 

[Wolseley]

They come that way so you can buy some of each shade, and then you don't have to dye them come Easter time.

 

[Michie]

They come that way so you can buy some of each shade, and then you don't have to dye them come Easter time.

That’s one way of looking at it! Lol!

 

[prodromos]

They come that way so you can buy some of each shade, and then you don't have to dye them come Easter time.

Which breed of chicken lays red eggs? This will save so much effort on Holy Thursday!

 

[Michie]

Which breed of chicken lays red eggs? This will save so much effort on Holy Thursday!

Now that would be something!

 

[prodromos]

Now that would be something!

There are plenty of other miracles that occur on an annual basis. I want chickens that lay red eggs for Easter!

 

[Wolseley]

Just start saving all your dry onion peels around Thanksgiving time. Put them in a plastic grocery sack and keep them dry.

When Easter comes, put all the onion peels in a large stock pot, add the eggs, and top with water. Boil the eggs until hard-boiled. They will come out blood-red. I do it every year.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

I only buy brown eggs, in Massachusetts there was a commercial that had a jingle “Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh”!

I always buy brown eggs. Lol

 

[Michie]

Just start saving all your dry onion peels around Thanksgiving time. Put them in a plastic grocery sack and keep them dry.

When Easter comes, put all the onion peels in a large stock pot, add the eggs, and top with water. Boil the eggs until hard-boiled. They will come out blood-red. I do it every year.

You mean red onion peels?

 

[Wolseley]

You mean red onion peels?

Not necessarily. You can use red onion peels, certainly; but you can also use peels from white onions, yellow onions, sweet onions----they all come out pretty much the same. I usually just use the peels from any and all types of onions that we use in our day-to-day cooking. The eggs come out looking like this:

 

[Michie]

Not necessarily. You can use red onion peels, certainly; but you can also use peels from white onions, yellow onions, sweet onions----they all come out pretty much the same. I usually just use the peels from any and all types of onions that we use in our day-to-day cooking. The eggs come out looking like this:

View attachment 322102

Wow! That interesting. I’d like to know why and how that happens with eggs and onions.

 

[prodromos]

What happens if you feed onion skins to your chickens

 

[Sabertooth]

(I will just wait for the goose that lays the golden eggs...! $_$)

 

[Michie]

@Wolseley, my curiosity got the better of me . I thought you’d enjoy this if you have not read it already.

Red Easter Eggs

 

[Michie]

These are beautiful!
Onion Dyed Easter Eggs - A Tasty Adventure

Easter Eggs Naturally Dyed with Onion Skins Video • CiaoFlorentina

 

[Wolseley]

See, I told you! LOL!

 

[Michie]

See, I told you! LOL!

You know I’m going to try this right? Flowers, herbs, nylons and all!

 

[Wolseley]

You know I’m going to try this right? Flowers, herbs, nylons and all!

Make sure you show us how they turn out!

 

[Michie]

Make sure you show us how they turn out!

I definitely will!