Why do chickens lay different colored eggs? Why are eggs different colors? Why do chickens lay green eggs? Why do chickens lay blue eggs?
I get asked all of these, so I thought I would share why and the magic that is nature!
Chickens lay different colored eggs because of their genes and some cool pigments. The two main pigments responsible for eggshell colors are protoporphyrin and biliverdin. Chickens with specific combinations of genes produce eggs with different shades, such as brown, blue, green, or even pink.
We don’t see these colors in grocery stores because the chickens laying for mass production are bred for that and often produce white or brown eggs only. Mass producers in the egg industry want chickens who are not broody and are producing 1-2 eggs a day! I only get a blue or green egg every few days, so my colored egg-layers are not optimal for mass production.
If you want fun-colored chicken eggs, get your own chickens or check out your farmer’s market!
What color chicken egg is your favorite?