The colour of the egg shell is dependent on the breed of the hen. In general, white hens produce white eggs and brown hens brown eggs.
In many countries, such as the USA, white eggs are the predominant egg and up until the early 1970s, white eggs were popular in the UK. But by the late 1970s, people were saying they liked brown eggs more than white eggs, so the number of white eggs started to go down. Until fairly recently the British industry has produced almost 100 per cent brown shelled eggs, but white eggs are starting to become more common again. There is no nutritional difference between white and brown shelled eggs.
All British Lion eggs, whether white or brown, are FSA approved to be eaten runny by vulnerable groups.
Are Chicken Eggs Naturally White? The Science Behind Egg Color
Chicken eggs come in a rainbow of colors, from brown and white to blue and green. This leads many people to wonder – are chicken eggs naturally white?
The short answer is no. Chicken eggs are not inherently white. The color of an egg depends entirely on the breed of hen that laid it. Genetics is the key factor that determines shell pigmentation.
To understand why, let’s first look at what gives eggs their colorful shells.
The Science of Egg Color
An eggshell consists mostly of calcium carbonate. This mineral is naturally white in color.
Brown eggs get their hue from a pigment called protoporphyrin. It’s produced from heme, the same compound that makes blood red. The more protoporphyrin deposited on the shell, the darker the brown color.
Blue eggs like those from Ameraucanas contain a pigment called biliverdin. It’s the same pigment that can give bruises a blue-green tint
When a hen’s genes cause her to produce both protoporphyrin and biliverdin, she lays olive or green eggs.
Other factors like diet, environment, age and stress levels can slightly alter the intensity of shell color. But genetics remains the key determinant.
A hen of a particular breed will always lay the same egg color throughout her life. She cannot switch to laying a different color.
The Chicken Breed Dictates Egg Color
There are over 200 chicken breeds, and each has genes coding for a specific egg shade.
Below are some common breeds and the egg colors they lay:
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White eggs – Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas
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Brown eggs – Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks
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Blue eggs – Ameraucanas, Araucanas, Easter Eggers
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Green eggs – Favaucanas, Olive Eggers
Because Leghorns and other white-feathered chickens lay white eggs, most people think that all chickens naturally lay white eggs.
In reality, there’s no universal or “natural” egg color for all chickens. Each breed is genetically preprogrammed for its own signature egg shade.
A Plymouth Rock can’t lay white eggs any more than a Leghorn can lay brown eggs. Every breed has its own egg color encoded in its DNA.
The History of Chicken Egg Colorss have influenced chicken genetics for over 8,000 years through selective breeding.
Originally, chickens produced only white eggs. The earliest domesticated chickens may have descended from wild Red Junglefowls that laid cream or tinted eggs.
As farmers first selectively bred chickens, they saw that some breeds started changing genes to make eggshells brown. Brown egg layers became popular across Asia and Europe.
White egg layers saw more commercial success in America in the 1920s-40s. The White Leghorn excelled in large-scale production for its high egg yields.
Over time, changes in the color of the eggs led to the development of new breeds. People made the colorful egg rainbow we see today by choosing chickens with these traits.
Common Myths About Egg Color
There are many misconceptions about whether egg color indicates quality, taste or nutrition. Let’s bust some myths:
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White eggs are NOT bleached – the shells are naturally white.
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Brown eggs do NOT taste better or are healthier than white eggs.
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Egg color does NOT affect nutritional value – it’s just pigment.
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Darker yolks do NOT mean higher nutrition. Yolk color depends on the hen’s diet.
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Organic eggs can be white or brown – color is not related to organic status.
The bottom line? Shell color itself doesn’t matter nutritionally. It’s purely genetics. Instead, look at things like access to pastures and the quality of the feed when picking the healthiest eggs.
Do brown and white eggs taste different?
Some people think that brown or white eggs taste better, but scientists have found that there is no difference.
Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs?
There are no nutritional differences between brown or white eggs. Eggs are a natural, nutritionally dense food containing vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, in less than 80 calories, whatever the colour.
Comparing Different Egg Yolks | Wiseman Health
FAQ
Are chicken eggs white?
Contrary to popular belief, chicken eggs come in a wide range of colors. While white is undoubtedly the most common color, chickens can lay eggs that are brown, blue, green, or even speckled. The natural variety of eggshell colors stems from the genetic characteristics of different chicken breeds. Are Chicken Eggs Naturally White?.
What is the difference between white and Brown Chicken eggs?
Technically the only real difference between white and brown chicken eggs is the pigment (or lack thereof) in the shell. The color of the eggshell is dependent on the breed of chicken. There are actually many other colors of chicken eggs such as blue, green, pinkish, and speckled that are all breed specific.
Do white eggs come from brown eggs?
You might also hear people say, “Brown eggs come from brown chickens and white eggs come from white chickens.” But that’s too simple. For example, some heritage breeds like Araucana chickens lay robin’s-egg-blue eggs. This type of chicken lays green eggs, but its feathers aren’t blue or green. What Color Are Organic Valley Eggs?
What color are chicken eggs?
The color of a chicken’s egg entirely depends on the breed of chicken. That’s right. Like so much in life, it all comes down to genetics. The biggest misconception out there is that “all eggshells are naturally brown, and white eggs were bleached. ” Buzz! Incorrect.
Can brown chickens lay white eggs?
Yes, brown chickens can lay white eggs. Eggshell color is determined by the breed and genetics, not the color of the chicken’s feathers. 3. Are all brown eggs organic?.
Why are chicken eggs white?
This process results in the diverse palette of colors we observe in eggs. In the case of white eggs, the genetic combination of certain chicken breeds makes white the predominant shell color. While genetics play a significant role, external factors such as diet and environment can also affect the color of chicken eggs.
Do chickens lay white eggs naturally?
Yes, white eggs are naturally laid by certain breeds of chickens. It’s a genetic trait, not a result of bleaching or artificial coloring, according to multiple sources.
What is the real color of a chicken egg?
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. According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service poultry specialist, many factors can impact a hen’s egg-making process. Apr 1, 2025.
Why are eggs so white in America?
In the United States, white eggs are commonly seen in supermarkets due to a combination of factors including breed preference, historical trends, and cost considerations. While it’s a misconception that all American eggs are white, the Leghorn breed is frequently used in commercial egg production, and this breed lays white eggs.
Are brown eggs better than white eggs?
No, there is no nutritional difference between brown and white eggs.