WHEN you buy eggs from the supermarket, it is pretty standard to get a dozen eggs, usually brown. But some places sell white chicken eggs.
So, is it true that the colour of an egg is determined by the feathers of the hen that laid it?
Verdict:
FALSE
It is a misconception that brown-feathered hens lay brown eggs while white-feathered hens lay white eggs.
The truth is the primary factors contributing to the colour of the eggshell include pigments, genetics, diet, and environmental conditions.
The colour of an egg is entirely determined by the chicken's genetics and is inherited from one generation to the next.
For example, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, and Barnevelder chickens are known for laying brown eggs, while the Leghorn breed produces white eggs.
Chicken eggs also come in blue, green, and even pink!
Also, if the chicken lays brown eggs, it will continue to lay the same-coloured eggs for life.
All eggshells are made from calcium carbonate that is either white or blue.
Pigments such as porphyrins and biliverdin add various shades to the eggshell. They are deposited during or after shell formation inside the chicken's oviduct.
All other colours are produced by various shades of pigments laid down on the egg's surface as it is being formed.
While the colour of the chicken feather doesn't indicate the colour of the eggshell, some studies noted that the colour of a chicken earlobe would be a better indicator of the eggshell colour.
If the chicken's ear lobe is white, it usually lays white eggs, while the ones with red ear lobes usually lay brown eggs.
Also, regardless of the eggshell colour, it does not affect the egg’s nutritional value. All eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. You can read the health benefits eggs have for you here: (https://www.thestar.com.my/
So, how would you like your eggs prepared for you today?
References:
1. https://ruralramblings.com/
2. https://layinghens.hendrix-
3. https://www.britannica.com/
4. https://cluckin.net/egg-size-
5. https://www.thestar.com.my/
