There is a big misconception in people’s minds that brown eggs are better than white eggs. Let me explain.
There is no difference between a brown and white egg. It is simply a difference in the color of the shell. The difference comes in what a hen eats.
Commercial growers use White Leghorn hens. They are smaller in size, have the best feed to egg conversion, and lay white eggs. They are a flighty, more high-strung bird. Backyard and producers of free range eggs prefer more colorful, docile breeds such as Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, Red Sex Link, Buff Orpington, etc. that lay brown eggs. The more grass a hen eats, the richer and darker the yolk.
People think brown eggs are better. That is often true simply because of what the hen eats. Because hens grown commercially aren’t fed grass, their yolks are lighter in color. White Leghorns that free-range or are fed grass have the same rich color of yolk.
Some frequently asked questions:
- Are blue and green eggs cholesterol free? There is no scientific proof that this is the case. Again, it is simply the color of the shell. Americana and Aracauna hens lay colored eggs. The quality of egg is determined by the diet of the hen. Hens fed Omega enriched feed, have added omega health benefits.
- What determines the size of egg? The amino acid balance in the feed helps determine the size of egg. Some hens, such as bantams, naturally lay smaller eggs. I feed Purina Layena. It is formulated for extra large, jumbo eggs. However, I have found that you do not want to feed it to Bantams or Leghorns or you will have trouble with “blow out”. I recommend you use Purina’s Country Acres or Homegrown formulas for these birds.
- How do I know what color of egg my hen will lay? A hen will only lay one color of egg. Most hens are brown egg layers. White egg layers have white ears.
- Why are fresh hardboiled eggs hard to peel? Fresh eggs are almost impossible to peel. An egg has to be about one week old before it peels easily. If you need to hardboil fresh eggs, put 1 tsp. baking soda in the water and tap the egg on the side of the pan to put a crack in the shell before cooking. They will peel much easier.
- How many eggs will a hen lay each day? At the most, a hen will only lay one egg a day. They go through cycles and a hen will not average an egg every day.
- Why do they quit laying in the winter? A hen has a light-sensitive gland in its eye that determines their laying cycle. When the day length shortens, they stop laying and molt. And yes, this is in the winter. As the day starts lengthening, they feather out again and start laying. You can prevent this by putting a light on a timer and lengthening their day to 18 hours. Do not leave it on all night as they need time to rest and sleep.
- How can I get a double-yolk egg? The first several weeks a hen lays what we call a “pullet” egg. It is very small and helps to get the hen adjusted to laying eggs. As she starts to lay larger eggs you will find some double-yokers. Once she is adjusted to laying, the eggs are more consistent in size. As the hen ages, you may again see some double-yokes. I actually have had some triple yolks and several times I have had a complete egg, including the shell, inside of an egg. That was exciting!
- What is the best white egg layer? White Leghorn.
- What is the best brown egg layer? Golden Comet or Red Sex Link. They are the same hen, just called different names. They are a cross between a White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red. You get the egg production of the Leghorn with the disposition and brown eggs of the Rhode Island.
- Why are the beaks clipped on some ready-to-lay hens? They do it to prevent cannibalism. That is a very bad problem with hens. If they see a hint of blood or sometimes for seemingly no reason, they will attack and degut one of their own. This is an awful problem. I personally will not buy ready-to-lay hens that aren’t debeaked. It does not hurt the chicken nor does it hamper their eating. Animal rights activists will disagree but I prefer a nipped beak to having a hen that is literally degutted live by another hen. With free-range or only a few hens this is not a big problem.
