Why do chickens lay brown eggs

The diet of a home-raised hen is not the same as that of a conventionally raised hen, which may also affect egg flavor. Additionally, the longer the egg is stored, the more likely it is to develop an off-flavor. Storing eggs at a stable, low temperature, like in the refrigerator, can help preserve their flavor for longer. These reasons may be why some people believe that eggs from home-raised chickens taste better than those from conventionally raised chickens.

The way an egg is cooked may affect its flavor, too. One study looked at how fish oil, which is used in chicken feed to raise omega-3 levels, changed the flavor of eggs. It found that scrambled eggs from hens fed fish-oil-enriched feed and those fed conventional feed tasted the same However, when boiled, the eggs from hens fed fish-oil-enriched feed had more of a sulfur-like or off-flavor Brown and white eggs generally taste the same.

However, the taste of eggs can be affected by their freshness, the cooking method, the diet of the hen that laid them. Even though brown and white eggs seem to be the same by all measures other than color, brown eggs still tend to cost more at the store.

This fact has led many people to believe that brown eggs are healthier or higher quality than white ones. However, in the past, brown eggs cost more because brown-laying hens tended to be larger and lay fewer eggs than white-laying hens. Therefore, brown eggs needed to be sold at a higher price to make up for the extra costs 2.

Today, brown-laying hens have nearly the same production costs as white-laying hens. Nevertheless, their eggs still tend to have a higher price tag 2. This may be because specialty eggs, such as free-range or organic, tend to be brown rather than white. Brown eggs used to cost more because brown-laying hens produced less and weighed more.

So what should you take into account when buying eggs? Eggs that are certified as organic in the United States and European Union have come from chickens given only organic and non-GMO feed. In addition, they have not been given antibiotics or hormones, though hormones are never permitted for laying hens The organic label means antibiotics may only be used when medically necessary.

Otherwise, low doses of antibiotics are often given via feed and water, which can contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. What about kalamata or avocado coloured eggs?

Loading Nathan Kilah, senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Tasmania, got interested in the chemical make-up of eggshells when he got backyard chooks. Blue colouring is caused by bilirubin, with permeates through the whole shell. Posted 18 Feb 18 Feb Sun 18 Feb at pm. More on:. Top Stories Celebrity cosmetic surgeon's 'barbaric' attempt to fix a tummy tuck under local anaesthetic.

Prime Minister says he does not believe he has told a lie in public life. With Thailand's sex industry shuttered, Dao's savings are almost gone and she's struggling to provide for her family. Tasmania's electricity connector to mainland, Basslink, goes into administration. Ameraucana birds have the pigment oocyanin deposited on the egg as it travels through the oviduct. This pigment permeates the egg shell resulting in the interior and exterior of the egg being the same blue color.

Chickens that lay brown tinted eggs deposit the pigment protoporphyrin on the eggs late in the process of forming the shell. The pigment therefore does not penetrate the interior of the egg, but tints only the surface of the egg, which is why brown eggs are white on the interior.

In the case of an Olive Egger, a brown pigment overlays a blue egg shell resulting in a green egg. Because larger chickens require more food and land to remain healthy throughout production, higher production costs lead to more expensive products in the end when you're shopping for eggs in the grocery store. Some people also think that one color shell is harder than the other, or that there are different colored yolks.

But in reality, these factors are due to the age and feed of the chicken. The coloring of shells or bird has nothing to do with these factors, so you should go with whichever eggs you prefer and are in your price range. Whether you prefer to eat your eggs scrambled , atop a slice of avocado toast , hard-boiled in a salad , or fried atop a burger , you can't go wrong when choosing between brown and white eggs.