Why chicken eggs are white and brown, what determines the color
Why chicken eggs are white and brown depends on the breed of bird. Regardless of the color of the shell, chicken eggs are recommended to be consumed regularly, since they contain all the necessary minerals and substances. Such a product improves the functioning of internal organs and is used both raw and as an addition to dishes.
What color are chicken eggs?
Chicken testicles can be white or brown in color. You can also find white products with brown blotches. Chicken testicles can also differ not only in the color of the shell, but also in the yolk. More often in white specimens, the yolk is light, and in brown specimens it is darker.
Important. Some chicken breeds lay blue eggs. However, such a product is very difficult to find on sale. The taste of this type does not differ from the usual product. You can also often find products with a golden shell. The shell can have a slight pink tint.
What determines the color of a chicken's shell?
Shell color may depend on factors that need to be considered when choosing a product.
Breed
Chickens come in a variety of colors. The color of the feathers depends on the breed of the bird. This criterion can influence the shade of the shell. Birds that have brown feathers have been observed to lay dark eggs. You can find a shell with brown blotches or stains. Such specimens do not reduce the taste and are used for food.
Laying hens of beef breeds are large and often colored red or brown. Such birds produce products with a brown shell.
Ambient conditions
Growing conditions for chickens can affect not only the size, but also the color of the shell. More often, improper conditions and tightness of the room contribute to the fact that the shell does not produce enough protoporphyrin, a pigment that is responsible for the color of the shell. As a result, the eggs turn white or with a slight yellow tint.
The color of the eggshell is influenced by the nutrition of the chickens. Birds that consume little greens and natural grain foods carry products that have a pale shell shade. Also, the period when the bird walks in the sunlight can affect the color of the shell.
Birds that regularly walk outdoors also lay brown eggs.
What does the color of the yolk indicate?
The shade of the yolk can vary depending on the type of food of the bird. Chickens that regularly consume natural food and fresh greens lay eggs, the yolk of which has a rich color.Birds that live in cramped conditions and use special compound feed feel a lack of vitamins, so the yolk has a light shade.
Also, the presence of diseases in layers can affect the shade of the yolk. Layers that are sick may carry pale yolk products.
What color eggs are tastier
It is difficult to answer the question which egg is tastier. The products have the same nutritional value regardless of the shade of the shell. However, when buying, you need to pay attention to the markings. Diet type and seasoned (table) are distinguished. Such categories are marked with the letters D and C. The first type of product is fresh and can be used for raw consumption.
You also need to consider the type of product: store or home. Home testicles, regardless of the color of the shell, have a rich taste and contain all the nutrients.
How to feed chickens so that the yolk is orange?
Chickens eat all grains, so feeding the birds is easy. However, in order for chickens to be healthy, it is necessary to choose the right type of food. Improper nutrition leads to decreased egg production and pale yolk. Also, the lack of proper food negatively affects the taste of products. In order for chickens to carry testicles with orange yolks, the following natural types of food must be fed to the birds:
- Corn is a natural source of all vitamins necessary for poultry, which increase egg production and contribute to the orange color of the yolk.
- Bran - colors the yolk orange, strengthens the shell.
- Wheat.
- Beans.
- Chalk and shell rock - strengthen the shell of the product and improve the taste.
- Greenery. In summer, you need to stock up on dry hay, which is further steamed and used for feed.
- Cottage cheese.
- Millet.
- Carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin and beets.
Correctly prepared mixtures using fresh grass and grain also affect the shade. Herbs have a positive effect on the health of laying hens and the quality of products. Nettle, alfalfa, yarrow, beet tops are used more often.
Some manufacturers add special dyes to the diet that color the yolk in the desired shade. These dyes contain artificial carotenoids that not only color the yolk but also the shell.
Why are brown eggs more expensive?
The myth that brown shell is healthier is not true. More often, the cost depends on the category to which the product belongs. The first, second and third categories stand out. The category type is determined depending on the weight. Chickens with dark feathers are meat and carry large testicles. Therefore, such products are more expensive. Some sellers deliberately inflate the cost, explaining that such products contain a larger list of nutrients necessary for the human body.
What eggs are worth buying?
It is recommended to purchase testicles from a trusted person who independently raises layers. Factory testicles are not always fresh, regardless of the markings on the shell.
Homemade products are valuable because natural products are used as food for birds. Regardless of the color of the casing, the products have the same nutritional value.
When buying testicles, you must give preference to dietary ones. Such a product has a period of up to 7 days. The rest go to the canteen section, and can have a shelf life of 10 days. You also need to pay attention to the cleanliness of the shell. The washed product will not be stored for more than 5 days. When choosing home ones, preference should be given to the natural appearance of the shell, which has not been subjected to a cleaning procedure.
Important.To avoid the risk of poisoning, after purchasing the product, you must use a container with water where the egg is placed.
The fresh will drown, and the old will float, such a product is not recommended to be eaten. It is also necessary to examine the condition of the shell, which should be free of cracks and stains, which are not inherent in healthy products.
Conclusion
When choosing eggs, there is no need to give preference to large ones. Small specimens are carried by young birds. This does not affect the taste of the product. The shade of the shell also does not affect the taste. The features of growing poultry and proper storage of the product are important. The latter criterion is often violated if products are purchased from supermarkets.
