eggs

[missmooncat]

Why are all the eggs you buy nowadays brown?When i was a kid i remember white ones and boxes with white and brown ones in.Where have they gone?

[Artemis]

They're not. The eggs I eat are from Old Cotswold Legbar hens and they are pastel coloured. Totally free range I might add.l

[spudqueen]

There's no nutritional difference but people seem to think that brown eggs are better for you so those are the ones sold. Presumably white ones go to factories or catering. Whilst in the States I only saw white eggs for sale.

[sunflower68]

yes missmooncat.  Me and Mr Sunflower68 keep on finding things we class as 'a 70s thing.'  One more for the list there.

[meltoadhall]

brown eggs are from brown hens and the white ones lay white. a lot of the poultry farms use brown hens for laying as they are good producers.

you could always get some hens - freshly laid eggs are wonderful!

[tubeway]

In the UK brown eggs started to sell better because they are percieved as being more natural - so this is what the hens are encouraged/bred to lay.

In the USA they see white eggs as being purer so that is what is sold.

[silly moo]

What you feed your chickens on will affect the colour of the shell.

[Narolines]

So, meltoadhall, do black hens lay black eggs.........?

[Cuddlysac]

meltoadhall is right.  The pigment used to dye the egg shell is the same pigment used to colour a hen's feathers.  So, brown hens lay brown eggs etc.

The hen's diet affects the hardness and texture of the shell.  Not sure if it affects the colour.

Narolines - I've never seen a black hen.  Do they really exist?  I'd love to get some black eggs - how cool would that be?

[missmooncat]

I seen some black hens not for real on t.v.Do they lay black eggs then?