What is the difference between white eggs and brown ones? What is the difference between white chicken eggs and brown eggs What is the difference between white brown eggs

In the grocery department of the supermarket, we all have repeatedly paid attention to the different colors of chicken eggs - some chicken eggs are white, others are brown. Why do chicken eggs come in different colors? So,

What determines the color of chicken eggs

The color of the shell of chicken eggs is determined by the pigment in the outer layer of the shell and it depends on the breed of the chicken that laid the egg. If the earlobe of a domestic chicken is white, then it lays white eggs, and if the earlobe is red, then brown.

By the way, in South America there is a breed of chickens with feathered growths on the head, it is called "araucana". So, araucana hens lay blue eggs! Moreover, the Americans bred another chicken breed from this breed - "ameraucan". Ameraucana hens have peculiar "whiskers", and the color of their eggs can be yellow, green and even pink.

Egg yolk color

The color of the yolk of a chicken egg depends on the food that it is fed, or rather, on the pigments included in its composition. For example, a hen fed bright yellow varieties of corn, which contain an abundance of the yellow-orange pigment xanthophyll, will also have bright yellow egg yolks. And yellow alfalfa or varieties of corn with a pale yellow pigment, if fed mainly with them, will give a pale yellow color to the yolk of a chicken egg.

According to the publication "The Book of Facts"

Each of us tries to monitor our body, at least in some aspects. We adhere to a healthy lifestyle, move more, choose natural and natural products for our loved ones. healthy foods. But sometimes we literally stand in a stupor in the supermarket in front of the counter with eggs. Here you have white eggs on one side and brown eggs on the other. As a rule, if they are the same size, then brown ones cost a little more. What to do? Which eggs to choose? Under which shell is stored more useful substances? What is the difference between white and brown eggs, let's try to figure it out.

Features of brown and white eggs

What is the difference between brown and white eggs - the answer to this question is simple and lies on the surface. It's all about the breed of chickens - a chicken with light plumage will lay white eggs, and a red and black chicken will give a brown egg. That's all the difference. However, eggs have long been overgrown with all sorts of myths, which we will try to dispel.

Some people are sure that brown eggs are more useful, they have more valuable substances for the human body. This is a big misconception, the composition of brown and white eggs is exactly the same.
There is also an opinion that brown shells are harder than white ones. This statement can also be considered a myth, since the hardness of the shell does not depend on the breed of the chicken, it can only vary with the age of the bird. That is, eggs with a hard shell are often carried by young hens, with age, the amount of calcium in the body of a laying hen decreases, the shell of an old chicken will be much looser.
Sometimes brown eggs are more expensive, why? Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question. On the one hand, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy that convinces the buyer of the naturalness of brown eggs. On the other hand, farmers argue that brown chickens are larger, which means they require more feed, the cost of a brown egg is more expensive. And this is even though the size of a white and brown egg is no different.

It happens that it seems to you that a brown or, conversely, a white egg has a more saturated color of the yolk. In fact, it depends on the feed of the hen and the conditions of the laying hens. The color of the shell is far from the main indicator by which eggs should be selected.

In order for the purchase in the market and in the store to be successful, the choice of eggs should be approached very carefully.

If you have the opportunity to buy real homemade eggs - use it. You should not buy eggs in the market - you cannot be sure of their origin, perhaps you are offered regular eggs from a poultry farm at the price of homemade ones. But if you have friends who live with chickens, be sure to take such eggs, they have much more useful substances.
Be sure to look at the date of packaging of eggs in the store. The letter D means that the egg is dietary, it is only a few days old. Then they put the marking C on it - it means canteen. It can be stored for 25 days. The letter B - means the highest category of eggs, these are large specimens, more than 75 grams. Further, by weight, the egg can be designated as the first, second or third category.
The shell should not have any cracks or damage.
There should be no obvious remnants of bird droppings on the surface of the shell, these are natural food norms. However, the shell should not be glossy and crystal clear. Such a surface may indicate that the egg was washed, which means that the natural protective layer was washed off, without which the egg will deteriorate in 10-12 days.
You should not buy eggs that are too large - they are usually watery, they are carried by old laying hens. But small, more healthy and vitamin-rich eggs are obtained from young hens.
Checking an unlabeled egg in a store for freshness is quite difficult. To do this, you can shake it near your ear. If you hear gurgling or other characteristic sounds - the egg is not fresh, you should not buy such a product. A good egg will not make any sound.

But the color of the eggs you have chosen is only the aesthetic side of the issue. If you are more used to browns, buy them; if you like whites more, opt for them. If white ones are cheaper in the store, be sure to buy them, because there are no other differences in eggs (except for the color of the shell)!

Since ancient times, eggs have been considered not just a food product, but also endowed with a much greater semantic load. It has long been customary in Russia to paint eggs - this is a symbol of a bright Easter. Fairy tales, songs, girlish fortune-telling, mystical rituals and methods of treatment are associated with eggs. Choose fresh eggs and don't pay attention to their color!

Video: what is the difference between white and brown chicken eggs?

Despite the variety of breeds of chickens, among which there are representatives of various colors, from blue-black to intense yellow, basically, laying eggs are laid in two colors: white or various shades of brown. What determines the color of the shell of a chicken egg? What makes the yolk yellow? Should I buy this product based solely on the color scheme? The explanations of these issues are in the field of oology - the science that studies eggs.

Before moving on to color issues, you should understand the structure of the egg. Shell, protein and yolk are three components of a mature egg, which are in the ratio of 12:56:32 in relation to each other. If you do not take into account the outer shell, the proportion of albumen is 64%, and the yolk is 36%. Scientists came to the conclusion that 90% of the shell is filled with calcium carbonate, and the remaining 10% are magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, silicon, molybdenum, sodium, manganese, copper, aluminum, iron, fluorine, sulfur and other elements of the periodic table .

From the outside, the egg is wrapped in an over-shell film, which is a dried mucus. This protective layer prevents moisture from escaping and prevents exposure to harmful microbes. Inside is another "checkpoint": the shell film that holds the protein and serves as an excellent filter for microbes. However, it is open to the air and life-giving moisture necessary for the formation of the egg. The natural "checkpoint" is completed by a soft protein film.

The shell is 0.3 - 0.4 mm thick: at the sharp end of the egg, it is denser compared to the blunt end. The compaction of the egg shell also depends on the period of oviposition: at the beginning of the process, it is thicker, and gradually thins towards its completion.

The color scheme of the eggs, as well as the color of the plumage, are laid down at the genetic level. In chickens, like in other domesticated birds, the shade of the shell is due to belonging to a particular breed.

Brown color appears on the shell under the influence of protoporphyrin. Most often, this coloring matter can be found in hemoglobin and vitamins. He takes part in the synthesis of cells of the uterine mucosa during the formation of the shell, so the shade is laid at the initial stage of this process. The more hours an egg has to travel through the oviduct, the more intense its color becomes.

Factors affecting shell color

Partially for the color of eggs in one shade or another, the diet of birds matters: a lack of certain types of amino acids can lead to a decrease in color saturation. Also, its concentration is affected by the stage of oviposition, since the shade of the first eggs, as a rule, is more saturated. However, the most important factor affecting the color of the shell is the belonging of chickens to a particular breed.

It is enough to trace a parallel between the color of feathers and the color of the shell: females with white plumage produce white products, and speckled hens of other shades lay brown testicles.

Any variety of chickens is characterized by specific color characteristics. For example, the famous Leggorns or Russian Whites have snow-white plumage, respectively, their eggs will be of the same shade. Given that these breeds demonstrate excellent egg production, snow-colored eggs prevail on store shelves.

Hens Leghorn

Leghorn hens have been bred as an egg cross with high productivity characteristics. In addition, they have excellent adaptive abilities, have a moderate appetite and do not require much space in the chicken coop. We figure out how to properly maintain and feed "leghorns". And in the article "" let's take a closer look at dwarf chickens.

In private farms, in order to increase economic profitability, meat and egg breeds are preferred, which have a predominantly fawn or brown color, like Rhode Island laying hens, for example. Therefore, a logical chain has become fixed in the minds of the average layman: brown eggs = homemade, which means a natural product. However, this formula does not work in practice.

There is a test method that gives a 100% result: a white earlobe is a guarantee of white offspring. Owners of red ears give products of brown shades.

The South American continent is the proud owner of an exotic breed of chickens that lay blue eggs with a greenish tint. In addition to the original color of the shell, the layers themselves also look quite unusual: they do not have tails. The absence of appendages on the back of the body, apparently, is compensated by a mustache and beard. The name of the Araucan breed comes from the Indian tribe of the same name, which breeds this variety of birds everywhere. A few decades ago, this outlandish product gained unprecedented popularity thanks to an erroneously formed stereotype. It was believed that in this product there are much more nutrients than in eggs of the usual shades, and the level of cholesterol, on the contrary, is much lower. However, recent research has refuted this consumer cliché.

Breeds of chickens Araucan and Ameraucan

Araucan chickens are known around the world for the unusual color of their eggs. However, many breeders believe that green eggs are not the only thing to love about this cross. Want to know what else is unusual about these chickens? Read our article on. By the way, the Araucans have a related cross - , which appeared by crossing Araucans with local American chickens.

In addition to the breed, the color saturation is influenced by the environment, the susceptibility of laying hens to various diseases, and even stressful situations. These circumstances can significantly affect the intensity of color, giving the shell either a soft cream or a bright brick shade.

What determines the color of the yolk?

In addition to the color features of the egg shell, housewives are interested in the color of the yolk, which varies from light yellow to golden and bright orange. If protoporphyrin “worked” well on the brown shell, then the yellow tint is in the safe hands of carotenoids. However, not all representatives of this group of pigments have been given the power to color the yolk in bright colors. For example, the beta-carotene that makes carrots so orange has no effect on the yellow thick stuff. But pigments with unusual names lutein and xanthophyll are directly involved in the color of the yolk.

The coloring is due to the nutrition system: when chickens eat plants that contain yellow pigment in large quantities, the yolk will also acquire a richer shade. A similar effect can be achieved with saturated yellow varieties of corn or grass meal. If light varieties of corn or alfalfa prevail in the diet, the pallor of the color will be transferred to the yolk. If the diet is based on colorless feed, the yolk will turn out to be almost transparent, light yellow in color.

The color of the yolk, as well as the color of the egg shell, have absolutely no effect on the quality of the product. However, laying hen breeders try to give the yolk an intense color, so they feed chickens with food containing a yellow pigment. In addition, the researchers concluded that the yolk contains protein in greater quantities than the protein itself, therefore, its benefits in no way depend on the shade.

Prices for an ovoscope for diagnosing eggs

Factors that determine shell color

There is an opinion among the inhabitants that the composition of brown eggs is more natural, so to speak, homemade. In fact, the quality of the product produced by a laying hen depends on many factors. But the color does not affect the taste or quality of the eggs. And vice versa, the conditions of keeping and feeding the chicken in no way affect the color of the future fried eggs. And yet, what determines the different color of chicken eggs?

Factor 1. Breed

So, the color of the shell in the products that are carried by domestic and industrial chickens depends on the breed of the bird. At the same time, the ability to carry eggs of a certain color is laid genetically. That is, the same chicken throughout its life produces fruits with a shell of a certain color. And such a pattern is often observed: the color of the shell depends on the tinting of the feathers.

So, laying hens with white feathers are mostly carried in white, but pockmarked and golden birds are brown. To know for sure what color your hen's eggs will be, take a closer look at the earlobe. If it is white, then the eggs will have the same color. In chickens with a red ear, the color of the shell will be brown.

For each breed of chickens, certain color characteristics are inherent. So, Leghorns and Russian Whites have white plumage, and their shells are of the same color. By the way, these breeds are distinguished by the greatest egg production. That is why white-shell protein products predominate in shops and markets.

In the household, they prefer to have birds that are capable of both carrying eggs and confidently gaining weight. Such breeds are mostly brown in color, respectively, and their eggs acquire the same color. These include Dominican laying hens, Rhode Island, Orpington and other meat and egg chickens.

For some reason, people have the opinion that since domestic eggs have a brown tint, this is a sign of their naturalness. One way or another, this stereotype is based on the subconscious, and has nothing to do with common sense. But farmers are breeding new breeds that lay well and produce brown-colored eggs in order to win the favor of the buyer.

By the way, we are all used to seeing chicken products with white and brown shells on our table. And in South America there is a specific breed of hens that lays bluish-green eggs. The chickens themselves look very original: they do not have tails, but feather decorations have formed on their heads due to their mustaches and beards. The breed is called "Araucana" - in honor of the name of the tribe of Indians who bred such chickens.

In the middle of the last century, testicles from Araucan chickens gained unprecedented popularity, but why? Among Americans, an opinion has appeared that the protein product of these outlandish birds contains several times more useful substances, and the cholesterol level, on the contrary, is much lower than in ordinary eggs. However, later studies have shown that chemical composition such eggs are no different from others, and the hype has passed.

Factor 2. Environment

The intensity of the color of the shell varies from pale, creamy shades to rich reddish. What does it depend on? The color of the shell is influenced by various external factors: air temperature, stressful situations, diseases. The brownish color comes from a pigment called protoporphyrin. It is found in hemoglobin and various vitamins, and is quite common in many forms of wildlife.

The more time it takes for the fetus to pass through the oviduct, the more intensely it stains. This is because the porphyrin acts on the membrane longer. Also, the intensity of the color depends on the laying period: the first ones usually turn out darker.

Scientific studies have proven that the color pigment that affects the formation of color is located in the cells of the uterine organ of the laying hen. Therefore, the color of the shell is determined even at the initial stages of egg formation.

What affects the color of the yolk?

The color of an egg yolk sometimes excites both beginners and experienced housewives. Let's see why in one egg the yolks are pale yellow, in the other they have a bright saturated hue, and in the third there may be a poisonous orange yolk.

The color of the yolk is a consequence of the influence of pigments belonging to the group of carotenoids. Carotenoids are natural pigments that give color to plants and fruits. However, not all types of pigment affect the color of the yolk. For example, beta-carotene, which makes carrots orange, will not affect the color of the yolk. But the pigments lutein or xanthophyll are able to achieve the bright color of egg yolk.

The color of the yolk depends on the diet of the bird. If the chicken eats foods rich in yellow pigment, then the yolk will have a richer yellow or orange hue. This effect is given by corn of bright yellow varieties, grass meal. If you feed chickens with pale varieties of corn and alfalfa, then the tint of the yolk will be pale yellow. When feeding with colorless food, the yolk will also have a barely noticeable yellow tint.

This indicator is not a sign of freshness, naturalness or nutritional value of the egg product. But producers of eggs for sale try to feed hens with brightly colored food to make the product look more attractive to the buyer. Interesting fact: for some reason, the yolk contains more protein than the protein itself, so the benefits of the yolk are not measured by the shade.

Simple chemical processes explain why chicken eggs come in many different colors both inside and out. And these factors cannot be decisive when choosing a protein-rich product for your table.

Video "Myths about chicken eggs"

The video debunks several myths that relate to the chicken product.

Hens are known to lay white or brown eggs. But not many people know that chicken shells can also be blue and olive. All these colors are completely natural, and there are a large number of factors due to which they appear.

Why do chicken eggs differ in color?

All eggshells are made from the same material and are dyed using chemical substances, which either cover the shell or penetrate through it. Pigment is largely determined by genetics, so chicken breed is the main determining factor.
The brown color is a pigment that is superimposed on the membrane, it is called protoporphyrin IX, it is similar to the hemoglobin in your blood. But the hemoglobin in your blood has iron, so you get a red color, and there is no iron on the shell, so you get a brown color.

The protoporphyrin is layered on top of the calcium carbonate so that the brown color of the shell is on the outside, while on the inside it remains white.

Things are a little different with blue color. Bilirubin, produced by the spleen, is responsible for the appearance of this color. It begins its influence even at the moment of laying the egg, so it has a blue tint both outside and inside.

There are several types of chickens that carry such testicles. This happens due to the fact that once their ancestors were ill with a virus that inserts its genome into the genes of chickens. As a result, an increased production of bilirubin begins, which settles on the membrane. It has no effect on humans.

What determines the color and shade of the shell of a chicken egg

There are many factors that affect the color of the shell.

Breed

Most often, white hens lay white eggs, and brown or reddish hens lay brown eggs. But there are a few breeds of chickens that lay green or blue because of their genetic makeup.

These include the olive eggers breed, and. Pure white, without a beige tint, are carried by chickens of the Leningrad gray breed.

Did you know? Chickens that lay olive and blue eggs are called Easter chickens.

Other breeds lay eggs with shells ranging from light beige to dark brown.

Environmental impact

The color of the shell can be influenced by such factors environment:

Stress. If the chicken has been stressed, the amount of porphin released is significantly reduced and the color of the shell becomes lighter. This is a temporary phenomenon.
Temperature of air and drinking water. It has been proven that at ambient temperatures above 25 ° C, hens lay lighter eggs. It also happens if you give chickens water at a temperature of 50 ° C.
Chicken coop lighting. The production of pigment depends on the length of daylight hours. The longer it is, the lighter the eggshell.

Important! Chickens begin to lay pale eggs when planted too tightly. It is necessary to adhere to the norm of 5 heads per 1 m².

Use of medicines

For the treatment of chickens, preparations containing sulfonamides or nicarbazine are often used. These substances are able to reduce the intensity of the color of the shell. To give a more intense brown hue, spores of Bacillus subtilis are used. They are added directly to the feed.
Adrenaline can also reduce or completely depigment.

Important! When treating chickens with various drugs, one should strictly adhere to the instructions for use. In some cases, it is necessary to refuse to eat eggs for the duration of treatment.

How long a chicken stays in the sun

It has been established that with a long stay of chickens in the sun, their eggshells acquire a lighter shade. The same phenomenon occurs at high temperatures in the chicken coop.

Did you know? Studies in Australia have shown that providing water at 5°C during very hot weather allowed hens to lay eggs that retained their temperature.ë many shell colors.

If laying hens are free-ranging, provide them with cool water and place feeders in a shady area.

Physiological processes

The first egg of a hen is always much darker than the next. This is due to the fact that it is much longer in the oviduct. The older the chicken, the lighter the shell. Sometimes a whitish coating appears on the shell.

This is due to the fact that the egg lingers in the uterus, due to which an additional layer of calcium is deposited on it.

Did you know? There is a rule: chickens with white "earrings" lay white eggs, and chickens with red ones - brown.

Does the diet affect the color of the eggshell

A balanced diet is very important for the production of quality eggs. The chicken should be fed a diet that provides the full range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Since the egg shell is 90% calcium, its absence in the diet will adversely affect the appearance.
Uneven pigmentation may appear or, in extreme cases, there will be a complete absence of the shell. If there is too much calcium in the diet of chickens, the shell may have a sandy texture.

White and brown: is there a difference?

Besides appearance there is no difference between brown and white. As we found out earlier, the shell initially has White color. After staying in the oviduct for up to 26 hours, it is stained with secreted pigments.

Nutritional value and palatability are more dependent on the diet of the laying hen than on the color of the shell.

What affects the color of the yolk

The diet of the laying hen has a special influence on the color of the yolk. It is known that grass and other plants, such as, and, enhance the yellow color of the yolk.

Pigments

Pigments such as protoporphyrin IX and coprotoporphyrin III are responsible for the color of the shell, they are also responsible for the shade of the yolk. When using feeds with these pigments, the maximum yellow shade can be achieved no earlier than the 10th day.

Chemical substances

Since eggs with a richer yolk hue are considered healthier, poultry farms often add pigments. chemical origin in food For a person, such additives do not carry any harm.

What determines the size of a chicken egg

The size, as well as the color, is primarily affected by:

Breed. The larger the hen, the larger the eggs she will lay.
Chicken age. Young hens lay smaller eggs, older hens have larger ones.
Diet. If the laying hen does not eat a balanced and plentiful diet, the eggs will become smaller.
Season. In summer, chickens lay testicles that are smaller in size than in winter.

Although there are many factors that affect the color of the shell to one degree or another, it should be understood that the most important is the genetic predisposition. There is also no relationship between shell color and nutritional value.

For the consumer, the color of the eggshell should not play a decisive role in the choice of eggs. It is important for poultry farmers, since eggs with typical pigmentation for this breed are selected for further incubation. This guarantees a greater percentage of hatching and the health of the chicks.

The typical color indicates that the hen was not stressed, had a balanced diet and was not sick at the time of laying.

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What is the difference between white eggs and brown ones? What is the difference between white chicken eggs and brown eggs What is the difference between white brown eggs

What determines the color of chicken eggs

Egg yolk color

Features of brown and white eggs

Video: what is the difference between white and brown chicken eggs?

Factors affecting shell color

What determines the color of the yolk?

Prices for an ovoscope for diagnosing eggs

Popular questions about chicken eggs

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Video - Myths about chicken eggs