Audrey Real free-range eggs

[Guest guest]

The color of the shells of the eggs that are laid free-range depends on what

breed the

hens are. I have about 30 hens......I have Ameracauanas, which lay the blue

or green or pinkish eggs, I have Red Sex Link and Black Sex Link that lay brown

eggs, and then I have a variety of other breeds that lay either brown or white.

If you look at a chickens " ear " lobes....that flappy area that hangs down behind

the ear and beak, it will either be red or white. If it is red, the chicken

lays brown or colored eggs.....if it is white, the hen lays white eggs. I know

a lot of people who have chickens on " farm " or small ranches, or homesteads, and

they also have chickens that lay all colors of eggs. And there are commercial

concerns that keep brown egg layers in cages along with white egg layers. They

usually charge more for the brown eggs in the grocery store.

I am getting some day old baby chicks in late May.....some are a breed called

Welsummers and some are Cuckoo Marans......these two breeds lay eggs that are

almost the color of chocolate! I can hardly wait. I am also getting some

Buff, Dark and Light Brahmas (2 of each) and 2 Silver Gray Dorkings that will be

laying cream colored eggs which are referred to as being tinted but are actually

just off-white. I am also getting more day old Ameracauanas and I hope they

all lay the same beautiful sky blue eggs I am getting now. I only have one

Ameracauana that lays a true olive greenish egg.

The " flavor " of an egg has nothing to do with the color of the shell. The

flavor comes from what the chicken eats.....grass, or greens, bugs of all sorts,

lay pellets, and grains, and fresh vegetable and fruit scraps and the amount of

actual sunshine (the Vitamin D) the chicken absorbs through her skin. Summer

eggs are usually more flavorful and have a darker yellow or orange yolk due to

more greens, more bugs and more sunshine being available. Just like homemade

Summer butter is more yellow than winter butter.....the cows have more green

grass to eat in the warmer months and the chlorophyll gives the butter a darker

hue.

Nancy C.