Different chicken breeds lay different types of eggs in terms of size and color. However, you could have come across purple eggs and wondered whether your backyard chickens lay such eggs. Most breeds lay medium-sized brown eggs.
So what chickens lay purple eggs?
Sadly, no known chicken breed lays purple eggs. If your hen’s eggs look purple, you can blame that on the bloom, which is a protective layer on the outside of the egg.
It helps to prevent bacteria from entering the eggshell. Besides, it helps to keep the egg fresh.
This article will discuss some of the chicken breeds that lay colored eggs and everything you need to know about colored eggs. Keep reading to learn more.
Types Of Chicken That Lay Colored Eggs
As a chicken keeper, there is nothing you will like more than the sight of a beautiful array of eggs in your nest boxes. Here are a few breeds of chicken that lay colored eggs.
Araucanas
The Araucanas are named after the Araucana region of Chile, where they supposedly evolved. They lay gorgeous blue eggs and are prized for reasons besides their lovely eggs.
These birds have an attractive and beautiful appearance, and anyone will find it interesting to look at them. They have tufts of feathers that lie tight and close to the ears.
This pretty chicken breed is often confused with Easter Eggers and Americans. Although they look similar, you should only consider the Araucanas if you do not want to be disappointed by the results. They are prolific layers and can lay up to 200 eggs in a year.
Ameraucanas
The Ameraucanas are a descendant of Araucanas. They are bred as a combination of the Araucanas and another chicken breed to eliminate the gene that kills unhatched eggs. This chicken breed can be a great addition to your flock.
Like the Araucanas, they, too, lay blue eggs. They have a unique appearance with close muffs and tufts of feathers. In addition, they have a pea comb and may even have a beard.
The Ameraucanas are prolific layers and can lay about 200 blue every year. The eggs may sometimes appear green.
Easter Eggers
If you are a big fan of colorful chicken eggs, then the Easter Eggers are a great option that you can consider raising in your backyard.
They are prolific layers that will ensure that you have a constant supply of eggs throughout the year.
They can lay up to 270 eggs of different colors in a year. Most of them tend to lay blue eggs, while others may lay eggs of different colors.
Each Easter Egger hen can only lay one color of eggs. However, if you have several hens in your flock, you will more likely get eggs of different colors.
If you want a monochromatic egg basket, you should consider keeping one of these other breeds. The Easter Egger is a hybrid and does not have standard genes. They can also lay pink and green eggs.
Light Sussex
The Light Sussex is an adorable chicken breed that is mostly considered the quintessential backyard chicken breed.
They are among the best chicken breeds that you can add to your flock if you are looking for birds that are fun to have around. They are quite docile and alert most of the time.
In addition, the Light Sussex are known for their good foraging abilities. You can allow them to roam around your garden in search of food.
These adorable birds are prolific layers and can lay up to 270 eggs in a year. They usually lay gorgeous pink eggs that anyone will like.
Marans
Most backyard chicken keepers keep Maran chickens among the most popular chicken breeds. They are a traditionally dual-purpose chicken breed mostly raised for eggs. Generally, they lay medium-sized eggs that are chocolate brown in color.
If they are well taken care of by being offered adequate food and proper treatment, the Marans can produce decent eggs.
They can lay about 250 eggs in a year. They are unique chickens, among other colorful egg producers. Young Marans tend to lay darker eggs as compared to the older ones.
Welsummers
Many chicken breeders and keepers consider the Welsummers as one of the most intelligent and docile backyard chicken breeds.
These chickens are friendly and love to cuddle with their handlers. They are also friendly to children. Not only do they have a friendly and docile personality, but they are also prolific layers.
If you have been looking for a chicken breed that can give you a steady supply of colorful eggs, then they are among the best options you can consider.
They lay chocolate-brown eggs that have an appealing appearance. The Wellsumers can lay more than 250 eggs in a year provided that they are well-taken care of.
You will have to ensure that they are fed on a balanced diet that should include calcium and water. Calcium will aid in the formation of the eggshell.
What is more interesting about the coloration of the Welsummers eggs is that they are deep chocolate brown in color, but they also have speckles. This gives their eggs a lovely mottled appearance that anyone will enjoy seeing.
Barnevelders
Barnevelders originated from the Barneveld area of Holland. It is one of the best breeds to consider if you want a chicken breed that will give you a steady flow of fresh and colorful eggs.
The breed was developed over 200 years ago after crossbreeding Cochins and Brahmas with a chicken breed imported from Asia.
They have double-faced feathering that can be green-tinged and blue, buff and white, or black and white. This gorgeous bird has several auto-sexing varieties such as Partridge, Blue, Barred, Brown, Dark, and Silver.
The Barnevelders are mostly prized for their adorable eggs. They usually lay eggs that are rich chocolate brown.
How Are Chicken Egg Colors Produced?
It usually takes some time for a hen to be mature enough and start laying eggs. However, it normally tasks about 26 hours for an egg to be formed inside the reproductive system of a chicken.
This is the reason why most chicken breeds lay eggs a few times a week instead of laying eggs every day.
The formation of the eggshell takes about 20 hours, while the pigmentations of an will take about five more hours.
However, some breeds of chickens have pigments that can make their eggs turn brown, green, blue or various shades between these colors.
Most chicken eggs are only colored on the outer shell. Blue chicken eggs are a result of the ocean gene, which is a mutation caused by a retrovirus.
Why Are My Eggs Purple?
As mentioned earlier, there is no breed of chicken that can lay truly purple eggs. Therefore, you can only blame the bloom if you find a purple egg in your chicken nest.
The bloom is a protective layer on the outer part of the egg that helps in preventing bacteria from entering the eggshell. Besides, it helps the egg stay fresh throughout.
For instance, if you have brown eggs, you may notice a purplish tinge on them after it has been laid. This is something that can be easily washed off.
However, you should not do this if you plan to incubate or hatch your eggs. You will need the bloom so that the chick remains healthy.
Can Chicken Eggs Change Color Over Time?
Generally, chicken eggs will maintain their color over time. However, you may notice a slight decrease in the eggshell pigmentation.
Therefore, while it might be a lighter shade of blue or green than it used to be, the egg will still be blue or green.
Changes in the egg color are mostly related to poor diet, stress, and age. If your hen has been exposed to hot weather or even threats by predators, she may have a slightly lighter eggshell.
Stress in chickens can be challenging and hard to stop. However, you can reduce it by ensuring that your chicken has a safe shelter and plenty of nutritious feed.
Improving The Quality Of Your Eggs
As mentioned earlier, there is nothing you can do to influence the color of eggs that your chicken lays.
However, you can improve the intensity of the colors as well as the overall egg production. You can achieve this by paying more attention to the standard of care you offer your birds.
The nutritional requirement of your birds will depend on several things, such as their age and whether they are laying eggs, broody, molting, or in any other stage of their life.
Just ensure that your chicken feed has plenty of protein as well as calcium that will aid in the formation of a strong eggshell.
Conclusion
If you have been asking yourself the type of chickens that lay purple eggs, then you are already answered. No known chicken breed lays purple eggs. However, several breeds lay eggs of different colors.
