Eggsplanation

We are often asked how our eggs get their color – so thought it would be nice to set the record straight: our white hens (Leghorns) lay white eggs, our others (Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds) lay brown eggs. When young (i.e. 18 to 24 weeks), hens produce smaller eggs; older hens produce larger eggs. While in the prime of youth – until about age one year – hens lay beautiful eggs, whiter-than-white or dark brown, and often. As they age, they produce fewer eggs and their colour changes: the white becomes creamier, and the brown lightens. The two colors remain quite distinct, but they are definitely paler versions of their original shades. Egg yolk color is straightforward to explain: the egg yolks become darker as the season progresses and our hens eat more vegetable scraps and insects. When fed only grain (during winter, for example), the yolk is much paler.