Egg Colour Can Be Predicted: What Hen Earlobes and Feathers Reveal
A representative of egg producer Balticovo said on the TV24 programme that egg colour is determined by the hen's breed and can be predicted from the bird's earlobe and feather colour.
Why some hens lay white eggs while others lay brown ones is a question often described as perennial. On 15 October, on the programme "Uz līnijas" on Latvian TV channel TV24, Toms Auškāps, a management board member and communication and development director at egg producer AS Balticovo, answered it. He explained whether egg colour can be predicted in advance and pointed to the bird's outward features.
Breed and pigment
According to Auškāps, egg colour depends on the hen's breed, and it is set by the pigment characteristic of that breed. The answer therefore lies in the breed itself, not in feed or housing.
What to look at
One sign that indicates the likely egg colour is the colour of the hen's earlobes. Another is the colour of its feathers. Auškāps said feathers make it very easy to tell: brown hens lay brown eggs, beige hens lay beige eggs, and white hens with white feathers lay white eggs.
What it means
Egg colour is not linked to what the hen eats. It is determined by genetics and the traits typical of the breed. By observing a hen's appearance, it is therefore possible to determine in advance what kind of eggs it will lay.
