What gives an eggshell its color, specifically?

[ERnoleGuy]

So, I know that eggs come in all sorts of colors. I know which breeds lay which color eggs. I know that its genetics that determine the egg's color. Now, from my background in biology I also know that there has to be something in an animal's diet that allows them to produce said color. Hence why the bulk of an egg shell is white = Calcium. So what is it in a chicken diet that accounts for their specific eggs' colors?

I specifically would like to know what I can supplement in my Ameraucana's diet to allow them to day deeper shades of blue eggs. I know how to get deep orange-yellow yolks; there's got to be a way to get more color in an egg shell... right???

If you have any insight into what specifically (meaning the molecule, element, mineral, etc) that makes a blue egg blue, or a green egg green, or a brown egg brown, please reply.

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

wanting to know too!

 

[2txmedics]

the "Chicken" give it the color...

no, seriously I really dont think theres something you can add to there diet...theres another thread on this discussion...and everyone said, there is nothing you can do to change or deepen the color.
Okl I got curious also...found this...its in BYC:

I think thats about right meg.
I read how it all works a while back and won't go into the gory details, but basically chicken eggs start out white and if they have the right gene they get a little guy that paints them brown, alternately there is a separate gene that gives them a little guy that paints them blue, or if they have both genes, the brown painter gets them and then hands them off to the blue paint guy and he paints them, and finally if they don't have a gene for the brown dood, but do have the blue dood, you get blue.

Keep in mind that some brown doods use different techniques and as a result, some use more paint then others, and some may prefer a little more red in their pallet; these individual artistic preferences make for a wide variety of final pieces.

I could look up the actual process again and give all the icky details, but I think my explanation works, and frankly, makes the eggs more appealing then they might be if the actual process was explained

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[Year of the Rooster]

I doubt there's anything you can do. It's just part of the reproductive tract of the hen. I know that the color can get more vibrant/deep after a hen has gone through a molt or a broody cycle.

 

[scooter147]

It is strictly genetic, there is not a single thing you can do.

I have three and all three have a different shade of green

 

[2txmedics]

AND I FOUND THIS...YOU HAVE ME CURIOUS NOW:
Chicken eggs from various chicken breeds emerge in different shades because of pigments which are deposited as the eggs move through the hen's oviduct. The pigment depositions are determined by the chicken's genetics, with some breeds producing rich dark brown eggs, for example, while others lay snow white eggs. The eggs inside are essentially identical; there are no major flavor differences between chicken eggs from different birds, as the flavor is determined by the chicken's diet.

There are three main colors for chicken eggs. Most eggs in the store come in white or shades of brown. It is also possible to find blue to green chicken eggs, which come from the Aracuana, a breed of chicken developed in Chile. Araucanas have also been crossed with other breeds to produce the Americauna, sometimes called the “Easter egg chicken” in a reference to its multicolored eggs.

Originally, all chicken eggs were probably brown. Over time, people selectively bred chickens with progressively lighter eggs, ultimately producing white chicken eggs, which came to be the norm. Brown eggs were reintroduced to the market in the late 20th century, although people on farms were already quite familiar with the them. Some classic white egg laying breeds include Andalusians, Faverolles, Dorkings, Leghorns, and Lakenvelders. Barnevelders, Rhode Island Reds, Jersey Giants, Delawares, and Orpingtons are well known for their brown eggs, which vary in color from light cream to dark brown.

In many cases, a chicken with white ear lobes will produce white eggs, while chickens with red ear lobes lay brown eggs, although this is not always true. Size is not a determining factor, with white eggs coming from tiny Bantams just as they do from large Leghorns. The color of the chicken is also irrelevant; chickens actually come in a wide range of shapes, colors, and sizes which run the gamut from strange-looking Frizzled Cochins to sleek black and white Lakenvelders.

The color of chicken eggs should not influence your purchasing decisions at the market, as the contents of the egg are what counts. Chickens who eat free range, varied diets tend to produce healthier eggs, as their free range lifestyles allow them to consume the dietary minerals they need for their own health, and these minerals will be passed down in their eggs. You may also have noticed that farm-fresh eggs have very dark yolks, whereas chicken eggs from battery hens have much lighter yolks, indicating less nutritional value.

 

[HippieChickens]

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[ERnoleGuy]

Something I found online:

The colour of eggshells is the result of pigments being deposited during egg formation within the oviduct. The type of pigment depends upon the breed and is genetically determined.

In 1933, Professor Punnett demonstrated that the blue egg factor is a dominant gene (genetic symbol O).

All eggs are initially white, and shell colour is the result of the pigments called porphyrins being deposited while the eggs are in the process of formation. In the case of the Rhode Island Red, the brown pigment protoporphyrin, derived from haemoglobin in the blood, is what gives the shell its light brown colour.

The Araucana produces a pigment called oocyanin, which is a product of bile formation, and results in blue or bluish-green eggs. Interestingly, the colour goes right through the shell, making the eggs difficult to candle during incubation.

This factor is also an indication of the relative purity of the stock in relation to original Araucanas. The original shell colour of Araucana eggs is blue, but a variety of colours have been produced by crossing Araucanas with other breeds, as follows:

Blue X Blue = Blue
Blue X White (eg, Leghorn) = Blue
Blue X Brown (eg, RIR) = Green
Blue X Dark Brown (eg, Maran) = Olive Brown

This is a simplification, of course, and there is a considerable range of blue - green - olive hues, depending on the genetic make-up of the breeds involved, bearing in mind that many so-called Araucanas are themselves crosses.

Children are often fascinated to learn that you can rub off the eggshell colour if you get to the egg as it is laid and while it is still damp. Once dried, no amount of rubbing or washing will remove it. Some producers of brown speckled eggs prefer not to use wood shavings as a nest box liner because they smear the markings before they have a chance to set.

This is from: http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/Chicken_a/egg_shell_color/index.php. All rights reserved by that website. I take no credit for this information.

So, to answer my own question... there is absolutely nothing to supplement their diet. It all has to do with either hemoglobin (American English spelling) and/or bile.

For those without a degree in biology (I have one and sometimes even that doesn't help, lol) hemoglobin is the component of blood, consisting of iron, that is responsible for carrying oxygen in mammals & other vertebrates (some invertebrates too). If you think of the color of rust (oxidized iron) it makes complete sense to have brown eggs. Bile is produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and is responsible for aiding in the digestion of lipids (fats). Bile itself is a greenish blue. That's why vomit is often green btw. So yeah, all this makes complete sense now.

 

[ERnoleGuy]

Quote:
MAN, you beat me!

 

[2txmedics]

lol, Im a MEDIC...know all too well "hemoglobin"...and all the "yucky" as my daug. puts it that comes along with it...lol