White vs Brown egg layers?

[MissMonty]

I currently am a chicken newb with zero chicken experience! I will be getting chickens this spring!! So I'm trying to do some research now!



I noticed on another thread when I was lurking about someone being really concerned over some birds they aquired being brown layers because that's all she kept. Is there a big difference in health, hardiness, and laying quantity of the bird as to if they lay brown versus white (or other colors)?

 

[dekel18042]

I currently am a chicken newb with zero chicken experience! I will be getting chickens this spring!! So I'm trying to do some research now!



I noticed on another thread when I was lurking about someone being really concerned over some birds they aquired being brown layers because that's all she kept. Is there a big difference in health, hardiness, and laying quantity of the bird as to if they lay brown versus white (or other colors)?

Some people have egg colors they favor. Other people, myself included, like an egg basket with many colored eggs, but my hens need to be cold hardy. I would guess there are more differences in breeds than just the color eggs they lay. If you go to www.mypetchicken,.com they have a short quiz about what the chickens you hope to get have and using your answers from that they suggest several breeds.

 

[MissMonty]

Do they taste slightly different or is it just a breed type preference? My main goal is just cold hardy healthy chickens. As of now I'm not too concerned with color. I just saw that post from someone and it got me thinking like maybe one is easier upkeep than the other or something.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Some people have egg colors they favor. Other people, myself included, like an egg basket with many colored eggs, but my hens need to be cold hardy. I would guess there are more differences in breeds than just the color eggs they lay. If you go to www.mypetchicken,.com they have a short quiz about what the chickens you hope to get have and using your answers from that they suggest several breeds.

x2 They eggs won't taste different because of color most of the time it is breed preference. All my hens lay brown eggs but I've been itching to get some white egg layers and green/blue egg layers just for a change .

 

[dekel18042]

Do they taste slightly different or is it just a breed type preference? My main goal is just cold hardy healthy chickens. As of now I'm not too concerned with color. I just saw that post from someone and it got me thinking like maybe one is easier upkeep than the other or something.

Only the egg shell color is different, not the egg. There is more difference in chickens, for example, cold or heat hardy, heritage breed? What size and how many eggs? Dual purpose, meat and or eggs? Able to be contained or free ranged. flighty? Calm. These are all more important to me than color of egg.
A breed one person might like may not be the best choice for another.

 

[MissMonty]

Only the egg shell color is different, not the egg. There is more difference in chickens, for example, cold or heat hardy, heritage breed? What size and how many eggs? Dual purpose, meat and or eggs? Able to be contained or free ranged. flighty? Calm. These are all more important to me than color of egg.
A breed one person might like may not be the best choice for another.

Okay that's what I assumed I just was thinking maybe there was more to it! At this point I haven't even looked into breeds or anything like that. I just know I'll need something nice and hardy to handle the wild Ohio weather

I do eventually want an Easter Egger but that's just purely due to the fact that I have a 1 year old son and I know when he gets a little older I could see his surprise to find a blue egg!! Then I also have 4 other young nieces and nephews so I feel like at least one chicken that lays pretty colored eggs is important

 

[dekel18042]

Only one?

Easter eggers are my favorite breed. They are hardy in both extremes of temperature and are some of my best layers laying extra large green and blue eggs.

 

[MissMonty]

Only one?

Easter eggers are my favorite breed. They are hardy in both extremes of temperature and are some of my best layers laying extra large green and blue eggs.

More than likely I'll have more than one haha! But I will have AT LEAST one

 

[donrae]

There's no difference in the eggs.

some folks who sell eggs don't want white, cause they look like store bought. Brown eggs make folks think farm.

That said, most white egg layers are Mediterranean breeds. This means they have large combs that could be more prone to frostbite, and are often not as docile and friendly as dual purpose birds. Understand, that statement is a sweeping generalization and each bird is an individual, it doesn't mean you'd get a frostbitten bird who freaks out at every little thing. but the tendency is there.

 

[Blooie]

I love the variety in my egg basket as well. At first I thought I'd have a couple of Easter Eggers for the blue or green eggs. Well, I now have 8 of them and they are wonderful. I get everything from a greenish blue to a true, beautiful blue from them. Pea combs make them less susceptible to frostbite and they did great in our northern Wyoming winter. My Brahmas are giving me eggs that range from light brown to an almost pinkish color. But they're pullets yet so that could change. As Donrae said, there is no difference in taste, nutritional value, or anything else. Besides, Easter Eggers have cute little faces!




Pearly-girl


Mathilda (otherwise known as the Cossack because of her heavy beard and muffs)


Ken with Gladys - always the lady and the star of the Easter Egger basket with clear blue eggs.


Agatha and Gladys strutting their stuff.

Don't let egg color stuff confuse you. Eggs is eggs. Pick what breeds YOU like, which ones will do well in YOUR area, and you'll be perfectly fine!