Why are most commercial eggs white?

[Krys109uk]

The same simple economics that gave rise to their predominance will keep them in play. Leghorn breeds simply are more efficient at feed conversion on a commercial scale, giving little reason to develop a brown egg Leghorn.

I doubt they use 'leghorns' or any other pure beed these days.....the commercial hybrids are far more profitable.

 

[SewingDiva]

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I think this is more just a regional thing in New England too. Folks here have always prefered brown eggs for some reason. I've lived all over the US and only in NE have I seen brown supermarket eggs as the standard.

Phyllis

 

[Bluemoon420]

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I think this is more just a regional thing in New England too. Folks here have always prefered brown eggs for some reason. I've lived all over the US and only in NE have I seen brown supermarket eggs as the standard.

Phyllis

Me too. First time we saw white eggs was in Indiana visiting family.

 

[Davaroo]

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I stepped into that one... I gotta watch myself. People here are sharp.

Todays commercial layer is far removed form pure breed Leghorns, you are correct. They are based on the Leghorn breed, however, being a hybrid of them. There are breeders who specialize in them exclusively, selling the birds to the commercial trade.

All very fascinating, to be honest.

 

[new-roo]

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As far as I know, feed has NOTHING to do with egg color. It all depends on the hen, its part of the reproductive tract. IMO that doesn't make sense... If the feed ratio had to do with egg coloring, then you would need alot of feed for the dark egg layers like Marans and Welsummers. And how would you explain the blue/green egg layers??? Its all genetics and individuality.

The reason store eggs are white is because the most common battery hens are Leghorns which lay large white eggs. They are small birds that do not eat much and lay alot.

My point was they went with the hen that ate the least and gave most eggs, and that hens egg color was White, If amount of feed had anything to do with color of eggs my little pigs would be laying black eggs, and putting all the Marans to shame, instead the eat lots of food and give a brown egg.

I may be NEW, but I knew color is genetic. Next question where does BROWN(chocolate) milk come from? Brown cows

 

[apukanski]

My FIL thinks brown eggs are more nutricious and better for you than white. It has been proven one is no better than the other. The color doesn't matter to me. I like dippy eggs.

 

[Davaroo]

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Most people do think this. Or at least they wonder about it.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

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As far as I know, feed has NOTHING to do with egg color. It all depends on the hen, its part of the reproductive tract. IMO that doesn't make sense... If the feed ratio had to do with egg coloring, then you would need alot of feed for the dark egg layers like Marans and Welsummers. And how would you explain the blue/green egg layers??? Its all genetics and individuality.

The reason store eggs are white is because the most common battery hens are Leghorns which lay large white eggs. They are small birds that do not eat much and lay alot.

My point was they went with the hen that ate the least and gave most eggs, and that hens egg color was White, If amount of feed had anything to do with color of eggs my little pigs would be laying black eggs, and putting all the Marans to shame, instead the eat lots of food and give a brown egg.

I may be NEW, but I knew color is genetic. Next question where does BROWN(chocolate) milk come from? Brown cows

That's why they call it "Chocolate" Milk

 

[new-roo]

Quote:
My point was they went with the hen that ate the least and gave most eggs, and that hens egg color was White, If amount of feed had anything to do with color of eggs my little pigs would be laying black eggs, and putting all the Marans to shame, instead the eat lots of food and give a brown egg.

I may be NEW, but I knew color is genetic. Next question where does BROWN(chocolate) milk come from? Brown cows

That's why they call it "Chocolate" Milk

Thank you, one more question, does skim milk come from skinny cows?

 

[laurenlulu]

My MIL asked me- in all seriousness- if brown eggs all came from brown hens, and white eggs from white hens... she read it in our local paper

But when my DH was telling her about how I'd have to get rid of all the chicks that turned out to be roosters, she asked "why would the eggs from roosters be any different than regular eggs?"

really.