Do you want to add some sweet, cotton candy pink chicken eggs to your egg basket? Do you wonder how breeders get such great pastel colors that seem impossible? If you’re looking for these rare hatching eggs or the secret breeding recipe to make pink Easter Egger eggs, you’ve found it!
Have you ever cracked open a chicken egg and found a delicate pink shell instead of the usual white or brown one? While pink eggs aren’t common, they do exist! Some chicken breeds are genetically able to lay eggs with pinkish shells, and this unique trait often draws people who keep chickens.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 chicken breeds that can lay pink eggs and discuss what causes this unusual shell color. Whether you’re an aspiring homesteader looking to start a colorful egg basket or simply curious about these unique layers, read on to learn all about pink egg-laying chickens!
What Causes Pink Eggs?
But first, what makes some eggs turn pink in the first place?
All eggshells begin as white inside the hen made mostly of calcium carbonate. Pigments called protoporphyrins are then secreted in the uterus during shell formation, adding color. The timing amount, and type of pigment determines the final shell shade.
Pink egg layers deposit protoporphyrins late in shell development. These pigments interact with the calcium carbonate to create a pale tan or cream base color.
Here’s where it gets interesting – right before the egg is laid, some hens will apply a “bloom” to the shell. This bloom contains biliverdin pigments (the same ones that cause blue and green eggs). When applied heavily over the light shell, it produces a pinkish hue.
The bloom usually gets rubbed off over time, so freshly laid pink eggs are the pinkest. Despite the unusual exterior, the inside of a pink egg looks like any other.
Now let’s look at which chicken breeds are most likely to produce pretty pink eggs for your nesting boxes.
1. Easter Egger
The Easter Egger is a mixed breed chicken that commonly lays pink eggs. Their lineage includes South American Araucana or Ameraucana breeds, which originally carried the pink egg gene.
When Easter Eggers are bred with other chickens, they often get different shell colors. They might all lay blue, green, brown, or pink eggs from the same hen.
On average, Easter Eggers produce about 200 medium to large eggs yearly and don’t tend to go broody. Their fun, colorful eggs make them popular among backyard chicken keepers.
2. Cream Legbar
Originally from Britain, the Cream Legbar holds the distinction of being one of the first autosexing chicken breeds. This means you can determine male from female chicks by their feather color.
In addition to their cool auto-sexing ability, Cream Legbars lay about 180 light blue or pinkish cream eggs per year. Their shells may display dark speckling as well.
With a friendly personality and prolific laying, it’s no wonder the Cream Legbar remains a favorite ornamental chicken breed today.
3. Araucana
Hailing from Chile, the Araucana chicken lays perhaps the most well-known colored eggs – bright blue or green with just a hint of pink.
They produce about 150-180 medium sized eggs annually. Along with their colorful eggs, Araucanas are known for their tufted cheeks, lack of tail, and pea comb.
Even though they don’t happen as often as their blue-green eggs, Araucanas can have eggs with pinkish shells. Their genes are found in many modern pink egg layers.
4. Barnevelder
The Barnevelder breed comes in a number of different colors. It was first seen in Holland. Their claim to fame is producing dark brown eggs. However, Barnevelders with lighter feathering may lay pinkish-tan eggs instead.
Typically a Barnevelder will lay around 180-200 medium brown eggs per year. They have a calm, docile temperament that makes them great for beginner chicken keepers.
5. Marans
Marans hail from France and are well known for their super dark chocolate brown eggs. But did you know they can also lay pink eggs?
The chocolate brown gene is actually recessive in Marans, so birds lacking it will lay lighter eggs ranging from light brown to pink. Their yearly output is around 200 eggs.
Marans are calm, gentle birds that are also valued for their meat. Overall a versatile homestead chicken breed.
6. Welsummer
The Welsummer breed originated in the Netherlands and was imported to North America in the 1920s.
These chickens typically lay about 160-200 eggs per year with dark terracotta brown shells. But thanks to their Rhode Island Red heritage, some Welsummers do carry the pink egg gene.
In addition to occasional pink eggs, Welsummers are hardy birds adapted to cold weather. Their stunning black and red plumage also makes them a stand-out ornamental breed.
7. Buff Orpington
Buff Orpingtons are a beloved backyard chicken breed, valued for their calm temperament, broodiness, and productive egg laying.
The typical Buff Orp lays around 200 large brown eggs annually. However, their eggs can range in color from dark chocolate brown to light tan with a pink bloom.
The pink gene likely comes from their Plymouth Rock ancestry. If you adore their fluffy buff-colored feathers, a Buff Orpington could be your ticket to pretty pink eggs!
8. Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock breed dates back over a hundred years to New England. They come in several color varieties, but are best known for their barred black and white plumage.
These chickens are considered dual-purpose, meaning they produce both meat and eggs. Hens lay 4-5 medium brown eggs each week, totaling 200-280 per year.
While mainly brown layers, Plymouth Rocks also occasionally produce light pink or tan eggs thanks to slight variations in their protoporphyrin genes.
9. Salmon Faverolle
Imported from France, the Salmon Faverolle is named for its unique honey-salmon colored plumage. They also sport adorable muffs and beards that give them an owl-like appearance.
In addition to their charming looks, Salmon Faverolles lay about 180-200 light brown to pinkish eggs yearly. Their egg color can vary from hen to hen.
Salmon Faverolles have a docile nature, but their fluffy feathers do mean they’re not ideal for very hot climates. Overall a great ornamental breed.
10. Ameraucana
With their pea combs and fluffy bearded cheeks, Ameraucanas are certainly a charming chicken breed. They originate from the same South American stock as Araucanas.
Ameraucanas come in several color varieties and are best known for their blue eggs. However, they also frequently lay green, olive, or pinkish eggs too.
On average, an Ameraucana will produce about 200 medium blue or green eggs per year. Definitely a fun and productive colored egg layer!
11. Dongxiang
The Dongxiang is a very rare, endangered breed from China. Their claim to fame is laying chocolate colored eggs, but they do sometimes produce pinkish eggs too.
Sadly, Dongxiang numbers are extremely limited, with only about 500 breeding hens left worldwide. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this unusual chicken and their dark brown eggs.
12. Sussex
The Sussex breed hails from England and played an integral role in Britain’s poultry industry. Sussex come in eight color varieties, but the Light Sussex is most noted for possible pink egg laying.
Light Sussex hens produce 4-5 large light brown or pinkish eggs weekly, averaging around 200-250 eggs annually. They are calm birds that make great pets as well as layers.
Final Thoughts
While pink chicken eggs are still relatively uncommon, certain breeds like Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, and Marans are most likely to produce them thanks to genetic traits passed down over the years.
There’s no 100% guarantee a chicken will lay pink eggs regularly. Even hens predisposed to pink shells will have natural variations in bloom strength and coloring. But chickens from this list will have your best shot at finding a pink surprise in the nesting box!
Raising chickens that lay colorful eggs like pink, blue, or green is an enjoyable and rewarding experience for many poultry keepers. Not only do they brighten up your egg basket, they give you a special connection to the origins and genetics of historic chicken breeds.
If you choose to raise any of these pink producing breeds, be sure to post photos of your most vibrantly colored eggs! There’s nothing prettier than a basket full of rainbow eggs.
Mothers Can Pass On Heavy Bloom Genes
For those who are lucky, heavy bloom genes can be passed from mother to daughter. This means that if you breed hens to lay heavy bloom eggs, some of her chicks will likely also lay heavy bloom eggs. You don’t have to worry about finding a “pink egger” rooster (who will never lay eggs, so you can’t check his genes!) which makes the project a little easier.
If you can find a breeder selling heavy bloom hatching eggs that appear pinkish, be sure to keep the males who hatch! Since you know these roos hatched from a heavy bloomed egg, you increase your chances of success by crossing them with their hatchmate sisters to have a higher likelihood of producing heavy bloom laying offspring. The easiest way to try to add this color of egg to your rainbow basket is to buy heavy bloom hatching eggs from a breeder!
It’s An Optical Illusion!
Before you attempt to purchase hatching eggs or breed for Pink Easter Eggers, you need to know the truth: pink eggs are an optical illusion. There is NO pink pigment being deposited on the shell. What you’re seeing is a whitish colored heavy bloom being applied over a brown egg that gives the illusion of a pink colored egg. A heavy bloom Pink Egger egg will appear pinkish toned in real life to the naked eye. But in reality it’s a chalky white heavy bloom over a brown egg that is creating a pastel effect our eyes interpret as being a blush shade. Do the eggs look pink? Yes! Is there any pink shell coloring? No. If you get the egg wet, it is a shade of plain brown underneath. F1 and F2 Heavy bloom eggs that appear pink with water drops revealing the brown shell color underneath. A very special thank you to
New for 2025: Farmhouse of Blessings is now offering Blush & Dusty Rose heavy bloom hatching eggs and chicks. (Please read the note on her web page: “While our 2nd and 3rd generations are very consistent and the color and bloom is carrying over 75%+ to their daughters, it’s still not guaranteed from this project breed.”)
11 Chickens That Lay Colored Eggs! [Olive, Blue, and Pink Hen Eggs?!]
FAQ
What chicken lays a pink egg?
Chicken Breeds that Lay Pink Eggs: Conclusion Now that you know what chickens lay pink eggs, consider adding one of these seven pink egg layers — Speckled Sussex, Java, Salmon Faverolles, Australorp, Silkie, Orpington or Easter Egger — to add color to your egg basket.
What is the rarest color chicken egg?
The Moss Egger is one of the most sought-after breeds of chicken for its beautiful feathers and dark green eggs.
Is there a chicken that lays purple eggs?
While there isn’t a chicken breed that lays eggs that are naturally purple, some chickens lay dark brown eggs with a heavy bloom, which can give the appearance of a purple or pinkish hue. This “purple” color is actually a result of the bloom, a protective coating on the egg, interacting with the dark brown pigment.
Do salmon faverolles lay pink eggs?
Salmon Faverolles are great layers of medium-sized, light brown to pinkish eggs. You can expect: 4 to 5 eggs per week (about 180–240 eggs per year).
What color eggs do chickens lay?
Chickens who lay olive, blue, or dark brown eggs bred with one who lays cream-colored eggs may produce a pink egg layer or at least an egg that resembles pink. Those who lay cream-colored eggs may also have a genetic variation to tint their eggs pink. Want some green egg layers? It’s fun to get a bunch of different colored eggs!.
What chickens lay pink eggs?
In this article, we’ll look at 12 different chickens that lay pink or pinkish eggs. These include Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and Silkies, amongst other fowls. Let’s get started! 1. Asil The Asil, also known as Aseel or Azeel, is a fowl breed that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
What do pink chicken eggs look like?
Pink chicken eggs come in a variety of hues, such as salmon, baby pink, sand, and seashell. Typically, pink eggs often come from the bloom that chickens lay; some lay heavier blooms than other hens. It’s quite an individual thing! You won’t find a chicken that lays a magnetic egg or something that looks like it belongs in a Barbie set.
Why do chickens lay pink eggs?
The pinkish hue seen in some eggs is usually due to the bloom or cuticle, a protective layer that coats the eggshell. The pigment that tints pink eggs leaves a pale brown or cream-pink color. You now know how chickens can lay pink eggs. Let’s look at the different breeds that do this.
Do speckled Sussex hens lay pink eggs?
Speckled Sussex One of the most common brown egg-layers kept in backyard flocks, the Speckled Sussex is a well-loved breed. However, while the breed is known for its brown eggs, it may be surprising that this popular chicken can also lay pink eggs. This breed’s hens are curious and friendly, thriving on human interactions.
Where do pink egg chickens come from?
Pink egg chickens come from all over the world and not one particular area, with breeds originating in countries such as France, England, the United States, and China.