If you’re aiming for a colorful egg basket and a flock full of variety, you’re in the right place. Getting eggs every day can look like they came from an Easter basket if you have the right mix of breeds.
In this guide, we’ll discuss common egg colors and the breeds that lay them, along with providing insight into what causes those color differences.
Want to know which chickens lay the most eggs and in what colors? Watch the video above.
Curious about adding exotic breeds to your flock and bringing more color to your carton? Keep reading.
One of the best things about having chickens in your own yard for many people is collecting eggs of all different colors. While white and brown eggs are common, deep chocolate or reddish-brown eggs make any egg basket look more interesting.
Here is a list of the chicken breeds whose eggs are known for being very dark brown.
Understanding Egg Color
Pigments that are released when an egg is formed determine its color. All chickens initially produce white eggshells made of calcium carbonate. In the hours before laying, certain cells add color to the eggshell, making it brown, blue, or green.
How dark brown eggs are depends on how much pigment is laid down. Chickens that lay darker brown eggs lay more pigment than chickens that lay lighter brown eggs. Pigment intensity is a trait that is passed down through generations in chicken breeds.
Top Dark Brown Egg Layers
While many breeds lay brown eggs, the following are specially known for their dark chocolate to reddish-brown egg colors:
Marans
Frequency: 7
The Marans is a French heritage breed prized for its dark eggs. Marans come in several color varieties, but the Black Copper is known for laying the darkest eggs. Marans lay 150-200 medium dark brown eggs per year.
Welsummer
Frequency: 2
The Welsummer originated in Holland and lays 160-200 large terra cotta to dark speckled eggs annually. They have friendly personalities but don’t tolerate heat well.
Penedesenca
Frequency: 3
The Spanish Penedesenca comes in multiple color varieties and lays 140-160 medium to large chocolate brown eggs per year. They are active foragers that do well in hot climates.
Barnevelder
Frequency: 5
The Dutch Barnevelder lays 150-200 medium to large brown eggs yearly. The double-laced variety is most common, with distinctive black and gold feathering. Docile and calm.
Marans-Welsummer Crosses
Crossing a Marans rooster with Welsummer hens results in offspring that tend to lay very dark chocolate brown eggs. These hybrid crosses exhibit hybrid vigor in their egg production.
Other Factors Affecting Egg Color
While genetics determines the darkest brown layers, other factors can affect egg color intensity:
- Age of the hen – younger hens tend to lay darker eggs
- Time of year – early season eggs are darker
- Stress – more stressed hens lay lighter eggs
- Diet – inadequate nutrition results in lighter eggs
For consistently dark eggs, reducing stress and providing a complete layer feed is recommended.
Choosing Your Dark Egg Layers
When selecting chickens for dark brown eggs, consider your climate and the breed temperament. Active foragers like Penedesencas need space to roam, while calmer breeds like Barnevelders tolerate confinement better.
Dark brown egg layers originate from cooler climates, with the exception of the Penedesenca which thrives in hot weather. Ensure your birds have adequate shade and airflow if summers are hot in your area.
With their beautiful egg color and friendly personalities, dark brown egg laying breeds make a wonderful addition to any backyard flock. They bring diversity and visual appeal to your homestead’s egg basket.
What Chickens Lay Purple Eggs?
The only breed known to lay plum-colored eggs on a relatively consistent basis is:
The quality of the color will depend on parentage.
What Chickens Lay White Eggs?
We all know about white-colored eggs as they are the most common of all chicken egg colors. Below are some of the most common breeds that lay white eggs.
Interestingly, many breeds that lay white eggs are of Mediterranean origin:
There are non-Mediterranean breeds that also lay white eggs:
Tinted or (off-white) egg-laying chickens include:
Some people don’t know that white eggs are called “wild type,” which means that the color is natural and hasn’t been changed.
These birds, which are ancestors to all chicken breeds, lay white eggs, which is why they are called “wild type” eggs.
The white color is both inside and outside of the shell.
Chickens That Lay Dark Brown Eggs
FAQ
What chicken breeds lay the darkest eggs?
Marans come in many colors but it is the Black Copper Marans that are known to lay the darkest eggs off the Marans breed.
What breed of chicken lays black eggs?
There isn’t a breed of chicken that lays black eggs, but the Marans are known for having the darkest brown eggs. Some varieties, like the Black Copper Maran, lay eggs that are so dark chocolate that they almost look black.
What kind of chicken lays purple eggs?
Even though no chicken breed naturally lays bright purple eggs, some Black Copper Marans can do it. Their eggs are a very dark brown color that can look purple or mauve because of a heavy bloom. This “purple” look comes from the bloom, which is a coating on the eggshell, not from the color of the egg itself.
Which Marans lays the darkest eggs?
The Black Copper Marans, the most common color variation, are almost all black, with a touch of gold on their necks, and lightly feathered shanks and toes. They have a bright red single comb and red to orange eyes. This variety lays the darkest of the dark brown eggs.