Brown speckled eggs are beautiful and unique additions to any chicken keeper’s egg basket. While any hen can occasionally lay an egg with speckles, some chicken breeds are known for consistently laying speckled eggs as part of their normal production. If you’re looking to add some speckled layers to your flock, here are the chicken breeds most likely to lay brown eggs with speckles.
What Causes Speckled Eggs?
Speckled eggs occur due to pigmentation in the outer layer of the eggshell. Darker pigments like brown, red, or black are deposited on the eggshell as it forms within the hen, creating the speckled effect.
Certain chicken breeds have been selectively bred to produce more of these pigments, leading to eggs with more defined speckling patterns. Speckles can also occur randomly in any chicken’s eggs, though not as frequently or uniformly as in breeds known for speckled eggs.
Too much calcium in a hen’s diet can also cause white or brown speckling in eggs of chickens that don’t usually lay speckled eggs However, controlled calcium intake paired with breeds prone to speckling is key for consistent speckled egg production
Breeds That Lay Brown Speckled Eggs
The most common heritage chicken breeds known for laying brown eggs with speckles are:
Welsummer
- Originated in Welsum, Netherlands
- Lay 3-5 large brown eggs per week
- Eggs are dark reddish-brown with dark speckles
- Docile, intelligent chickens that do well in most climates
Marans
- Originated in France
- Lay 3-4 medium to large brown eggs per week
- Eggs are chocolate-brown with speckles
- Comes in many color varieties like Golden Cuckoo, Black Copper, and Blue Copper
Barnevelder
- Originated in Barneveld, Holland
- Lay 3-4 medium to large brown eggs per week
- Eggs are dark brown with speckles
- Known for their eye-catching laced feather pattern
Penedesenca
- Rare Spanish breed
- Lay 3-4 medium to large brown eggs per week
- Eggs are dark chocolate-brown with speckles
- Not recognized as a standard breed in the U.S.
Benefits of Keeping Speckled Egg Layers
Here are some of the benefits of keeping chicken breeds that lay speckled eggs:
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Unique egg appearance – Speckled eggs stand out with their beautiful and intricate patterns They add diversity and interest to your egg basket,
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Rich egg flavor – The speckles come from extra pigmentation, which some believe intensifies the egg flavor. The darker shells may also prevent light degradation of riboflavin and other nutrients.
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Good egg production – Typical speckled layer breeds lay 3 or more eggs per week consistently. A flock of 6-12 hens can provide a good supply of eggs for an average family.
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Dual purpose breeds – Some speckled layers like Welsummers can be raised for both egg-laying and meat production.
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Docile temperament – Breeds prone to speckled eggs like Welsummers and Marans typically have calm, friendly personalities. They make great backyard chickens for families.
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Cold hardy – These breeds withstand cold climates well and continue laying through the winter. Their fluffy plumage also protects them from frost.
Caring for Speckled Egg Layers
Here are some tips for caring for chickens that lay speckled eggs:
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Provide a high-quality layer feed with 16-18% protein and around 3.5% calcium. This supports egg production.
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Offer crushed oyster shell or grit to aid digestion and calcium uptake.
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Allow free-range access so chickens can forage, reducing stress and boredom behaviors.
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Offer nesting boxes with bedding to encourage laying in a clean, comfortable space.
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Collect eggs frequently as the darker shells camouflage eggs, leading to accidental breakage.
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Avoid overcrowding, introduce new chickens slowly, and minimize stressors to prevent reduced egg production.
Enjoying Beautiful Speckled Eggs
Chicken breeds prone to laying brown speckled eggs add diversity and interest to any home flock. They provide a unique treat for the egg basket while also exhibiting good temperaments and production traits. With proper care and feeding, speckled egg layers will grace you with their beautiful, naturally decorated eggs for years to come.
Chickens that Lay Speckled Eggs
While there are no chicken breeds that lay speckled eggs specifically, certain breeds are more prone to eggs with this pleasing effect. Rather than it being a trait belonging to one breed, the speckling pattern actually occurs when a regular egg rotates as it moves through the hen’s oviduct.
Some of the breeds that are most likely to produce speckled eggs are the aforementioned Marans (specifically Cuckoo Marans), Barnevelder, Penedeseneca, any of the Easter Egger breeds, and Welsummers.
Chickens that Lay Dark Brown Eggs
Not to be confused with eggs of the light brown variety, the following breeds produce striking deep chocolate eggs—they could almost be mistaken for a real chocolate Easter basket treat!
In fact, the pigmentation is so intense on these eggs that in some cases it can be wiped off, almost like the eggs have been coated in marker or paint without being left to dry.
These four breeds produce some of the most stunning eggs I’ve ever seen and will make a handsome addition to any egg basket.
For large striking dark chocolate brown eggs, look no further than Barnevelder hens (also called Barnies), which lay roughly 3 to 4 eggs per week or 150 to 200 eggs per year. Partly due to the color of their eggs, this breed is unfortunately quite rare, although not impossible to find.
Barnevelder hens are quiet, friendly, and will tolerate confinement fairly well, making them a good choice for city dwellers and small spaces. There are several colors to choose from, including gold, silver, and blue double-laced feather patterns, as well as black, white, silver, and blue plumage. Barnevelder hens aren’t particularly broody but will continue to lay eggs over the winter.
Another type of chocolate eggers, Marans will lay 3 large eggs per week. While they are winter hardy, they don’t tolerate high temperatures very well.
These rare hens, which originated in France, will grow to weigh roughly 7 pounds and come in several color varieties. A winter-hardy bird Marans enjoy foraging and free-ranging and can tolerate confinement fairly well.
Their temperment is overall quiet and on the gentle side.
Penedesenca chickens are said to lay the darkest eggs out of any hen, with early eggs appearing almost black. In the United States, the eggs of Penedesenca hens are a very dark brown with a reddish tint.
Weighing in at 4.5 pounds, your mature Penedeseneca hen will lay 3 to 4 eggs per week, or 200 eggs per year.
Penedeseneca chickens originated from the Mediterranean and as a result will thrive in hot temperatures and high levels of humidity; they don’t, however, do well in cold temperatures (in general, this breed does poorly in colder climates).
These hens are excellent free-range foragers and will come close to getting all of their food requirements met through foraging.
A recent breed that originated in the Netherlands, Welsummer chickens might look familiar to you—that’s because Cornelius the Kellogg’s rooster was modeled after a Welsummer rooster!
With hens weighing in at around 6 pounds, these calm, rather noisy birds love to forage for their food. You can expect around 4 eggs per week or 160 and 250 dark terracotta-colored eggs per year from a Welsummer hen, you might even get a speckled brown egg on occasion.
The pigment on the eggs is so intense, you might even find it smudges off if you clean the egg with too much gusto.
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FAQ
Which chickens lay brown eggs with speckles?
Golden Cuckoo Marans:
Known for their dark brown eggs, the Golden Cuckoo Marans can produce eggs with speckling, making for beautiful eggs to go with their beautiful feathering. These speckled eggs add a unique touch to the Marans’ reputation for richly colored eggs.
What kind of bird lays brown speckled eggs?
Many different bird species lay brown speckled eggs. Some common examples include Northern Cardinals, American Robins, House Finches, and Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Why are my brown chicken eggs speckled?
These eggs are very normal. The speckles are extra calcium deposits, which form when the process of calcification is disturbed.
What breed of chickens lay chocolate brown eggs?
Hens that lay dark brown eggs include:
Welsummer. Barnevelder. Black Copper Marans.