For many backyard chicken keepers, collecting eggs in different colors is one of the great joys of raising chickens While white and brown eggs may be common, deep chocolate or reddish-brown eggs add visual interest and diversity to any egg basket.
So what chicken breeds lay the darkest brown eggs? Here’s a guide to the breeds known for their rich, dark egg colors.
Understanding Egg Color
Chicken egg color is determined by pigments secreted during egg formation. All chickens initially produce white eggshells made of calcium carbonate. In the last hours before laying, specialized cells deposit pigment on the eggshell, coloring it brown, blue, or green.
The intensity of pigment deposition affects the darkness of brown eggs Dark brown egg layers deposit more pigment than chickens laying lighter brown eggs Pigment intensity is an inherited trait 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:
You might not know that white eggs are known as the wild type, or o – this means the egg coloring is natural and non-mutated.
Jungle fowl (Ancestors of every chicken breed) lay white eggs, which is why white eggs are known as the wild type.
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?
While there isn’t a chicken breed that lays actual black eggs, the Marans breed is known for laying the darkest brown eggs, with some varieties like the Black Copper Maran laying a deep chocolate color, almost appearing black.
What kind of chicken lays purple eggs?
While no chicken breed naturally lays eggs that are a true, vibrant purple, some Black Copper Marans can lay eggs with a very dark brown color that, due to a heavy bloom, can appear purple or mauve. This “purple” appearance is a result of the bloom, a coating on the eggshell, rather than the egg’s pigmentation 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.