Differences in Egg Color; Inside and Out

Egg shells can be different colors. It all depends on the breed of the chicken that laid them. At the grocery store, you are used to seeing all white eggs or all brown eggs, but farm fresh eggs can be different shades of brown, green, and white. Sometimes the bloom on the outside of the egg will also make it appear different shades, such as pink. And all of them are normal and safe to eat!

Chickens also lay different size eggs. From massive eggs with double yolks, to super tiny eggs, affectionately called fairy eggs.

Egg shells can also have a variety of different appearances. Sometimes they shell can look wavy, or have bumps, or be a little soft, or not be egg shaped. All of these can be normal, they can also be signs that the chicken may need an adjustment to the calcium levels they receive, though that doesn't affect the taste or safety of eating the egg.

With all the variety of the egg shells color, shape, and feel, it should come to no surprise to you that the inside may differ in color as well. As you can see in the chart here, the differences in yolk and egg white color are all due to chicken diet differences. The healthier the diet, the richer the color.

So to make this post short and sweet, don't be scared to eat eggs that are different than grocery store eggs. Grocery store eggs are the bottom of the barrel standard to compare a farm fresh egg to. If you are ever in doubt do the float test. Put the egg in a glass full of water. If they egg lays horizontal at the bottom of the glass, its fresh. If it sits upright at the bottom of the glass, it may be up to a few weeks old but still safe to eat. If it floats, throw it out.