Have you ever wondered why the inside of egg shells vary in color? In a previous post, we discussed the variation in egg shell color but that only focused on the outside part of the egg shell. When we explore the inside, there are variations there are as well.
The shell of an egg takes roughly 20 hours to be complete. Americauna chickens have the pigment oocyanin deposited on the egg through the majority of the process. This pigment permeates the egg shell, resulting in both the inside and outside being the same blue color. Chickens that lay brown tinted eggs deposit the pigment protoporphyrin on the eggs late in the process of forming the shell. The pigment therefore doesn't penetrate the interior of the egg, but tints only the surface. This is why brown eggs are white on the interior.
In the case of the first egg pictured below (belonging to Spicy Mildred) there is a light brown pigment deposit that seems to permeate somewhat into the interior of the shell making it less bright white.
Take a look at the inside of your egg next time you crack one open and see what you notice.
The shell of an egg takes roughly 20 hours to be complete. Americauna chickens have the pigment oocyanin deposited on the egg through the majority of the process. This pigment permeates the egg shell, resulting in both the inside and outside being the same blue color. Chickens that lay brown tinted eggs deposit the pigment protoporphyrin on the eggs late in the process of forming the shell. The pigment therefore doesn't penetrate the interior of the egg, but tints only the surface. This is why brown eggs are white on the interior.
In the case of the first egg pictured below (belonging to Spicy Mildred) there is a light brown pigment deposit that seems to permeate somewhat into the interior of the shell making it less bright white.
Take a look at the inside of your egg next time you crack one open and see what you notice.
