Why are eggs different colors?

Have you ever wondered why chicken eggs can be different colors? While most eggs are white or brown, they also come in colors like cream, pink, blue and green. In addition — and this is no “yolk” — some are even speckled.

According to a

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

poultry specialist, many factors can impact a hen’s egg-making process.

Let’s shell out some information about the egg-straordinary world of egg colors.

Chicken earlobes help predict egg color

Egg color is mostly determined by genetics. If you’re looking for a hint, a good way to guess what color eggs a hen will lay is to look at her earlobes.

“Generally, hens with white earlobes will produce white eggs,” said

Gregory Archer, Ph.D.

, AgriLife Extension specialist in the

Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life