The chicken and the egg... But what about the eggshell?

Chickens lay eggs, that goes without saying. But the production of these eggs in a chicken's body is not so self-evident. For example, a chicken needs sufficient water to be able to produce eggs. Keep in mind that an egg mainly consists of liquid.

In addition to water, a chicken also needs sufficient calcium. Because without calcium a chicken will lay eggs with a very fragile shells, or even wind eggs. These are eggs without shells. Chickens find calcium for example in oyster shells. Do you want to play it safe? Always provide a tray with grit in combination with the food. If chickens need some extra calcium, they will most definitely pick up some grit.

As you know, chicken eggs come in different colours. Eggs with white and brown shells are the most common. But did you know that there are dark red and even teal-coloured eggs? But what exactly determines the colour of the eggshell? 

The chicken's breed determines the colour of the eggshell. But how do you predict what colour of eggs your chicken will lay? Quite simple! The colour of the earlobes will in most cases be an indication of the colour of the eggshell. For example, Araucana chickens and Silkies have blue earlobes. 

Some specific examples:

• Leghorn with white eggshells
• Isa Brown with brown eggshells
• Silkie with blue eggshells
• Araucana with blue eggshells
• Marans with dark red eggshells

By the way, did you know that chicken breeders do not only participate in shows with their animals? At small animal exhibitions there is often also an egg inspection. Here, eggs are assessed on the basis of the eggshell, but also on the basis of the egg white and egg yolk.