Have you ever stumbled across a photo of a gorgeous purple egg and wondered, “What chicken lays a purple egg?” I certainly have! As someone who’s spent years raising backyard chickens, I can tell you that the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
The truth? No chicken actually lays a genuine purple egg. But before you click away disappointed, let me explain why those purple eggs you’ve seen online aren’t exactly a myth either!
The Purple Egg Mystery Explained
Those beautiful lavender and purple-tinted eggs you’ve spotted on social media aren’t photoshopped, but they aren’t truly purple either. What’s happening is actually a fascinating biological phenomenon involving something called “bloom.”
What is a Bloom?
Every freshly laid chicken egg has a protective coating called a bloom or cuticle. This natural covering:
- Seals the approximately 7,000 tiny pores in the eggshell
- Prevents bacteria from entering the egg
- Helps keep eggs fresh longer without refrigeration
- Is made of egg proteins, glycoproteins, lipids, and calcium carbonate
When viewed under a microscope, the bloom looks like tiny crystals that form an invisible shield. This is why unwashed eggs can safely sit on your counter for about a month, while washed eggs (with the bloom removed) need refrigeration.
Why Some Eggs Appear Purple
Some brown eggs can have a bloom with a purplish or plum-colored tint. This special coloration is what creates the illusion of a purple egg. The purple color isn’t in the shell itself—it’s in the protective coating!
If you were to wash these seemingly purple eggs, the lavender hue would disappear, revealing the actual brown eggshell underneath.
Breeds That Can Lay “Purple-Looking” Eggs
While no chickens lay true purple eggs, several breeds are known to occasionally produce eggs with a lavender or plum-colored bloom:
1. English Croad Langshans
These sweet birds lay large cream to brown eggs that sometimes have a thick bloom with a plum-purple tint. They’re probably the most consistent “purple” egg layers among chicken breeds.
2. Copper Marans
Marans lay some of the darkest brown eggs of any chicken breed Some Copper Marans can develop a purplish bloom on their already dark chocolate eggs, creating a striking purple appearance
3. Olive Eggers
These hybrid chickens are crosses between blue egg layers and dark brown egg layers. Their olive-colored eggs sometimes develop a bloom that enhances the egg’s appearance with purple undertones.
4. Favorelles
While they typically lay light brown eggs, Favorelles sometimes produce eggs with a delicate pink tint in the bloom that can look purple in certain lighting.
5. Ameraucanas
Known for their blue eggs, Ameraucanas can occasionally lay eggs that appear slightly lavender, especially in certain lighting conditions.
6. Cream Legbars
Usually producing pale blue eggs, these eggs can sometimes take on a lavender-gray appearance that some chicken keepers find particularly beautiful.
7. Easter Eggers
These mixed-breed chickens lay eggs in various colors and can occasionally surprise you with eggs that have purple-ish tints due to their bloom.
The Science Behind Egg Color
The actual color of an eggshell comes from pigments deposited during shell formation:
- White eggs: No pigment (breeds like Leghorns)
- Brown eggs: Protoporphyrin pigment (Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks)
- Blue/green eggs: Biliverdin pigment (Ameraucanas, Araucanas)
- “Purple” eggs: Brown eggs with a special bloom that creates a purple optical effect
According to scientific research, blue-shelled chickens had about 8.25 nmol/g of biliverdin in their shell gland, while brown-shelled chickens had only about 1.29 units. This significant difference is what creates the distinctive colors.
Factors That Influence Egg Color
Several factors can affect how “purple” or vivid the bloom appears:
Genetics
- Egg color is primarily determined by chicken genetics
- The combination of genes from both parents affects color intensity
- Some hens naturally produce thicker blooms than others
Diet and Environment
- Nutrition can slightly affect egg appearance
- Stress or illness can lead to paler eggs with thinner shells
- Younger hens typically produce eggs with thicker blooms
Age of the Hen
As chickens age, their blooms often become thinner, which means the purple effect may be stronger in younger laying hens.
Common Myths About Purple Eggs
Let’s clear up some misconceptions:
Myth 1: Certain breeds always lay purple eggs.
Truth: No chicken lays genuinely purple eggs, only brown eggs with a purplish bloom.
Myth 2: Purple eggs have special nutritional properties.
Truth: The bloom’s color doesn’t affect the egg’s nutritional content. All chicken eggs have similar nutritional value regardless of shell color.
Myth 3: You can tell if a chicken will lay purple-tinted eggs by its appearance.
Truth: Even within breeds known for occasional purple blooms, individual hens vary greatly.
My Personal Experience with “Purple” Eggs
I once had a Rhode Island Red hen who occasionally surprised me with eggs that had a light lavender tint. This wasn’t consistent—most of her eggs were the typical brown you’d expect from this breed. But every now and then, when conditions were just right, she’d produce an egg with a thicker bloom that gave it a distinctive purple hue in bright light.
The first time I spotted one, I rushed to social media to share my “purple egg” discovery! It wasn’t until later that I learned about the bloom effect and why these eggs appeared purple.
Creating Your Own Colorful Egg Basket
If you’re interested in collecting eggs in various colors, including possible purple-tinted ones, consider these strategies:
- Select breeds known for thick blooms – Copper Marans and English Croad Langshans are good options
- Keep your nesting boxes clean – This helps ensure the bloom remains pristine
- Don’t wash eggs right away – Leave the bloom intact to preserve any purple coloration
- Selectively breed for purple bloom – If you have a hen that occasionally lays eggs with a purple bloom, consider breeding her with a rooster from a dark egg breed
Interesting Egg Facts
- Unwashed eggs with their bloom intact can be stored at room temperature for about a month
- Refrigerated unwashed eggs can last up to six months
- The bloom takes a few minutes to dry after the egg is laid
- Heavy blooms (including purple ones) are inherited, so chicks from hens with purple blooms are more likely to lay similar eggs
Final Thoughts on Purple Eggs
While true purple eggs remain a myth, the natural beauty of eggs with purple-tinted blooms is something special to behold. The variation in egg colors is one of the many joys of raising backyard chickens.
If you’re determined to have purple eggs in your collection, your best bet is to add Copper Marans or English Croad Langshans to your flock. Even if they don’t consistently produce purple-bloomed eggs, you’ll still enjoy beautiful dark brown or cream-colored eggs that add variety to your egg basket.
And who knows? With selective breeding efforts currently underway by dedicated chicken enthusiasts, we might someday see chickens that consistently produce eggs with rich purple blooms!
FAQs About Purple Eggs
Q: What is the rarest color of chicken egg?
A: True blue eggs are generally considered the rarest, laid by breeds like Araucanas and Ameraucanas.
Q: Are there any chickens that lay pink eggs?
A: Easter Eggers can sometimes lay eggs with pink tints, though they’re not a consistent bright pink.
Q: Do egg colors affect taste?
A: No, egg color doesn’t affect taste. As long as chickens are fed the same diet, eggs of different colors taste the same.
Q: Can I breed chickens to lay purple eggs?
A: You can selectively breed for chickens that produce thicker purple blooms, but the eggshell itself won’t be purple.
Q: How do I preserve the purple bloom on eggs?
A: Don’t wash the eggs until you’re ready to use them, and handle them gently to avoid rubbing off the bloom.
Have you ever found a purplish egg in your nesting box? I’d love to hear about your experiences with colorful eggs from your backyard flock!
How Are Chicken Egg Colors Formed?
Chicken egg color is typically formed as a result of calcium. If your hens lay colored eggs, look at the inside of the shells to see the importance of calcium:
- White eggs will be white all the way through.
- Brown eggshells will be white on the inside.
- Blue eggshells are blue all the way through.
- Green eggshells will be blue on the inside and green on the outside.
What Chickens Lay Pink Eggs?
Many breeds can lay eggs that appear pinkish in color, but this is largely a perception. Some will see a pale colored egg, while others will see a pale pink egg.
Some breeds that can lay pinkish colored eggs include:
- Buff Orpingtons
- Easter Egger
- Olive Egger
- Plymouth Rock
- Silkies