Ever seen a pink egg and wondered what magical chicken could possibly lay such a pretty treasure? You’re not alone! Pink eggs aren’t just a fantasy or some clever Easter decoration trick – they’re the real deal, laid by specific chicken breeds right in backyard coops across America.
I’ve been raising chickens for years now, and let me tell you, there’s something extra special about collecting those pastel pink beauties from the nesting box. My kids literally fight over who gets to find the pink eggs each morning!
In this article I’ll share everything you need to know about pink egg-laying chickens, including which breeds are most likely to give you those rosy-hued eggs and what actually causes eggs to turn pink in the first place.
What Makes Chicken Eggs Pink?
Before diving into specific breeds. let’s understand what actually creates pink eggs
-
Bloom Factor Pink eggs are believed to result from what’s called a “bloom” that’s naturally applied over a light tan egg during formation This bloom is a protective coating that seals the egg
-
Pigmentation Process: As the white shell forms inside the hen, pigmentation is secreted from cells in the hen’s uterus. These biological pigments (protoporphyrins) create the pink tint.
-
Not Truly Pink: What we call “pink eggs” may actually be more of a pinkish-cream color or pale brown. Some chicken owners report that their pink eggs will turn brown when washed but return to pink as they dry!
-
Individual Variation: Even within breeds known for pink eggs, not every hen will lay them. It ultimately boils down to the individual chicken’s genetics.
Top 12 Chicken Breeds That Lay Pink Eggs
Now for the fun part! Here are the 12 best chicken breeds that might grace your egg basket with pink eggs:
1. Silkies
Egg Production: 100-120 small eggs per year
Egg Color: Cream, white, and pink-tinted
Temperament: Friendly, silly, chatty, and prone to going broody
Notable Features: Fluffy plumage, black skin, and sweet dispositions
Silkies are probably your best bet if you’re serious about getting pink eggs. Their quirky personalities will bring endless entertainment to your flock too! While they don’t lay as many eggs as some other breeds, the pink ones they do produce make up for quantity with their unique beauty.
2. Easter Eggers
Egg Production: 180-280 eggs per year
Egg Color: Blue, green, cream, and occasionally pink
Temperament: Friendly, hardy, loving, and assertive
Notable Features: Often have poofy cheeks and beards
Easter Eggers are the definition of variety when it comes to egg colors! While they’re more known for their blue and green eggs, some Easter Eggers can surprise you with light pink eggs. They’re an easy addition to any flock because of their great temperament and colorful contributions to your egg basket.
3. Plymouth Rock (including Barred Rock)
Egg Production: 200-280 eggs per year
Egg Color: Brown, occasionally with pinkish tint
Temperament: Calm, friendly, mellow, and adaptable
Notable Features: Distinctive barred pattern (in Barred Rocks)
Plymouth Rocks are a staple in American backyard flocks. While I’ve never seen mine lay a fully pink egg, their brown eggs can occasionally have a faint pinkish tint. This happens when their bloom softens the brown color, creating a rosy hue.
4. Australorps
Egg Production: 200-260 eggs per year
Egg Color: Light brown with pink bloom
Temperament: Calm, friendly, easygoing
Notable Features: Glossy black color with red combs and wattles
Not all Australorps lay pink eggs, but some do! They’re extremely productive layers and very family-friendly. Their eggs tend to have that pretty pink bloom over a light brown base.
5. Buff Orpington
Egg Production: 200-280 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish-brown, sometimes baby pink
Temperament: Sweet-natured, calm, non-aggressive
Notable Features: Plump, stately hens with beautiful buff-colored feathers
These beautifully feathered, plump hens will casually strut around your chicken yard as if they own the place! They’re incredibly friendly and docile, even loving to be cuddled. Their eggs sometimes have that coveted pink tint that makes your egg basket extra special.
6. Light Sussex
Egg Production: 200-240 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish-cream or pale brown
Temperament: Docile, somewhat flighty but easy to tame
Notable Features: One of the oldest chicken breeds
The Light Sussex is a very loved and endearing breed that lays beautiful light pinkish-tan eggs. They’re extremely docile yet very alert to their surroundings, making them great additions to any backyard flock.
7. Salmon Faverolle
Egg Production: 160-200 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish, cream, light brown
Temperament: Curious, cheerful, energetic
Notable Features: Honey salmon colored feathers and adorable beard
These chickens come from a small village in France where they get their name. They’re enthusiastic, curious, and sometimes noisy, but always friendly. Their eggs tend to have a lovely pink tint that makes egg collecting extra fun!
8. Croad Langshan
Egg Production: 150-240 eggs per year
Egg Color: Brown with pink bloom
Temperament: Gentle, calm, inquisitive
Notable Features: Long, silky black or white feathers
This breed is one of the oldest and has long, silky feathers. They tend to be very gentle and calm but are heavy birds that sometimes accidentally trample their eggs. Their eggs often have a distinctive pink bloom.
9. Asil
Egg Production: 40-70 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish, cream, light brown
Temperament: Aggressive with other chickens but friendly to humans
Notable Features: Originally bred for cockfighting
While the Asil may lay pink eggs, they don’t produce many eggs annually. They’re aggressive with other chickens but can be easily handled by people because they’re quite docile around humans.
10. Araucana
Egg Production: 150-180 eggs per year
Egg Color: Primarily blue/green, but occasionally pink
Temperament: Easy to handle, even-tempered
Notable Features: Lack of tail, distinctive appearance
Though more famous for their blue eggs, Araucanas can sometimes surprise you with pink-tinted eggs. They’re easy to handle and have a unique appearance that will make your flock stand out.
11. Mottled Java
Egg Production: 150-180 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish-tan or dark brown
Temperament: Calm, somewhat flighty, sociable
Notable Features: Striking red eyes contrasted against various feather patterns
This rare breed gets its name from the isle of Java. Their eggs are usually considered brown, but some have a distinct pinkish tint. They make great free-range chickens and are excellent foragers.
12. Barred Rock
Egg Production: 200-250 eggs per year
Egg Color: Pinkish-tan, light brown, cream
Temperament: Intelligent, friendly, calm
Notable Features: Distinctive barred (zebra-like) pattern
Barred Rocks are a color variant of the Plymouth Rock chicken. Their cream-colored eggs occasionally surprise owners with a pinkish-tan hue. They’re intelligent, friendly birds with relatively low noise levels.
Tips for Boosting Egg Quality
Want to maximize your chances of getting those perfect pink eggs? Here are some tips:
-
Proper Nutrition: Make sure your hens have balanced diets with enough calcium for strong eggshells.
-
Plenty of Sunlight: Natural light helps with egg production and quality.
-
Fresh Water: Always provide clean, fresh water for your chickens.
-
Stress-Free Environment: Happy chickens lay better eggs! Give them enough space and minimize stressors.
-
Supplements: Consider supplements that support eggshell quality if you’re serious about maximizing egg color and production.
Are Pink Eggs Safe to Eat?
Absolutely! While we’re conditioned to think that pink in chicken meat is unsafe, the color of an egg’s shell has nothing to do with food safety. Pink eggs are just as nutritious and delicious as white or brown eggs.
The pigment only affects the shell, not the egg white or yolk. So crack those pretty pink eggs with confidence!
FAQs About Pink Egg-Laying Chickens
Does the rooster determine egg color?
Nope! Having a rooster around doesn’t affect egg color. It’s all about the hen’s genetics.
Do pink eggs taste different?
Not at all. There’s no difference in taste between different colored eggs. The nutrition is identical too!
Can I predict which chickens will lay pink eggs?
Some say you can predict egg color by looking at a chicken’s earlobe color, but this isn’t always reliable for pink eggs specifically.
Are pink egg layers rare?
Pink egg layers aren’t necessarily rare – many common backyard breeds like Silkies, Easter Eggers, and Plymouth Rocks can lay pinkish eggs. However, getting consistently pink eggs is less common.
Final Thoughts
Adding pink egg layers to your flock brings both beauty and diversity to your daily egg collection. While no breed can guarantee pink eggs 100% of the time, the chickens listed above give you the best chance of finding those rosy treasures in your nesting boxes.
My personal favorite is the Silkie – not only do they lay the most consistently pink eggs in my experience, but their fluffy appearance and sweet temperament make them a joy to have around the homestead.
Remember that genetics, diet, and individual variation all play roles in egg color. So even if you don’t get pink eggs right away, enjoy the journey and the rainbow of other beautiful egg colors your flock provides!
Have you had success with any particular breed laying pink eggs? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
Salmon Faverolles Chick Color Varieties
The American Poultry Association (APA) recognizes the breed in two colors, Salmon and White. Salmon is the only color available from most hatcheries.
What chickens lay pink eggs? Easter Eggers! This delightful chicken doesn’t just lay pink eggs but also blue, green, or brown eggs, earning this breed its name. Easter Egger hens are excellent producers, averaging 4 – 6 large/extra large pink, blue, brown or green eggs weekly (250 – 280 eggs annually).
Easter Egger hens have earned their popularity not only with their colorful egg baskets but also with their charming personalities. This chicken’s curious, gentle, and social personality is ideal for families with children, as it thrives with human interactions.
Their calm and gentle nature makes them easily bullied by more aggressive breeds, so care should be taken to ensure these gentle birds are not bullied.
Speckled Sussex Chicken Color Varieties
Speckled is the only common variety in the United States.
The Java is a fair egg layer, producing three to four large eggs weekly (about one hundred to one hundred and fifty eggs annually). Eggs vary in color from light to dark brown to orange, pink, and green. One of the most exciting things about Java hens is that one hen does not consistently lay the same colored egg, as egg color varies significantly throughout the laying season.
Java chickens are calm, sweet, and friendly. Their docile nature makes them ideal pets for children. This breed does well in a mixed flock with other docile breeds.
Java hens are also known for their quiet temperaments.