The colour of the eggshell is basically determined by two types of pigment: protoporphyrin, which gives a brownish hue, and biliverdin, which gives a greenish-blue hue. Eggshell colour varies from species to species, the most common being white and brown eggs. The different colours do not make any nutritional difference, but are used for aesthetic and marketing purposes. White eggshells are generally laid by hens with white earlobes, while brown eggshells are laid by hens with red earlobes.
The colour of eggshells is influenced by genetic factors, but certain environmental influences, such as the age of the hen and her diet, can also affect the intensity of the colour. Eggshells laid by older hens are often lighter in colour and may sometimes have small spots. A particular colour, such as blue or Green eggshell varieties (such as Araucana) are becoming increasingly popular because of their special appearance, although unsurprisingly these eggs do not have any special flavour or nutritional value compared to the usual coloured eggs.
Eggshell colour RGB and HEX colour codes
The eggshell colour code is in RGB format (240, 234, 214) and in HEX format #F0EAD6.
| Colour scheme | Code/Weights |
|---|---|
| Hex |
#F0EAD6 |
| RGB |
rgb(240, 234, 214) |
| HSL |
hsl(45, 60%, 89%) |
| HSV/HSB |
hsv(45, 11%, 94%) |
| CMYK |
cmyk(0, 3%, 11%, 6%) |
| Contrasting colour |
#0F1529 |
| Complementary colour |
#101628 |
Dark and light shades of eggshell
Click on the colour codes below to copy them to the clipboard.
Dark shades
Light shades
Eggshell complementary colour palettes
Eggshell is a popular choice because its neutral tones harmonise well with different colour palettes. In this section, we present some of the complementary, analogue, monochrome, triad, tetrad, split complementary and neutral colour palettes that work well with eggshell colour.
Complementary palette
Analogue palette
Monochrome palette
Triad palette
Tetrade palette
Split complementary palette
Neutral palette
What is the colour of the eggshell?
The colour of the eggshell depends mainly on the type of hen and can be white, brown or even bluish-green. The colour has no effect on the internal contents or taste of the egg.
What determines the colour of eggshells?
The colour of the eggshell depends mainly on the breed of hen. Different breeds of hens have different pigmentation genes that determine the colour of the eggshell. The most common colours are white and brown, but there are also bluish, greenish and pinkish shades. Eggshell colour does not affect the nutritional content or taste of the egg.
How is eggshell colour colour mixing possible?
Eggshell colour mixing is essentially a matter of genetic factors. Colour is determined by the genetic heritage of the hen laying the egg. There are basically three colours of eggshell: white, brown and blue, and mixtures of these. The genes responsible for colour work as follows:
1. **White eggshell**: This colour is dominated by the genes responsible for the white colour, which when present make the eggshell pure white.
2. **Brown eggshell**: The brown pigment (protoporphyrin) is added to the white shell during eggshell formation, creating the brown colour.
3. **Blue eggshell**: The blue pigment (obiline) turns the whole eggshell blue, inside and out.
By crossing hens laying different coloured eggs, different shades and mixtures can be produced. For example, crossing hens that lay blue and brown eggshells can produce greenish eggshells as the blue and brown pigments mix. The final shade of colour of a given eggshell depends on the genetic make-up of the hen and the proportion of pigments.
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