Why do brown eggs cost more than white eggs? (organic, cream, cheapest)

[Hopeful for Life]

I like to buy Cage Free eggs. When I see them, I usually buy the brown ones mainly because they are “different” and they remind me of the eggs that my grandmother used to use back in “the day”. I was shocked to see that the brown cage free eggs were$1 more per dozen than the white ones!! I bought the white ones. Is there any difference besides sentimental or aesthetic appeal?

[evening sun]

No, it is the type of hen. Nutritionally they are the same. I, too, prefer brown, because that is what Mom used, but now I just buy what is cheapest.

[Debsi]

Brown eggs come from red chickens and white eggs come from white chickens.

I read here that the brown eggs are bigger so cost more in feed to "make."

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...n_1342583.html

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Debsi

...I read here that the brown eggs are bigger so cost more in feed to "make."...

The chickens are bigger, not the eggs. So it takes more feed to raise larger chickens. Also, some chickens convert more feed to creating eggs, while others convert more feed to "growing" the chicken.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by Debsi

Brown eggs come from red chickens and white eggs come from white chickens.

I read here that the brown eggs are bigger so cost more in feed to "make."

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...n_1342583.html

Nope.

I have yellow chickens (Buff Orpingtons) who lay brown eggs, and Ameraucanas (white, multicolored, red) who lay blue and green eggs.

Genes for shell color are breed specific, not feather color specific.

They also aren't bigger. All chickens lay eggs of all sizes, sellers sort for size.

The cost differential is because people will pay it because they think there is something special about brown shells. In reality, there is no difference in eggs that correlates to shell pigment.

[2sleepy]

We have 7 hens, three lay cream color eggs, 3 lay darkish brown eggs and one is pretending to be a rooster and doesn't lay at all

[Debsi]

OK, OK, I will bow to those with superior knowledge. I was repeating what my neighbor who keeps chickens told me, and also that linked article, so I took it to be accurate. I do not keep chickens myself.

I do think the brown eggs are prettier.

[suzy_q2010]

A client gave DH a dozen eggs at Christmas, all different colors, including some pretty greens and blues.

[1973PINTO]

are there any particular hens that lay double yoke eggs ? .. i used to see them from time to time when my family raised layers .. i have never bought any at a store ..

[gunslinger256]

buy what's cheap since more people buy the cheap eggs, there's more turnover and you tend to get fresher eggs.

my wife likes organic eggs for roughly 3 times the price of cheap eggs and they are never as fresh as the cheap white eggs.

Our preference is to buy the eggs from the neighbors who raise chickens, but we can't always get a regular supply of those.