EGG SHELL COLOUR Egg shell colour can be white, creamy-coloured or brown, and this often depends on the breed of the chicken. And there’s no need to colour code – colour has no impact on the flavour or nutritional value of eggs, and they can all be stored, handled and cooked exactly the same way! You can tell what colour eggs a hen will lay by the colour of her ear lobes. A hen with white ear lobes will lay creamy to white eggs. A hen with red ear lobes will lay brown eggs. DID YOU KNOW? BLOOD STAINS ON THE SHELL You may find blood stains on the shells of your eggs, especially with younger hens. This is not usually cause for concern. Sometimes small blood vessels in the oviduct rupture when the egg passes through, and subsequent eggs will generally not be stained. Important: Blood-stained eggs can also be a sign of cannibalism within the flock. It is especially important to investigate and check each bird for possible injury around its vent (rear end). Table 2 on page 44 has more information on what to do in this case. DID YOU KNOW? THE CHOOK BOOK | 13