Chickens Breeds That Lay Chocolate-Colored Eggs

Inside: the best choices for chickens that lay chocolate eggs. You know, the eggshell. Not the inside.

So you want a beautiful assortment of eggshell colors, and who am I to stop you? There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful egg basket just because. All you need to know is the right chicken breed for you.

Let’s keep this simple – egg color comes down to chicken genetics. When a hen is making an egg, she adds layers of a natural pigment called porphyrin. More layers = darker brown shells. That’s it. There’s no difference in taste or anything else. Just looks!

Black Copper Marans: Darkest Shells

• These French beauties lay the darkest eggs you’ll find – we’re talking deep, rich chocolate brown
• They’re friendly and calm (perfect if you have kids!)
• They lay about 3-4 eggs per week
• The downside? They’re not the most productive layers

Welsummers: Best Layers

• Their eggs are a bit lighter but have the cutest speckles
• Super friendly chickens that love to follow you around
• More eggs than Marans (3-5 per week)
• A great choice if you want both pretty eggs AND more of them

Barnevelders: Cute + Friendly

• The sweetest personality of all the brown egg layers
• Medium to dark brown eggs
• Good steady layers
• They’ll be your best friend in the garden

Penedesencas: Great In Hot Weather

• Dark reddish-brown eggs
• Great for warm climates
• Not super friendly (keeping it real here!)
• Better as farm chickens than pets

My Simple Advice?

If you’re after those Instagram-worthy dark chocolate colored eggs, go with Black Copper Marans. Yes, they lay fewer eggs. But the shells are BEAUTIFUL.

Remember, there’s no wrong choice – just the right choice for YOU.

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Want More Chicken Breed Advice?

• Blue egg layers
• Green egg layers
• The best layers for lots of eggs
• Raising meat chickens
• Basic brown egg layers

And remember – whether your eggs are dark brown, light brown, or even blue, the most beautiful thing is that they came from your own backyard. That’s something to be proud of.