MadSci Network: Zoology |
Chickens do have ears, but they are more like ear holes. They do not possess an outer ear, or pinna, as most mammals possess, but they do have ear lobes. The color of the lobe does somewhat indicate the color of their eggs. It is believed that the same gene that determines the color of the ear lobe also determines egg color. An all white chicken has white ear lobes therefore, white hens will lay white eggs. A non-specific breed of broiler hen can be one of many colors or multi-colored. Their ear lobes also can be colored from near white to near black. These birds will lay eggs that are nearly white to a deep, soft brown. The shade of brown of the egg will be indicated by the degree of color of the ear lobe. In other words, a chicken with blackish lobes will not lay a black egg, but it may be a deep brown.
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