If you’re wondering what the differences are between Guinea hen eggs vs chicken eggs - there are a few differences.
The good news is that it’s not hard to tell them apart.
Guinea eggs are a dark creamy white to light brown color. They are smaller than chicken eggs with a pointer head. And, the biggest difference is that their shells are a lot stronger.
Here’s a more detailed look at the differences between these two types of eggs:
Table of Contents
Color
The color is what chicken and Guinea eggs have most in common. Mainly because chicken eggs can come in a wide range of colors and shades.
Did you know that some breeds of chicken can actually lay blue, green, and olive-colored eggs? That’s right.
They can also lay every shade from white through to dark brown. Guinea egg colors vary a little too as there are a few different species of Guinea too.
Typically they are creamy-white to light brown. They tend to have specks of brown too.
In this video, you can clearly see the difference in a Guinea egg held next to some chicken eggs. The color may be similar, but their eggs look very different, don't they?
If you have both Guineas and chickens in your hand it shouldn’t be too hard to tell the difference based on color.
There are also several other ways to tell the difference anyway as I’ll explain in this article.
Related - What color are Guinea eggs?
Size
Size is a pretty big giveaway as to who laid that egg. Overall, a Guinea egg is about half the size of a large chicken egg.
They look kind of like the small eggs pullets or point-of-lay hens produce when they first start laying.
The shape is very different from a chicken egg, though, so you won’t get them confused.
Shape
For me, the most obvious difference between Guinea and chicken eggs is the shape. If you take a close look there’s no mistaking that the top is much pointier than a chicken egg.
If you handle one or place it on a countertop you really notice it when it rolls around. It just doesn’t balance the same as a regular chicken egg due to its shape and weight.
Related - A closer look at Marans dark brown chocolate colored eggs.
Taste and Nutritional Content
The taste of different color chicken eggs is something that I always see debated. Yet, scientifically it’s been proven that it’s only the diet of the chicken that makes any difference to the taste of an egg.
I think we subconsciously think eggs taste different when they look different. So, I asked several people I know if Guinea eggs taste different from a chicken’s egg, and they all said “yes”.
They pretty much all said Guinea eggs were “richer” in flavor. Yet, researching it online, most people say there is no difference.
So, what do I think?
Well, I have tried Guinea fowl eggs on a few occasions and honestly, I couldn’t tell much difference if any.
I’m comparing them to eggs from free-range chickens reared on a healthy diet though. You can’t make a comparison to mass-produced supermarket chicken eggs, they just aren’t the same quality.
My best advice is that you try one for yourself!
From a nutritional standpoint, according to this study Guinea eggs are much higher in protein than chicken eggs. Their yolks also contain a high proportion of sodium, iron, and potassium.
There’s no denying they are very nutritional. If you’re on the fence about raising some backyard Guineas, go for it.
How Often Do Guinea Hens Lay Eggs?
Guineas are seasonal layers and typically lay throughout the summer months. They produce around 100 eggs a year, which is a lot less than most chicken breeds.
Breeds like Rhode Island Reds and Black Stars lay 250+ eggs a year. Their eggs are around twice the size too, so it’s easy to understand why they’re kept for eggs and Guineas aren’t.
This shouldn’t stop you from keeping a few Guinea and enjoying their eggs though. Having 3-4 birds means 400 or so eggs a year, that’s a lot of eggs.
They have different laying habits from chickens, too. Don’t expect to find their eggs waiting in their nesting boxes.
Guineas like to find somewhere quiet and discreet to lay their eggs. Unless you find and collect them they’ll build up a clutch and go broody, so it’s something to keep an eye out for.
In Summary
Guineas are more commonly kept for their meat than their eggs as they don’t lay as many as chickens.
However, if you’re fortunate enough to have some of these fun and curious birds, enjoy those eggs when you get them. They’re very different in shape and size from chicken eggs, but taste similar.
There are plenty of other reasons to own Guineas, too. They are great for pest control (they love eating ticks), they act as security guards and make a load of noise if they spot a predator, and of course, are fun to watch and interact with.
Resources
Image credits - Header Image by monicore from Pixabay
