They are the new guests of the Tenuta del Cigno: a variety of chickens that lay eggs in shades of pink, green, blue, butter white and brown/burgundy.
There are chickens Olive Egger that lay green eggs, theAraucanian which makes them blue, Marans chocolate/burgundy color, the Livornese white color and finally the Millefiori light pink dwarf.
They are the new guests on our farm, where we have created a corner of paradise just for them, where they can roam freely in the pasture, feeding on fresh herbs, insects, worms, and small animals.
Looking at these eggs for the first time, it almost seems as if they were colored out of "necessity," as is done in the best Easter tradition: in reality, they are colored by nature because each breed of chicken produces eggs of a different color.
It does not depend, therefore, on what he eats, but more simply on his race.
It's important to note that different shell colors don't imply any difference in the egg's nutritional or organoleptic characteristics. Shell color depends on a lubricating substance containing pigments that is "spread" over the shell during egg expulsion. This substance varies in color among different breeds.
Source: tuttosullegalline.it
These unusual, almost “pastel” chromaticities in the shell – light blue, pink, white, green and chocolate brown – make them very attractive: these eggs look like they're made of sugar or are decorative. But they are eggs in every sense, and increasingly in demand in the culinary world and among chefs.
So, no fear: even if they are beautiful and look like they came out of a painting, you can safely consume them in the kitchen as you wish.
“We have never had chickens on our farm,” he says. Hermes Malpighi – Then one day I was given an Araucana hen as a gift: I wasn't familiar with this breed, and I fell in love with these beautiful powder-blue eggs. I began caring for this hen, and little by little, we began building this small coop on our farm, including other breeds. I called them "The Estate Girls." Having such a varied and colorful assortment of eggs laid by our own hens, in shades that perhaps few have seen in person, is a source of interest and enjoyment both for us who raise them and for the visitors who come here to learn about and explore the estate.
A breed for every color
Blue eggs = Araucana
The Araucana hen is native to Chile: it is the "blue fairy" of egg-laying hens. Highly sought after by breeders and known as the "hen with the blue eggs," it has very different traits from common European breeds and is characterized by a predominant gene, the O (Olive) gene, responsible for the blue color of the eggs. The distinctive feature of Araucana eggs is their blue-green color, not only on the outside of the shell, but also on the inside, unlike other breeds whose insides are pure white.
Try this. Take eggs of different colors and crack them open: you'll notice that they're all white inside, because the coloration occurs only on the outside. The blue eggs of the Araucana are the one and only exception; in this case, the coloration occurs during the formation of the shell itself and isn't added during the final stage of passage through the oviduct. In fact, the Araucana eggshell is blue on the inside as well.
White eggs = Livornese
Livorno chicken eggs are white, as pure as snow. They have a deep yellow yolk and are perfect for making custard and egg pasta because the color of the custard and pasta is so intense.
Green Eggs = Olive Egger
The Olive Eigger hen has a calm and sociable temperament; it is a hybrid poultry breed obtained from the cross between Marans and Araucana and lays eggs of a more or less dark and intense olive green color.
Try them boiled, added to salads, or used to prepare tasty omelettes.
Chocolate/burgundy eggs = Marans
The French Marans breed of egg-laying hen lays eggs with a brownish colour that is very similar to chocolate, which is why it has been nicknamed Poule aux œufs d'or, That is, "The Goose That Lays Golden Eggs." These eggs are characterized by their very particular shell: it's thicker, therefore more resistant and less susceptible to external contamination. For this reason, it's the ideal egg to eat raw, or in recipes for zabaglione and tiramisu.
Light pink = dwarf Millefiori
The dwarf Millefiori is a rare breed native to the Veneto region: it is so called because it has a mixed-colored (white, red, and black) pied plumage. Its eggs, which have a butter-white shell, are ideal for any type of recipe: desserts, fried omelettes, and fresh pasta.
Would you like to meet the ladies at the Tenuta and explore all the spaces on the farm?
Contact us by writing an email to info@tenutadelcigno.com Or call 059 465063 (Monday/Friday, 9am-1pm – 2:30pm-6pm). You'll discover the beauty of a unique place!
Every day of the year, upon reservation, we carry out guided tours Discover the wonderful spaces of our Estate. The tour includes:
- French-style vegetable garden: cultivation of medicinal herbs
- Lavender field: cultivation Lavender of Modena®
- Bee hives: cultivation Organic Honey
- Vineyards: grape cultivation, pruning, harvesting and pressing
- Brewhouse: cooking of the must for the production of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP
- Ancient Acetaie: production and refinement of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP inside wooden barrels
- Swan Lake
- Guided tasting of products of the farm and the possibility of purchasing them
- Gifts highly specialised
Duration: approx. 90 minutes.
Visits are reserved for groups of maximum 30 people ed Reservations are required (tour@acetaiamalpighi.it – +39 059 467725).
Prezzi:
- per person: €10
- School package (reserved for schools of all levels): €5 per person
- groups (+20 people): €8 per person