Abstract Hens previously depleted of pigment were fed a white corn basal diet containing 11, 22, 44 and 66 mg./kg. of feed of either beta-apo-8′-carotenal (a yellow pigment) or canthaxanthin (a red pigment). Additional birds were maintained on the basal without added pigments. Seven collections of eggs were made at seven-day intervals beginning after the birds had received the experimental feed for 14 days. All eggs were stored at 13°C. until one week after the last collection at which time all eggs were graded (based on yolk shadow only) by a Federal-State Grader. All eggs were broken out and Haugh units determined. Pooled samples from each group that had been stored for one, three, five and seven weeks were evaluated with a reflectance colorimeter. The dietary level of the pigments had a pronounced effect on downgrading with canthaxanthin resulting in greater downgrading than beta-apo-8′-carotenal. The addition of eight mg. of canthaxanthin per kg. of feed produced as much yolk shadow as 30 to 31 mg. of beta-apo-8′-carotenal. The dietary pigments did not significantly affect Haugh unit values. The hue of the yolk (as measured by dominant wavelength) was directly proportional to downgrading; as dominant wavelength increased from 576.5 nm. (yellow) to 594.5 nm. (reddish-orange), eggs were more severely downgraded.