Inside: A look at some of the most popular chicken breeds that lay green eggs, and my personal recommendations.
When you buy eggs at the store, they’re usually white. This is because the most productive breeds lay white eggs, and at big egg farms, it’s all bout productivity. For a little extra, you can buy brown eggs. For a lot extra, you can buy locally-raised colored eggs with shades of blue and green.
But if you’re smart (and I know you are), you’ll raise your own backyard chickens and you’ll pick all the right breeds. And while it might sound silly, you absolutely should pick a variety of eggshell colors. They’re valuable, they’re fun, they’re beautiful. Let’s find your favorite.
These chickens are not only interesting because of their unique egg color, but they also have their own special characteristics and temperaments that make them great for backyard living.
Whether you’re new to raising chickens or already have a flock and want to diversify, let’s take a look at each one.
Have you ever cracked open a chicken egg only to find a greenish-blue shell instead of the usual white or brown? If so you’ve experienced one of nature’s little marvels – a green egg!
While most backyard chickens lay white or brown eggs, certain breeds possess the unique genetic capability to produce eggs with shells in shades of green, blue, or olive. But what chicken lay these prized green eggs?
In this article we’ll explore the fascinating world of green egg layers. You’ll discover the chicken breeds behind green eggs, what makes their shells colorful, and how to add them to your flock. Let’s get cracking!
An Overview of Green Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds
Here are the most common green egg-laying chicken breeds
- Swedish Isbar
- Favaucana
- Sage Gem Bantam
- Cream Legbar
- Araucana
- Easter Egger
- Olive Egger
- Green Queen
- Steele Egger
- Ameraucana
- Ice Cream Bar
- Starlight Green Egger
While each breed has its unique traits, they all share the distinctive ability to lay eggs with greenish shells. The specific shade can range from sage, mossy, or olive green to more blue-tinted shades.
The number of eggs these chickens lay each year ranges from 150 to 280 beautiful green eggs. So if you want to add some variety to the colors in your egg basket, these breeds are great options!
Now, let’s look at some of the top green egg layers in more detail.
Top 5 Green Egg Chicken Breeds
1. Araucana
The Araucana is perhaps the most famous green egg layer. Originating from Chile, these chickens are prized for their colorful eggs which can range from pale blue to green.
Araucanas are excellent layers, producing around 250 eggs annually. They are friendly and calm, and have cute little puffs of feathers on their cheeks. They make great backyard chickens.
2. Easter Egger
As the name suggests, Easter Eggers are great for laying bright eggs for Easter celebrations. But their egg abilities don’t stop there. They can lay a wide range of colors of eggs, from blue and green to orange and red.
Easter Eggers are great for flocks that want a wide range of bright eggs because they lay a lot of them (about 200 eggs a year).
3. Olive Egger
Olive Eggers are the product of crossbreeding a blue egg layer (like an Easter Egger) with a dark brown egg layer. This results in their trademark olive green eggs.
These chickens are also robust layers, providing 150-200 beautiful greenish eggs to their keepers annually.
4. Cream Legbar
Hailing from Britain, the Cream Legbar chicken lays about 150-200 striking blue-green eggs per year. Their eggs are medium in size with a smooth, glossy shell.
Beyond their egg color, Cream Legbars have a delightful cream and grey speckled plumage. They are active, friendly chickens but can be shy around new people initially.
5. Ameraucana
While similar in name, Ameraucanas are different from Araucanas. They also lay green eggs but have a more mixed genetic background.
An Ameraucana can produce about 200 green eggs annually. Some individuals also lay blue eggs thanks to their Araucana heritage.
These chickens have delightful beards and cheek puffs. They also come in many color varieties like black, blue, and splash.
What Causes Green Eggs?
So what gives green eggs their one-of-a-kind color? Let’s break down the science.
Chicken eggs start out white. As they travel through the hen’s oviduct, pigments are added to the shell. In most backyard chickens, the pigment protoporphyrin produces the typical brown egg color.
However, in green egg layers, there’s an additional pigment called oocyanin. It produces blue and green hues which get overlaid on the brown base color. This results in the eggs’ greenish tint.
The specific shade depends on the balance between the brown and blue/green pigments. Darker brown leads to deeper olive shells while more oocyanin gives a blue-green appearance.
In the end, it all comes down to genetics. Only certain breeds carry the genetic ability to manufacture oocyanin and deposit it on eggshells.
Benefits of Keeping Green Egg Layers
So why add green egg chickens to your flock? Here are some convincing reasons:
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Add uniqueness – Green eggs are sure to impress with their rare and beautiful colors. They stand out brightly among white/brown eggs.
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Enjoy natural Easter eggs – Skip the dye and get naturally colored eggs from your hens. Green eggers like Olive Eggers create perfect Easter treasures.
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Appreciate diversity – If you enjoy collecting colorful eggs, breeds like Ameraucanas provide stunning variety right from your coop.
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Get excellent layers – Most green egg chickens are very productive, consistently providing 200+ eggs per year.
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Receive healthy eggs – Green eggs are just as nutritious as regular eggs, packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals.
So for anyone wanting an eye-catching egg basket, green egg-laying breeds are absolutely egg-squisite!
Green Egg Myths Debunked
Despite their mystique, green eggs share many similarities with traditional chicken eggs. Here are some common myths debunked:
Myth: Green eggs are healthier than white/brown eggs.
Fact: The shell color has zero effect on an egg’s nutritional value. Green and white eggs are equivalent in terms of health benefits.
Myth: Green eggs taste differently than other eggs.
Fact: Green eggs taste the same as regular eggs. The shell color does not affect flavor at all.
Myth: Green eggs are a different shape or size.
Fact: Aside from shell pigmentation, green eggs are physically the same as common chicken eggs. Shape and dimensions are unchanged.
So rest assured your green eggs will look exotic but still cook up just like the usual eggs you’re accustomed to.
Start Your Flock of Green Layers
Now that you’re an expert on green egg-laying chicken breeds, it’s time to get your own flock started! Here are some tips:
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Research breeds that fit your climate and preferences. Araucanas and Ameraucanas are great all-around choices.
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Prepare a predator-proof chicken coop and run area with nesting boxes for your hens.
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Buy chicks or pullets from a reputable hatchery known for producing green egg breeds.
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Provide a quality feed and fresh water. Supplement with calcium for strong eggshells.
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Be prepared to pay a small premium for green egg chicks – they remain highly sought after.
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Enjoy your flock’s gorgeous green eggs. Display them in a basket or make green egg dye for Easter.
So go ahead and add a pop of color to your egg collection with a few special green layers. Just be ready for some serious egg envy from friends and neighbors!
Olive Eggers (Dark Olive-Green Eggs)
Olive Eggers are special chickens that lay olive-green eggs, which is how they get their name.
These birds are a cross between a chicken with brown eggs and one with blue eggs. This mix gives their eggs an olive color. In terms of looks, Olive Eggers can vary quite a bit because they’re a crossbreed, but they often have a sturdy build and come in various feather colors.
Most Olive Eggers are known for being calm and friendly. They’re generally good with families and children, making them a great choice for a backyard flock. Also, these birds are pretty flexible and can do well in a variety of places, from a big farm to a small backyard.
When it comes to laying eggs, Olive Eggers are quite dependable. You can typically expect around 200 to 280 eggs per year from an Olive Egger. The eggs are usually medium to large and, of course, come in shades of olive green. Some say darker olive eggs look especially beautiful in an egg basket.
The color of their eggs is more reliably green than Easter Eggers. You will rarely get one that lays brown eggs, but not blue ones.
This is my favorite green egg layer. The color isn’t as beautiful as Isbars, but I get blue eggs from other hens so I can live without it. This breed is trouble-free and productive and I like the deep color.
Why Choose Chickens That Lay Green Eggs?
You might wonder if green eggs are any different from white or brown ones regarding taste or health. The answer is no.
Green eggs have the same nutrition and flavor as white and brown eggs. The fun part is in their unique color. Green eggs can be a real conversation starter and add a whimsical touch to your egg basket. It’s also exciting for kids who might find the array of egg colors fascinating.
Chickens That Lay Green Eggs
FAQ
What breed of chickens lay green eggs?
Several chicken breeds lay green eggs, but the most well-known is the Olive Egger. Olive Eggers are a hybrid breed, typically a cross between a blue egg-laying breed (like Araucana or Ameraucana) and a brown egg-laying breed (like Marans).
Are green chicken eggs okay to eat?
Yes, green-shelled eggs are safe to eat. Eggshell color is based on the breed of chicken that laid it. Eggshell color does not affect the egg’s safety, nutritional value, or taste. Breeds like the Araucana and Ameraucana are known for laying blue or green eggs.
What chicken comes from a green egg?
Easter Egger Chicken Some hatcheries accurately call their stock by the Easter Egger name. Others call their stock Araucana, Ameraucana, or Americana. This is a hybrid bird that lays blue, green, rose or even brown eggs. It’s impossible to know what color egg your Easter Egger will lay until it lays its first egg.
What lays little green eggs?
Adult Lacewings are not themselves predaceous, but feed on honeydew, nectar and pollen. They lay very small, pale green eggs on hair-like stalks that are attached to the underside of leaves or on tree bark. In several days the Lacewing larvae hatch from these eggs.