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Recently my Easter Egger chicken laid her first egg.  When I reached in, I squealed when I saw it was olive green!  Now I’m trying to find more layers of colorful eggs to add to my flock for a beautiful rainbow egg basket.

While the classic white and brown eggs are familiar to many, there’s a fascinating array of hues waiting to be found, thanks to certain chicken breeds that lay colored eggs. Let’s dive into this colorful world and explore the breeds behind the magic.

What Causes Chickens to Lay Different Color Eggs?

The color of a chicken’s eggshell is primarily determined by genetics, specifically the breed of chicken. Different breeds have been selectively bred over generations to produce eggs of varying colors, ranging from white to brown, blue, green, and even pink.

The color of the eggshell is influenced by pigments deposited in the hen’s oviduct as the egg is forming. The main pigments responsible for eggshell color are biliverdin and protoporphyrin. Biliverdin produces blue and green hues, while protoporphyrin produces brown hues.

Here are some factors that contribute to chickens laying eggs of different colors.

1. Genetics: Different chicken breeds have specific genes that determine the color of their eggshells. Breeds like Leghorns typically lay white eggs, while breeds like Marans lay dark brown eggs and Araucanas lay blue or green eggs.
2. Pigment Deposition: Pigments are deposited onto the eggshell as the egg moves through the hen’s oviduct. The timing and concentration of these pigments determine the final color of the egg.
3. Diet: While diet doesn’t change the inherent color of the eggshell, it can influence the intensity of the color. For example, a diet rich in pigmented foods like marigold petals or dark leafy greens may result in deeper, more vibrant eggshell colors.
4. Environmental Factors: Stress or changes in the environment can sometimes affect eggshell color temporarily. However, these effects are usually minor and don’t alter the genetic predisposition of the hen to lay a particular color of egg.
5. Age of the Hen: Eggshell color can sometimes lighten with age as hens produce fewer pigments. However, this change is gradual and primarily affects brown egg layers.

White Egg Layers

Here are some popular breeds that produce white-shelled eggs.

1. Leghorn: Leghorns are renowned for their prolific egg-laying abilities and are one of the most common breeds used in commercial egg production. They lay large, white eggs and are valued for their efficiency and reliability as layers.
2. Polish: Polish chickens are characterized by their distinctive crest of feathers and whimsical appearance. They come in various color varieties, including white, and lay medium-sized white eggs. Polish chickens are valued for their ornamental qualities and friendly personalities.
3. Sultan: Sultan chickens are an ornamental breed known for their unique appearance, including their full, fluffy plumage and vulture hocks. They lay small to medium-sized white eggs and are valued for their decorative qualities rather than their egg-laying abilities.
4. Houdan: Houdan chickens are characterized by their distinctive crests of feathers and mottled plumage. They lay medium-sized white eggs and are valued for their ornamental qualities and unique appearance.

 Brown Egg Layers

Here are some popular breeds that produce brown-shelled eggs.

1. Rhode Island Red: Rhode Island Reds are renowned for their robustness and excellent egg-laying abilities. They lay large to extra-large brown eggs and are valued for their reliability as layers and suitability to various climates.
2. Plymouth Rock: Plymouth Rocks, particularly the Barred variety, are dual-purpose birds known for their friendly temperament and consistent egg production. They lay medium to large brown eggs and are prized for their versatility and adaptability.
3. Orpington: Orpington chickens are large, docile birds known for their fluffy plumage and gentle disposition. They lay large brown eggs and are valued for their excellent egg-laying abilities, meat quality, and suitability to cold climates.
4. Australorp: Australorps are dual-purpose birds known for their excellent egg-laying abilities and calm disposition. They lay large brown eggs and are valued for their efficiency as layers and suitability for backyard flocks.
5. New Hampshire Red: New Hampshire Reds are a heritage breed known for their robustness and productivity. They lay large brown eggs and are prized for their hardiness, adaptability, and consistent egg production.

Now let’s get to the fun part: Chickens That Lay Colored Eggs

Blue Egg Layers

Several chicken breeds are known for laying blue eggs, which can range in hue from pale blue to turquoise.

1. Ameraucanas: True Ameraucanas are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) for their beautiful blue eggs. These medium-sized birds are prized for their unique eggshell color and gentle disposition, making them a popular choice among backyard chicken keepers.
2. Cream Legbars: Hailing from the United Kingdom, Cream Legbars are beloved for their pastel blue eggs. These auto-sexing birds are not only excellent layers but also add a touch of elegance to any flock with their tufts of feathers and friendly personalities.
3. Araucanas: True Araucanas are another breed recognized by the APA for their blue-colored eggs. Originating from South America, these chickens are prized for their unique ear tufts and ability to lay beautiful blue eggs.
4. Easter Eggers: Perhaps the most well-known colored egg layers, Easter Eggers are not a specific breed, but a mixed-breed chicken known for their colorful eggshells. These charming birds can lay eggs in shades of blue, green, or even pink eggs. However, they usually end up being either blue or green.

Green Egg Layers

Chickens that lay green eggs are relatively rare compared to those that lay white, brown, or blue eggs. However, there are a few breeds known for producing green-shelled eggs.

1. Olive Egger: As the name suggests, Olive Eggers lay eggs in shades of olive green, thanks to a cross between blue egg layers and dark brown egg layers. These hybrid chickens are valued for their striking eggshell color and reliable egg production.
2. Isbar (Silverudd’s Blue): Isbar chickens are a Swedish breed known for their striking eggs and slate-colored plumage. Some strains of Isbars are known to lay eggs with a greenish hue, providing an alternative to traditional blue egg layers.
3. Easter Egger: As mentioned above, Easter Egger hens typically lay blue or green eggs, depending upon the breed of the parents.

Cream Egg Layers

Cream-colored eggs typically have shells that range from pale beige to light tan.

1. Silkie: Silkie chickens are renowned for their fluffy plumage, gentle temperament, and unique appearance. They lay small to medium-sized cream or tinted eggs, which can vary from light beige to light brown in color.
2. Faverolles: Faverolles chickens are known for their distinctive appearance, including their fluffy plumage, feathered feet, and beard. They lay medium to large-sized cream-colored eggs and are valued for their dual-purpose capabilities as both egg layers and meat birds.
3. Australorps: Australorps are a dual-purpose breed known for their friendly temperament and their prolific egg laying of cream eggs.
4. Dorking: Dorking chickens are a heritage breed known for their excellent meat quality and distinctive five-toed feet. They lay medium to large-sized cream-colored eggs and are valued for their calm temperament and suitability to free-range environments.

Speckled Egg Layers

Speckled eggs typically have shells with spots, flecks, or speckles of various colors, creating a visually appealing pattern.

1. Welsummer: Welsummer chickens are known for their rich chestnut-colored eggs with dark speckles. These speckles give the eggs a rustic and earthy appearance, making them a popular choice among egg enthusiasts.
2. Barnevelder: Barnevelder chickens are dual-purpose birds known for their beautiful double-laced plumage and large brown eggs. Some Barnevelders lay eggs with light speckles, which can add a subtle yet distinctive touch to the eggshell.

 Dark Brown/Chocolate Egg Layers

1. Marans: Marans chickens are famous for their dark brown eggs, ranging from chocolate brown to nearly black. These hardy birds are excellent foragers and are valued for their dual-purpose capabilities, providing both eggs and meat for their owners.
2. Welsummer: Welsummer chickens are known for their rich chestnut-colored eggs with dark speckles. These speckles give the eggs a rustic and earthy appearance, making them a popular choice among egg enthusiasts.

These are just some of the possible egg colors produced by chickens, and the exact color can vary depending on factors such as genetics, diet, and environment. The wide range of egg colors adds to the charm and diversity of backyard chicken keeping, providing egg enthusiasts with a colorful and visually appealing egg basket.

Whether you’re seeking a rainbow of colors or simply looking to add a pop of vibrancy to your egg basket, there’s a colored egg layer out there for you. From the classic blue and green eggs of Easter Eggers to the rich chocolate brown eggs of Marans, each breed brings its own unique charm to the backyard chicken world.

When selecting colored egg layers for your flock, consider factors such as temperament, egg production, and suitability to your climate. With careful consideration and proper care, you can enjoy a colorful egg basket filled with fresh and beautiful eggs from your backyard chickens.

What questions do you have? Let me know in the comments!

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