Have you ever heard of a chicken that lays green eggs? It’s quite fascinating! The view of a green egg can be rather strange and intriguing.
The mystery of the green egg-laying chicken is solved by a rare breed called Ameraucana. The eggs these chickens lay are soft pastel green, sometimes bluish-green.
They make for a great conversation piece, especially when served at brunch. To the surprise of many, several other chicken breeds lay green eggs.
In this article, we will have an in-depth discussion on green egg layers and what makes them so unique.
Let’s get into this:
Contents
8 Chicken That Lays Green Eggs
Below is the list of top chickens that lay green color eggs:
1. Isbar Chicken
Isbar is a Swedish chicken breed that was first developed in the 1940s. It is a scarce, dual-purpose bird known for its rich flavor and egg-laying ability.
The Isbar hens lay eggs of a unique olive-green color, making them highly sought after by backyard chicken keepers.
The breed is considered to be hardy and well-suited to outdoor living, making it a popular choice for homesteaders and backyard chicken enthusiasts. They begin laying at the age of 26 weeks and can weigh up to 6 pounds when fully grown.
2. Easter Egger Chicken
The Easter Egger is the result of a cross between two breeds – the Ameraucana and another breed, with Plymouth Rock.
While it has no standardized breed description, the Easter Egger is known for its egg-laying ability and diversity of plumage color.
This chicken lays eggs in shades of green and blue, which makes it a favorite of many backyard chicken keepers.
They can lay up to 200 eggs per year and can weigh up to 5 pounds. They begin laying at 25 weeks of age.
3. Araucanas
This breed of chicken is a hybrid of the Ameraucana breeds. Like the Ameraucana, the Araucana is known for laying blue or green eggs.
They are friendly birds well suited to backyard flocks and have a calm, docile personalities. Araucanas are a newer breed and are not recognized by any poultry breed standard organizations.
However, they are becoming increasingly popular for their unique egg color and friendly personalities. They begin laying eggs at around 24 weeks.
They can lay about 150 eggs in a year. When fully grown, Araucana chicken can weigh up to 5 pounds.
4. Olive Egger
The Olive Egger is a hybrid of two breeds, the Ameraucana and Marans. This breed of chicken is known for its egg-laying ability and unique egg color.
The eggs this breed lays can range from a soft green to a deep teal, making them highly sought after by backyard chicken keepers. They are prized for their unique egg color, hardiness, and good laying ability.
At about five months, Olive Edgar begins laying eggs. At optimum maturity, Olive Edgar can weigh approximately 7 pounds.
The impressive thing about them is that they can lay between 180 and 200 eggs in one calendar year.
5. Green Queen Chicken
Green Queens predominantly lay a blue-green egg, though some birds can lay a green hue. The good thing about Green Queens is that they are very friendly and adaptable to their surroundings.
They can be easily integrated into a flock and require little maintenance. Green Queen chicken can lay up to 150 eggs a year. They begin laying eggs at about six months and can weigh up to 6 pounds.
6. Steele Egger
This hybrid was created to offer customers larger green eggs than the traditional Ameraucana. This breed is sort after by many people because of its excellent egg-laying abilities.
The green eggs are larger and more consistent in size than other green egg layers. The Steele Egger is friendly and adaptable to their environment as well, and that’s why there is an increase in popularity for this breed.
Steele Egger can weigh between 4 and 5 pounds. They begin laying at about eighteen weeks. They can lay up to 150 eggs in a year.
7. Sage Gem
The Sage Gem is a hybrid breed of chicken that lays sage green eggs. These beauties will give you some best-tasting eggs you have ever tasted as well.
Raising this chicken breed is an exciting adventure, as they are known to be quite friendly and easy to handle.
Sage Gem chickens have a good laying pattern and can lay up to 180 eggs a year, and they begin laying at around 25 weeks. They can weigh up to 5 pounds when fully mature.
8. Ice Cream Bar or Crested Cream Legbar
This is an incredible breed of chicken that lays beautiful sea foam green eggs. Ice Cream Bars are friendly, personable chickens that lay between 150–200 eggs each year.
As with other green-egg-laying breeds, the Ice Cream Bar is also highly prized for its unique egg color and friendly personality. They begin laying at around 22 weeks and can grow big to weigh around 6 pounds.
FAQs
Why are my chickens laying green eggs?
Green eggs are usually laid by chickens that come from hybrid egg-laying breeds. These hybrids have a specific anatomy that allows them to lay eggs with a unique color.
Are green eggs safe to eat?
Yes, green eggs are safe to eat. The green color in the shells of green eggs comes from a pigment called biliverdin, which is produced by the hen’s diet and genetics.
The green color does not affect the taste or nutritional value of the eggs. Green eggs are just as safe to eat as brown, white, or any other color of eggs, as long as they are handled and cooked properly.
Do green eggs have a different flavor?
Green eggs have the same flavor as eggs of any other color. The color of the eggshell has no effect on the taste of the egg.
The flavor of an egg is primarily determined by the diet of the hen that laid it and the method of production (cage-free, free-range, etc.).
Some people believe that green eggs have a slightly different flavor than eggs of other colors, but this is not scientifically proven and likely varies based on individual preferences.
Why would you want chickens that lay green eggs?
People may want chickens that lay green eggs for several reasons, including:
Unique appearance: Green eggs have a unique and visually appealing appearance, which can add variety and interest to a person’s egg collection.
Novelty factor: For some people, having chickens that lay green eggs is seen as a fun and unusual hobby and a way to stand out from others who have more conventional egg-laying breeds.
Bragging rights: Some people may see owning chickens that lay green eggs as a point of pride and enjoy being able to boast about their unique feathered friends to friends and family.
Educational opportunities: Having chickens that lay green eggs can provide a learning opportunity for children and adults alike, teaching them about the connection between diet, genetics, and egg production.
Regardless of the reason, owning chickens that lay green eggs can be a fun and rewarding experience for those who are interested in backyard poultry and egg production.
