What Is an Olive Egger Chicken? A Complete Guide to These Green Egg-Laying Wonders

Are you dreaming of collecting beautiful green eggs from your backyard flock? If so, you might want to consider adding an Olive Egger chicken to your coop! These fascinating hybrid birds have gained tremendous popularity among backyard chicken enthusiasts – and for good reason.

As someone who’s spent years researching and raising different chicken breeds, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about these unique birds. From their colorful eggs to their friendly personalities, Olive Eggers have a lot to offer for both beginners and experienced chicken keepers.

What Exactly Is an Olive Egger Chicken?

An Olive Egger is not an official breed recognized by the American Poultry Association but rather a hybrid chicken specifically bred to lay eggs with green or olive-colored shells, These birds are created by crossing a dark brown egg-laying breed with a blue egg-laying breed,

The magic happens in the egg-laying process when a chicken with genes for blue eggshells mates with one carrying genes for brown eggshells, their offspring lay eggs with a unique color. The blue pigment forms the base layer of the shell, while the brown pigment creates an overlay This combination results in the distinctive olive green color that gives these chickens their name

Common breeding pairs that produce Olive Eggers include

• Ameraucana & Marans
• Araucana & Welsummer
• Legbar & Barnevelder
• Araucana & Barnevelder
• Ameraucana & Welsummer
• Whiting True Blue & Welsummer

The History Behind Olive Egger Chickens

Olive Egger chickens trace their origins to the mid-1800s during what became known as “hen fever.” This was a period when farmers in various countries, including the Netherlands, United States, France, and England, began importing and crossbreeding different chicken varieties.

These farmers were seeking birds with specific traits, including unusual egg colors. Through selective breeding, they discovered that crossing blue egg-laying breeds with brown egg layers resulted in chickens that produced green eggs. Over time, these hybrids became more refined, leading to the development of the Olive Eggers we know today.

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

Since Olive Eggers are hybrids, their appearance can vary significantly depending on the parent breeds. However, there are some general characteristics you might notice:

Plumage

Most Olive Eggers have darker feathers, typically in shades of:

• Black
• Gray
• Brown

Some may even have bluish-black feathers with orange highlights, depending on their genetic background.

Size and Weight

Olive Eggers are medium-sized birds with average weights of:

• Hens: 5-7 pounds (typically around 6.5 pounds)
• Roosters: 7-8 pounds (typically around 7.5 pounds)

Other Physical Traits

Depending on their parentage, Olive Eggers might have:

• Pea combs
• Feathered legs
• Muffs (feathers around the face)
• Varying leg colors (slate gray or yellowish-green)

One of my Olive Eggers has the most adorable muffs that make her look like she’s wearing fuzzy earmuffs, while another has sleek, glossy black feathers – they’re both gorgeous in their own unique ways!

Temperament and Behavior

Olive Eggers are generally known for their friendly and docile nature. Most chicken keepers report that these birds are:

• Friendly throughout their lives
• Comfortable being handled by humans
• Social with other chickens
• Intelligent and curious
• Generally peaceful (including roosters, though they may still show typical territorial behaviors)

My Olive Eggers are among the friendliest chickens in my flock. They’re usually the first to greet me when I enter the coop and will follow me around the yard hoping for treats!

However, it’s important to remember that since these are hybrid birds, individual personalities can vary based on the traits inherited from parent breeds. Some might be more outgoing, while others could be slightly more reserved.

Egg Production and Characteristics

Now for the most exciting part – the eggs! Here’s what you can expect from Olive Egger chickens:

Egg Color

• Primarily olive green (ranging from light to dark olive)
• Occasionally may lay other shades of green

Egg Production

• 3-5 eggs per week
• 150-200 eggs per year (some sources report up to 260 eggs)
• Medium to large egg size

Laying Timeline

• Begin laying around 5-6 months of age
• May continue laying through winter (though production typically decreases)
• Early maturity compared to some other breeds

Broodiness

Olive Eggers tend to have a high broodiness level, making them good candidates for naturally hatching chicks. If you’re looking to expand your flock naturally, these birds might be a good choice!

Caring for Your Olive Egger Chickens

These birds are relatively easy to care for, making them suitable for beginners. Here are the basic requirements for keeping healthy, happy Olive Eggers:

Housing Requirements

Olive Eggers love to explore and forage, so giving them ample space to roam is beneficial. They’re excellent candidates for free-ranging if your property allows for it.

Feeding

Like most chickens, Olive Eggers thrive on a balanced diet appropriate for their life stage:

• Chicks: High-protein starter feed (supplemented with dried shrimp or mealworms occasionally)
• Growing Pullets: 18% protein grower feed
• Laying Hens: 16% protein layer feed plus calcium supplements like oyster shells

These birds are typically not picky eaters and will happily consume kitchen scraps and forage for insects and plants when allowed to free-range.

Temperature Tolerance

One of the great advantages of Olive Eggers is their hardiness in various climates:

• Cold Weather: Generally do well in cold temperatures thanks to their robust nature
• Hot Weather: Can tolerate heat when provided with adequate shade and fresh water

For chicks without a mother hen, start with brooder temperatures around 90-95°F, decreasing by 5 degrees weekly until they’re ready to move outside (around 7 weeks).

Health Considerations

Olive Eggers aren’t particularly prone to specific health issues, but like all chickens, they can experience:

• Common chicken ailments like vent gleet, respiratory infections, and sour crop
• External parasites like lice and mites

Regular health checks, proper nutrition, and clean living conditions go a long way in preventing most health problems.

Cost of Olive Egger Chickens

If you’re considering adding these birds to your flock, here’s what you might expect to pay:

• Chicks (straight run): $3-4 each
• Pullets: $5-10 each
• Cockerels: $3-6 each
• Adult birds: $10-60 each

Prices can vary based on the specific genetic lineage, the reputation of the breeder, and current demand for colored egg layers.

Pros and Cons of Raising Olive Eggers

Pros

• Beautiful olive green eggs
• Friendly, docile temperament
• Hardy in various climates
• Good egg production
• Early maturity
• Generally good with other chickens

Cons

• Not recognized by poultry associations (if showing chickens is important to you)
• Can be more difficult to find than common breeds
• Unpredictable appearance and exact traits due to hybrid nature

Is an Olive Egger Right for You?

An Olive Egger might be perfect for your flock if:

• You want colorful eggs in your collection
• You’re looking for a friendly, easy-to-handle chicken
• You need birds that can tolerate your local climate
• You’re interested in consistent egg production

However, if you’re specifically looking to show birds or want very predictable traits, you might prefer a recognized purebred variety.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an Olive Egger and an Easter Egger?

Easter Eggers are a broader category of hybrid chickens that can lay eggs in various colors, including blue, pink, green, brown, and white. Olive Eggers are essentially a specific type of Easter Egger that has been bred specifically to lay green eggs.

Do Olive Eggers always lay green eggs?

While most Olive Eggers lay green eggs, the shade can vary from light to dark olive. Occasionally, an Olive Egger might lay eggs that are more blue or brown, depending on its specific genetic makeup.

What is the difference between F1 and F2 Olive Eggers?

F1 Olive Eggers are the first-generation result of crossing a blue egg layer with a brown egg layer. F2 Olive Eggers are created by breeding an F1 Olive Egger with a dark brown egg layer, often resulting in eggs with an even darker shade of green.

My Personal Experience

I’ve been raising two Olive Eggers, Opal and Olive, for the past few years, and they’ve been absolutely delightful additions to my flock. Their personalities are as vibrant as their egg colors! Olive lays the most beautiful speckled olive eggs that always make me smile when I collect them.

What I love most about my Olive Eggers is their curiosity. They’re always the first ones to investigate new things in the yard, but they’re not as noisy as some of my other chickens. This makes them perfect for my semi-urban setup where I need to be mindful of noise levels.

During our harsh winters, they’ve proven to be real troopers, continuing to lay eggs when my other hens have stopped. Their puffed-out cheeks and soft feathers make them look extra adorable when they’re fluffed up against the cold!

If your dreaming about a colorful egg basket and friendly backyard companions, I can’t recommend Olive Eggers enough. They’ve truly enhanced both my egg collection and the joy I get from keeping chickens.

Have you raised Olive Eggers before? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!