Ever collected eggs from your backyard coop and wished for something more colorful than just white or brown? Well I’ve got fantastic news for ya! Blue eggs aren’t just for Easter or some weird science experiment – they’re completely natural and absolutely gorgeous additions to any egg basket.
In this article, I’m gonna walk you through the fascinating world of blue egg-laying chickens, explain why some chickens lay these beautiful blue eggs, and introduce you to 11 remarkable breeds that can bring this splash of color to your homestead.
Why Do Some Chickens Lay Blue Eggs?
The science behind blue eggs is actually pretty cool! Unlike what some folks might think, blue eggs are completely natural and weren’t created in some lab.
Here’s the interesting part – blue eggshells are caused by a pigment called oocyanin. This pigment gets deposited early in the shell-forming process as the egg moves through the hen’s oviduct Because it’s applied so early, the blue color permeates the entire shell – both inside and out!
What’s even more fascinating is that this blue egg trait developed independently in both South America and China thousands of years ago It actually started from a retrovirus that altered the chicken’s DNA Nature is wild, right?
And contrary to popular belief (which was partly fueled by marketing when Ameraucanas were first introduced to the US), blue eggs are not healthier than white or brown eggs. The nutritional value depends on the chicken’s diet and living conditions, not the shell color.
11 Chicken Breeds That Lay Blue Eggs
Let’s dive into the beautiful blue egg-laying breeds you could add to your flock!
1. Araucana
The Araucana is perhaps the most well-known breed for laying blue eggs. Originating from Chile, these chickens are recognized for their unique tufted ears and pea combs, giving them a distinctive look.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: Chile
- Size: Roosters ~5 lbs, Hens ~4 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 160-180 eggs
- Egg Size: Medium to Large
- Egg Color: Blue (often considered the bluest of all blue eggs)
- Distinctive Features: Ear tufts, rumpless (no tail), pea comb
- Temperament: Energetic, can be friendly or flighty
- Recognized by APA: Yes, in colors including black, blue, wheaten, and white
Araucanas are excellent foragers who’ll spend all day scratching for bugs and tasty plants. Their high energy makes them great free-range birds, but they might not be ideal for small confined spaces.
2. Ameraucana
Ameraucanas were developed in the USA from Araucana stock. They’ve been officially recognized as their own breed since the 1970s and are known for their friendly disposition.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: USA
- Size: Roosters 6.5 lbs, Hens 5.5 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 150 eggs
- Egg Size: Large
- Egg Color: Sky blue
- Distinctive Features: Beards and muffs (unlike Araucanas), pea comb, slate-colored legs
- Temperament: Friendly and docile
- APA Colors: Black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, self blue, silver, wheaten, and white
I absolutely love Ameraucanas because they’re super friendly birds that consistently produce beautiful blue eggs. The roosters are generally docile too, which is a huge plus for backyard flocks!
3. Easter Egger
Easter Eggers aren’t actually a breed but rather “mutts” that can lay blue eggs and other colors too! No two birds look exactly alike.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: USA
- Size: Roosters ~5 lbs, Hens ~4 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 200 eggs
- Egg Size: Medium to Large
- Egg Color: Can be blue, green, olive, brown, or even pink!
- Distinctive Features: Vary widely, often have beards/muffs and pea combs
- Temperament: Generally friendly and curious
- Not recognized by APA
Easter Eggers are often called “Rainbow Layers” because you never know what color eggs you’ll get until they start laying! They’re super fun for families because of their friendly nature and the element of surprise with egg colors.
4. Cream Legbar
Cream Legbars were developed in the UK in the 1930s at Cambridge University and are auto-sexing (you can tell males from females when they hatch).
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: UK
- Size: Roosters 6-7 lbs, Hens 4.5-5.5 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 250+ eggs
- Egg Size: Large
- Egg Color: Light blue to light green
- Distinctive Features: Crest, single comb, yellow legs, barred pattern
- Temperament: Can vary – some strains friendly, others flighty
- Not recognized by APA
Cream Legbars are excellent foragers and thrive when allowed to roam. They’re prolific layers, so if egg production is your priority, these birds are worth considering!
5. Whiting True Blue
The Whiting True Blue is a newer breed developed by poultry geneticist Dr. Tom Whiting.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: USA
- Size: Roosters 6-7 lbs, Hens 5 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 250-300 eggs
- Egg Size: Medium to Large
- Egg Color: Blue (ranging from pale sky blue to deep turquoise)
- Temperament: Friendly and docile
- Adaptability: Good heat tolerance
These birds lay about 6 eggs per week and are known for their hardiness and adaptability to different climates. They’re friendly birds that make great additions to a backyard flock.
6. Arkansas Blue
The Arkansas Blue is an experimental breed developed at the University of Arkansas.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: USA
- Size: Roosters ~6 lbs, Hens 4-5 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 250-300 eggs
- Egg Size: Medium to Large
- Egg Color: Blue
- Breed makeup: Cross between White Leghorn and Araucana
These birds are prolific layers producing about 200-300 eggs annually. However, they’re not particularly fond of being handled by people, which might be a consideration if you’re looking for more pet-like chickens.
7. Azure Blue
I’m raising Azure Blues this year, and I’m super excited about them! They’re a newer breed specifically developed to be small, friendly birds with pretty white plumage that lay lots of blue eggs.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: USA
- Size: Roosters 5 lbs, Hens 4 lbs
- Annual Egg Production: 295 eggs
- Egg Size: Large
- Egg Color: Blue
- Temperament: Friendly
These birds were specifically bred to combine beauty, friendliness, and exceptional egg-laying ability in one package.
8. Olive Egger
While not strictly blue egg layers, I’d be remiss not to mention Olive Eggers! These are crossbreeds between blue egg layers and brown egg layers.
Key Characteristics:
- Similar to Easter Eggers in appearance and temperament
- Egg Color: Olive green (created by blue pigment + brown pigment)
- Annual Egg Production: Similar to Easter Eggers
- Size: Medium
The olive green eggs are absolutely stunning in an egg basket alongside blue and brown eggs!
9. Lushi
The Lushi is a rare Chinese breed that lays blue eggs. Information about these birds is limited in the Western world.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: China
- Size: Small (Roosters ~4 lbs, Hens ~3 lbs)
- Egg Color: Blue (some sources say pink or both)
- Purpose: Dual-purpose (meat & eggs)
These birds aren’t currently available outside of China as far as we know.
10. Dongxiang
Another rare Chinese breed, the Dongxiang is a fibromelanistic bird (black feathers, skin, flesh, and organs) that lays blue eggs.
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: China
- Egg Color: Blue
- Distinctive Feature: Black everything (like the Ayam Cemani)
This fascinating combination of fibromelanistic traits and blue egg-laying ability makes them quite unique.
11. Shetland Hen
This fascinating landrace breed from Scotland has a unique history – they’re believed to have originated from Spanish galleons that ran aground in Scotland almost 500 years ago. Those Spanish ships carried chickens with the blue-egg gene from South America!
Key Characteristics:
- Origin: Scotland
- Egg Color: Blue and/or Green
- Egg Size: Medium
- Distinctive Features: Some have tufted (tappit) head feathering
- Conservation Status: Listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste as critically in need of preservation
Frequently Asked Questions
Are blue chicken eggs safe to eat?
Absolutely! Blue eggs are just as safe and nutritious as white or brown eggs. The blue color is simply a result of the oocyanin pigment in the shell and doesn’t affect the egg’s edibility or nutrition.
Do blue eggs taste different?
Nope! The flavor of eggs depends on the chicken’s diet and environment, not the shell color. Chickens with access to diverse foods and foraging opportunities will produce tastier eggs regardless of color.
Are blue eggs rare?
They’re certainly less common than white or brown eggs since fewer breeds lay blue eggs. However, with the growing popularity of breeds like Ameraucana and Easter Eggers, they’re becoming more accessible to backyard chicken keepers.
Does egg color affect nutritional value?
No! This is just a myth that started during the Ameraucana craze. Egg nutrition depends on the chicken’s diet, health, and sun exposure (for Vitamin D3) – not shell color.
Final Thoughts
Adding blue egg layers to your flock is a fun way to bring some variety and color to your egg collection. Whether you choose the friendly Ameraucana, the prolific Whiting True Blue, or the mixed-breed Easter Egger with its element of surprise, you’ll enjoy the beautiful blue eggs they produce.
Remember that while shell color is fun, the most important factors for healthy, tasty eggs are proper chicken care, good nutrition, and adequate space for your birds to express their natural behaviors.
What’s your experience with blue egg layers? Do you have a favorite breed? I’d love to hear about your colorful egg adventures in the comments below!
Chickens that lay blue or green eggs
- Easter Eggers – Our top-selling chicken breed, Easter Eggers may lay either blue or green eggs. In fact, Easter Eggers can lay other colors, too, including brown, pinkish, cream and so on. And its quite likely that even when you have two or more Easter Eggers laying blue eggs, theyre probably laying subtly or even dramatically different shades! Each hen will give ONE egg color. The egg color will not change from one egg being laid to another. For example, if your hen has just laid a green egg, it will lay a green egg its entire life.
Chickens that lay green or olive eggs
- Olive Egger – As the name suggests, Olive Eggers lay olive-colored eggs. They are a cross between a breed that lays blue eggs (such as an Ameraucana) and one that lays dark brown eggs (such as a Marans). The result is a unique green egg that varies in shade from light to dark olive.
- Favaucana – Exclusively ours! We adore this designer breed for its many wonderful qualities: Extreme docility; sage-green, medium to large eggs; beautiful little muffs, beards, and lightly feathered feet, (some with five toes!). They have pea combs and profuse feathering for cold-hardiness. Their slender body size helps with heat-tolerance. Then, of course, their overall appearance, something like a blue or black hawk, simply turns heads.
- Green Queen Easter Egger – This beautiful designer breed is the queen of the coop. Green Queens are super layers of large, green eggs*. This is a multi-generational, multi-breed “project” we have been working on for some time. Our goal is to produce a beautiful, easygoing, extremely hardy bird, and a prolific egg layer.