Have you ever grabbed a carton of eggs at the farmers market and done a double-take at those gorgeous blue shells nestled among the whites and browns? Or maybe you’ve spotted these azure beauties on social media and wondered if they’re even real? Well, I’m here to tell ya that blue chicken eggs aren’t some fancy Easter marketing gimmick or the result of food coloring tricks. They’re 100% natural, and the science behind them is absolutely fascinating!
As someone who’s raised backyard chickens for years, I’ve become a bit obsessed with collecting these colorful gems. My friends always gasp when I crack open a blue egg to reveal… regular egg insides! So let’s dive into the surprising world of blue eggs and the special chickens that lay them.
The Science Behind Blue Egg Shells: It All Started with a Virus!
Believe it or not, the blue color in chicken eggs comes from something pretty unexpected – a retrovirus! I know that word might sound scary in our post-pandemic world, but this particular virus has been around for thousands of years and actually changed chicken DNA in a really cool way.
Here’s the wild part: this genetic mutation happened independently in two completely different parts of the world – both in South America (specifically Chile) and in China. Talk about parallel evolution!
According to research, a retrovirus called EAV-HP inserted itself into the chicken genome way back in history. This virus contained something called Ribonucleic Acid that literally rewrote the DNA profile of certain chickens. This genetic change resulted in these chickens producing a pigment called oocyanin that gives eggs their blue color.
What makes blue eggs even more special is how the pigment works. Let me explain how different egg colors happen:
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White eggs: These are the “default” egg color. All chicken eggs actually start out white, made primarily of calcium carbonate. Breeds like Leghorns don’t have any pigment genes, so their eggs stay white.
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Brown eggs: Breeds like Rhode Island Reds add a brown pigment called protoporphyrin to the egg fairly late in the shell-forming process (about 4-6 hours before laying). This brown “dye” only affects the outside of the shell – if you look inside a brown eggshell, it’s still white!
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Blue eggs: The blue pigment oocyanin is applied much earlier in the egg-forming journey. The amazing thing is that this blue color permeates the entire shell, so blue eggs are blue inside and out! You can’t scratch off the blue color like you can with brown eggs.
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Green eggs: These are created when a chicken has both blue and brown pigment genes. The blue oocyanin is applied first (making the inside of the shell blue), and then the brown protoporphyrin is added later, making the outside appear green – like mixing blue and brown together!
The Journey of an Egg Through a Hen
To really understand how we get blue eggs, it helps to know the process a hen goes through to create an egg. It’s not as simple as you might think!
An egg’s complete journey through a hen’s reproductive system (oviduct) takes about 26 hours from start to finish. The shell takes approximately 20 hours to form completely. For blue egg layers, the oocyanin pigment is deposited very early in this journey, which is why it penetrates the entire shell.
Brown egg layers, on the other hand, deposit their pigment (protoporphyrin) much later in the process, which is why it only stains the surface of the shell. That’s the reason brown eggs are white on the inside of the shells, but blue eggs are blue all the way through.
11 Chicken Breeds That Lay Beautiful Blue Eggs
Now that we understand the “how,” let’s talk about the “who” – the special chickens that lay these blue beauties! There are actually 11 known breeds of chickens that can lay blue eggs. Some are common and easy to find, while others are super rare and exotic.
Here’s my roundup of the blue egg layers:
1. Ameraucana
Origin: USA
Egg Production: Around 150 eggs per year
Personality: Friendly and docile
Ameraucanas were developed in the United States from ancient South American blue egg-laying breeds, particularly the Araucana. They’ve been recognized as their own breed since the 1970s. These chickens are super friendly, including the roosters, and come in many beautiful colors. They consistently lay blue eggs and have those adorable “muffs” and “beards” of feathers around their faces.
I added two Ameraucanas to my flock last year, and they’re some of my favorite chickens. Their eggs are a gorgeous medium blue shade that make my egg basket look like a work of art!
2. Araucana
Origin: Chile
Egg Production: 160-180 eggs annually
Personality: Energetic and curious
The Araucana is the original blue egg layer from Chile, and they produce the bluest eggs of any chicken breed. These unique birds are known for their prominent ear tufts and rumplessness (they have no tails!). They’re highly energetic and excellent foragers who will happily scratch through pastures all day searching for tasty bugs and plants.
Fun fact: When Americans first discovered blue eggs through the Araucana chicken, there was an absolute frenzy! Part of the excitement was fueled by the claim that blue eggs were more nutritious than white or brown eggs. This is actually a myth – egg nutrition depends on the hen’s diet and health, not shell color.
3. Easter Egger
Origin: USA
Egg Production: Around 200 eggs per year
Personality: Varies, often friendly
Easter Eggers are probably the most common blue egg layers you’ll find. Here’s the thing though – they’re not actually a recognized breed! They’re basically chicken “mutts” that carry the blue egg gene. What makes Easter Eggers so fun is that no two birds look exactly alike, and you never know exactly what color eggs you’ll get until they start laying – could be blue, blue-green, green, olive, or even brown!
My first Easter Egger laid the prettiest turquoise eggs I’d ever seen. My second one? Olive green! It’s like a surprise gift every time.
4. Cream Legbar
Origin: UK
Egg Production: 250+ eggs annually
Personality: Independent, excellent foragers
Cream Legbars were developed in the UK in the 1930s at Cambridge University. Their ancestors include Brown Leghorns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Araucanas, and Gold Campines. The blue egg gene came from the Araucana in their lineage. These birds are known for being prolific layers and are “autosexing,” meaning you can tell males from females at hatching by their different down colors.
5. Whiting True Blue
Origin: USA
Egg Production: 250-300 eggs per year
Personality: Friendly with good heat tolerance
This is a relatively new breed named after poultry geneticist Dr. Tom Whiting. They’re excellent layers that do well in warm climates and have friendly personalities. They’re becoming more popular for backyard flocks because of their productivity and beautiful blue eggs.
6. Arkansas Blue
Origin: USA
Egg Production: 250-300 eggs annually
Personality: Unknown (experimental breed)
The Arkansas Blue is an experimental breed developed at the University of Arkansas. It’s a cross between a White Leghorn and an Araucana. While they lay beautiful blue eggs and are excellent producers, they’re not yet widely available to the public as of this writing.
7. Azure Blue
Origin: USA
Egg Production: Around 295 eggs per year
Personality: Small and friendly
The Azure Blue is a newer breed specifically created to be a small, friendly chicken with pretty white plumage that lays an abundance of large blue eggs. With nearly 300 eggs per year, they’re one of the most productive blue egg layers out there!
8. Lushi
Origin: China
Egg Production: Unknown
Personality: Unknown
The Lushi is one of the mysterious Chinese blue egg layers. Information about them is limited, but we know they’re small birds. Some sources say they lay blue eggs, while others claim they lay pink eggs or a mixture of both. They’re not found outside of China, so they remain somewhat of a mystery to Western chicken keepers.
9. Dongxiang
Origin: China
Egg Production: Unknown
Personality: Unknown
Another rare Chinese breed, the Dongxiang is a fibromelanistic bird, which means their feathers, skin, flesh, blood, and organs are pitch black – similar to the famous Ayam Cemani. They lay blue eggs, but like the Lushi, they’re not available outside of China.
10. Shetland Hen
Origin: Scotland
Egg Production: Unknown
Personality: Hardy and adaptable
The Shetland Hen has a fascinating origin story! They trace their beginnings to Spanish galleons that ran aground in Scotland almost 500 years ago. Some of these boats carried chickens with the blue-egg gene from South America. These Spanish birds bred with local Scottish chickens and produced these unique birds with tufted head feathering. They’re critically endangered and listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste as a breed in need of preservation.
11. Fibro Easter Egger
Origin: USA
Egg Production: 200-260 eggs annually
Personality: Unknown (new hybrid)
The Fibro Easter Egger is an exciting new hybrid that combines the blue egg gene with fibromelanosis (black pigmentation). These birds are black in every way – from feathers to meat, bones, and beyond – but lay beautiful blue or green eggs! They’re likely a cross between a black Ameraucana and an Ayam Cemani or similar black chicken.
Common Myths About Blue Eggs (Debunked!)
Whenever something unusual comes along, myths tend to follow! Let me clear up some common misconceptions about blue eggs:
Myth #1: Blue eggs are more nutritious than white or brown eggs.
Truth: The nutritional content of an egg has absolutely nothing to do with shell color. What matters is the hen’s diet, health, and access to sunlight (for Vitamin D3). A healthy, pasture-raised chicken will lay nutritious eggs regardless of whether they’re white, brown, or blue.
Myth #2: Blue eggs taste different than other eggs.
Truth: Egg taste is determined by what the chicken eats, not the shell color. A blue egg from a chicken fed the same diet as a chicken that lays brown eggs will taste identical. The only reason some people might think brown or blue eggs taste better is that these eggs often come from backyard or small farm chickens that have better diets than commercial layers.
Myth #3: Blue eggs are artificial or dyed.
Truth: Blue eggs are 100% natural! The blue color comes from a genetic trait that certain chicken breeds possess. No dyes or chemicals are involved.
Myth #4: All blue egg layers have blue earlobes.
Truth: While it’s true that white-earlobed chickens typically lay white eggs, the blue egg trait doesn’t correlate with earlobe color. Most blue egg layers actually have red earlobes!
Starting Your Own Blue Egg Flock
If you’re thinking about raising some blue egg layers yourself (and honestly, who wouldn’t want these gorgeous eggs?), here are some tips:
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Choose the right breed for your situation: If you want lots of eggs, go with Cream Legbars or Azure Blues. If you prefer friendly chickens that are good with kids, Ameraucanas are a great choice.
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Check availability: Some blue egg layers like the Ameraucana and Easter Egger are readily available at most farm supply stores in spring. Rarer breeds might require ordering from specialty hatcheries.
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Be patient: Most chickens start laying around 5-6 months of age, but some heritage breeds take longer. Your blue egg layers might not start producing until they’re 6-8 months old.
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Don’t count on all blue eggs: If you get Easter Eggers, remember that they’re mixed breeding means you might get blue eggs, green eggs, or even brown eggs. It’s a surprise!
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Provide proper nutrition: To get the most vibrant blue eggs, make sure your chickens have a balanced diet rich in calcium and protein.
The Bottom Line on Blue Eggs
Blue eggs are one of nature’s most beautiful creations, and now you know they’re the result of an ancient virus that changed chicken DNA thousands of years ago! While they’re not nutritionally different from white or brown eggs, they certainly make your egg basket more colorful and conversations about your chickens more interesting.
I’ve been raising blue egg layers for several years now, and I still get excited every time I collect those pretty blue orbs from the nesting boxes. There’s something magical about the variety of colors that chickens can produce, and blue eggs are definitely the showstoppers.
What’s your experience with blue eggs? Have you tried raising any of these special chicken breeds? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear about your colorful egg adventures!
How can I tell what color egg a hen will lay?
You can sometimes tell what color egg a certain breed will lay depending on what breed class it is categorized in by the American Poultry Association. Most chicken breeds in the Asiatic breed class and American breed class will lay brown colored eggs of different shades, depending on the breed. The one exception is the Holland chicken in the American class who lays white eggs. Chicken breeds in the Mediterranean breed class will also lay white eggs. A breed will only have a breed class if it has been recognized by the American Poultry Association.
Another way by which you can sometimes determine what color egg a hen will lay is by looking at her earlobes. In general, if a hen has white colored earlobes she will lay white eggs, if she has red earlobes she will lay brown eggs, and if she has a bluish tinge to her earlobes she will lay blue or green eggs. However, there are some exceptions! Here are a few exceptions to be aware of when identifying colored eggs layers based on their earlobes:
- White egg layers w/ red earlobes- Crevecoeur, Dorking, Redcap, Sumatra
- Blue egg layers w/ white earlobes- Araucana, Ameraucana
- Brown egg layers w/ white earlobes- Pendesenca
How are different colored eggs laid?
All eggs are laid the same way. The color of an egg can be in the eggshell or the bloom. The bloom is the protective coating that is applied to an egg right before it is laid. When an egg’s color is applied to the eggshell, it is applied within the 20 hours it takes for the eggshell to be formed within a hen’s oviduct.
White is the natural color of an eggshell and the bloom of an egg is naturally clear. White egg laying breeds to not apply any color to the eggshell or the bloom.
Brown eggs have the color applied in the bloom. Brown egg layers have a gene that apply a brown pigment to the bloom before it is applied to the egg. That is why when you crack open a brown shelled egg, the interior shell membranes are usually white or cream. It also explains why when you wash a brown egg, some of the shell pigment can be washed off when the bloom is scrubbed off of the eggshell.
Blue eggs get their color from the eggshell. Blue egg laying breeds have a gene that applies the blue pigment to the eggshell as it is being formed around the egg. That is why blue eggs are blue all the way through, even to the interior of the eggshell.
Green eggs are the result of a blue shelled egg being coated with a brown bloom coating. Usually, green egg laying breeds are a cross between a brown egg laying breed and a blue egg laying breed. The different shades of green that are laid by certain breeds come from different shades of brown bloom coating being applied to the blue eggshell.
Blue Eggs Uncovered: The Fascinating Breeds You Need to Know!
FAQ
Why do chickens lay blue eggs?
At least, by this point. ABC News explains that the chickens that lay blue eggs do so due to the presence of bilirubin, a chemical compound that some chickens lay on their eggs. Similarly, brown eggs gain their color from added protoporphyrin.
Why are my eggs blue or green?
The blue or green color of eggs is caused by the pigment biliverdin. Breeds like the Araucana, Ameraucana, and Easter Egger are known to lay blue or green eggs due to a genetic variation that leads to the production of this pigment. Can you eat eggs of different colors? Yes, eggs of different colors are safe to eat.
What are blue eggs?
Blue eggs are chicken eggs that have a light shade of blue on the shell. If you’ve been around a chicken farm, or have backyard chickens, or open up those fancy egg cartons at the store, you may have seen blue eggs, brown eggs, and even green eggs. Why so many different colors?
Why do Araucana chickens have blue eggs?
For instance, Araucana chickens are known for their blue eggs due to a genetic trait that causes the shell to lack the pigment porphyrin. Similarly, some breeds like the Ameraucana and Marans produce dark brown or olive-green eggs, while others like the Leghorn lay white eggs.
Are blue eggs safe to eat?
Blue chicken eggs are natural. Blue eggs are perfectly safe to eat and blue eggs are no better for you than any other egg. The only reason they’re blue is because they come from certain breeds of chicken. What chickens lay blue eggs? Ameraucanas, Araucanas and Cream Legbars are a few of the chicken breeds that lay blue eggs.
Which chicken lays blue eggs?
There is also a new hybrid called the Fibro Easter Egger — a black chicken that has black skin and bones but lays blue eggs! And some of these make up the best egg-laying chicken breeds around. Why Do Chickens Lay Blue Eggs? I’ll email you a link to this post! I agree to be sent email. Why Do Chickens Lay Blue Eggs?
Is it okay to eat blue chicken eggs?
These eggs are completely safe to eat and come from small pasture-raised farms that prioritize animal welfare and nutrition. Next time you’re shopping for eggs, consider picking up some pasture-raised blue eggs and enjoy the delicious flavor and health benefits they bring!
Are blue eggs healthier than regular eggs?
Are blue chicken eggs different?
A pigment called oocyanin is deposited on the egg of the Ameraucana breed, penetrating the outside and inside of the shell and making both blue. Other breeds such as Araucana, Dongxiang and Lushi lay blue or blue-green eggs. An olive egg results from a cross between a brown egg-laying breed and a blue egg-laying breed.
Why are blue eggs expensive?