If you want to add some variety to your egg basket, raising chickens that lay blue eggs is a fun – and colorful way to do it. While most people are familiar with white and brown eggs, certain chicken breeds naturally produce beautiful blue eggs thanks to a pigment called oocyanin. This pigment is deposited onto the eggshell as it forms inside the hen’s oviduct, resulting in a shell that is blue all the way through, inside and out.
Despite their unusual color, blue eggs are just as edible and nutritious as any other egg. Whether your hens lay blue, green, pink, or brown eggs, the shell color has no effect on taste, quality, or nutritional value. The only difference is the extra color that makes each collection of fresh eggs even more exciting.
If you’re a homesteader or backyard chicken keeper looking to diversify your flock, raising blue-egg layers can be a great choice. These breeds will add visual appeal to your egg basket. And many of them are hardy, friendly, and excellent layers.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular chicken breeds that produce stunning blue eggs!
Easter Egger
Easter Egger chickens are famous for their ability to lay a colorful assortment of eggs ranging from blue to green and even pink! These friendly hens fit in well with backyard and free-range homesteads; each bird will produce at least 250 eggs annually.
However, Easter eggs are hybrid chickens (selectively bred from two different breeds), so they are not the best choice for anyone wanting to hatch their own chicks.
Ameraucana
Ameraucana chickens produce stunning blue eggs, making them a popular choice among backyard and free-range chicken keepers.
These birds are friendly, curious, and tend to get along well with people, making them perfect for families. They also tolerate cold weather well and will produce a steady supply of eggs all year round.
Cream Legbar
Cream Legbar chickens are a favorite among those who want a reliable source of blue eggs. These easygoing birds are great for backyard setups and are known for their calm demeanor, making them easy to handle.
Cream Legbars do best in mild, temperate climates and will need adequate shelter during harsh winters.
Araucana
Araucana chickens certainly stand out with their distinctive lack of a tail and unique ear tufts! These exotic-looking birds lay beautiful blue eggs that add a spectacular splash of color to your egg basket.
Araucana chickens can be quite flighty, so you will need a secure enclosure if you don’t want them free-ranging over your land.
Isbar
Isbar chickens lay gorgeous blue to green-tinted eggs and are a wonderful addition to any colorful egg basket. Originally from Sweden, these chickens do well in colder climates and are suited for backyard or barn setups. They’re friendly and love to forage, making them great free-rangers too.
Whiting True Blue
As the name suggests, Whiting True Blue chickens lay delightful sky-blue eggs. They are friendly, active birds that thrive in backyard setups and free-range environments alike. These chickens are prolific layers and easy to care for, making them a popular choice for homesteaders.
Ice Cream Bar
I love the name of this delightful hybrid chicken! Created by crossing Cream Legbars with Isbars, Ice Cream Bar chickens lay pastel-colored eggs in shades ranging from light blue to green. These chickens are curious and friendly, making them great for backyard flocks.
Bluebell
Bluebell chickens are a personal favorite of mine. They have a lovely, calm, and gentle nature. They lay large, light brown eggs and are happy to hang out in a small enclosure with their friends. Bluebells are also excellent layers, providing a steady supply of eggs throughout the year.
Prairie Bluebell Egger
Prairie Bluebell Eggers are hybrids created by crossing a White Leghorn with an Ameraucana, producing prolific layers of sky-blue eggs. Prairie Bluebells are friendly and active and get along well with other chickens and people.
Green Queen
Green Queens are an extension of the Easter Egger breeding project, typically created by crossing Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers with other green or blue egg layers. These friendly birds are easy to care for and thrive in both backyard and free-range environments.
Olive Egger
Olive Eggers are a hybrid chicken, created by crossing a hen that lays blue eggs – commonly an Ameraucana – with a breed that lays brown eggs. The result is a chicken that produces beautiful olive-green eggs, hence the name. Olive Eggers are friendly and low-maintenance, making them ideal for beginners.
19 Things You Should Know Before Getting Chickens
Before you jump into the world of chicken-keeping, there are a few essential things to know. Here’s our comprehensive guide of 19 essential tips to help you become a confident and successful chicken owner!
19 Things You Should Know Before Getting Chickens
How to Choose a Heritage Chicken Breed for Your Homestead
Many homesteaders raise heritage breed chickens on their land for eggs, meat, or both. Here are the best ways to choose a heritage breed over a hybrid or production breed.
How to Choose a Heritage Chicken Breed for the Home
How to Raise Your Own Chickens
Here’s a guide on how to raise your own chickens to lay eggs and eat meat.
How to Raise Your Own Chickens
