12 Chicken Breeds That Lay Green Eggs

Have you ever wondered about chickens that lay green eggs? Yes, you read that right. There are indeed a number of chicken breeds that don’t just lay white or brown eggs but rather a fascinating range of colors, such as green.

However, it should be noted that there are some misconceptions about these eggs. In fact, many people think green chicken eggs are healthier than their traditional counterparts.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about such uniquely-colored eggs. So, what chickens lay green eggs? Read on to find out!

12 Chickens That Lay Green Eggs

1. Swedish Isbar

The Swedish Isbar holds a unique title among chicken breeds that lay green eggs. This breed is the only purebred chicken recognized for producing such fascinatingly colored eggs.

Flaunting a single crest atop their head, Swedish Isbar chickens are also known for their yellow beak and feet. Further, they exhibit a small, compact body with long legs.

Despite their small size, Swedish Isbars don’t fall short on egg production. They are capable of laying approximately five eggs per week, offering a steady supply of green eggs.

Yet, beyond their egg-laying prowess, these fowls are known for their sharp foraging skills, adding to their appeal for those wanting a versatile breed.

Here’s a video that will give you an idea of what the Swedish Isbar chicken’s green eggs look like:

2. Favaucana

The Favaucana, a relatively new breed of chicken, surfaced in 2013. This breed is a hybrid made by crossing Faverolles and Ameraucanas, resulting in chickens that lay beautiful, colored eggs.

As a matter of fact, Favaucana eggs come in a delightful palette of shades, including blue-green, olive, blue, and tan, earning them the distinction of being one of the chickens that lay colored eggs.

Notably, Favaucana hens lay between 150 and 180 of these uniquely-pigmented eggs a year. They are also known for being excellent mothers with broods that grow quickly.

In terms of egg size, Favaucana chickens tend to produce medium to large-sized eggs. This characteristic makes them perfect for backyard flocks as well as commercial farms.

3. Sage Gem Bantam

The Sage Gem, a cross without an American Poultry Association (APA) breed standard, is a pint-sized version of the Bantam chicken.

Though small in size, they are known for their remarkable egg production capabilities, offering between 200 and 260 eggs per year.

However, it is worth noting that these eggs are uniquely appealing, with olive, sage-green, and tan shades that make them a beautiful addition to any coop.

Regarding the appearance of Sage Gems, nothing is more captivating than their combination of red and black or white and orange feathers. They can also display feathered legs, beards, muffs, and crests.

As for personality traits, anticipate that these chickens are outgoing and friendly. They are relatively easygoing when it comes to handling new situations too.

4. Cream Legbar

Meet the Cream Legbar chicken, also fondly referred to as Crested Cream Legbar.

This specific breed of chicken is renowned for their highly productive laying ability, contributing 150 to 200 blue-green eggs per year to their keeper’s egg collection.

To be exact, these eggs are medium in size and have a slightly pale color that ranges from almost white to light green with an occasional hint of blue. Their shell is smooth, glossy, and thin.

In my years of working with different chicken breeds, my experience with Cream Legbars has always kept me on my toes. Their active and curious nature gives them the urge to roam around and explore.

They are also very alert compared to other chicken breeds I’ve handled. If they are dogs, they would probably be the equivalent of Dobermans and Rottweilers in terms of their ability to guard and sense threats.

5. Araucana

The Araucana chicken, originating from South America, is one of the fascinating chicken breeds that lay green eggs.

In particular, they are famous for producing bluish-green or even pink eggs, adding vibrant colors to your egg basket.

This breed is also known for their consistent egg production; typical Araucanas can lay 150 to 180 eggs per year. Yet, note that egg colors can vary from one hen to another, reflecting their diverse genetic makeup.

Size-wise, the green eggs laid by Araucana chickens are medium to large and weigh about two ounces each on average. This makes them a favorite among avid egg collectors and backyard farmers alike.

6. Easter Egger

As a designer breed, the Easter Egger chicken is known for its capacity to lay a variety of colored eggs and its versatile adaptability.

For one, unlike breeds that conform to specific standards, Easter Eggers are a combination of various fowls, leading to a rich genetic diversity. Consequently, the color of their eggs can range from blue to green to pink.

On top of that, Easter Egger chickens are one of the best egg layers that lay different-colored eggs. In just a single year, they can produce roughly 180 to 200 large to extra large eggs.

However, note that despite their vibrant contribution, they are not assertive chickens. In a mixed flock, they may end up being bullied.

For this reason, it’s best to monitor their social interactions in a coop environment to ensure their well-being.

7. Olive Egger

The Olive Egger is a unique hybrid that combines the best of both worlds when it comes to egg colors. They’re one of those special chickens that lay green eggs, more specifically, a charming pastel green or olive hue.

Olive Eggers come from a complex lineage, including Legbars, Marans, and Ameraucanas. This blend of mixed genetics contributes to their adaptive capabilities and the beauty of their eggs.

However, this breed is a combination of two parents that each lay different-colored eggs.

For instance, one parent makes brown eggs, while the other makes blue eggs, resulting in a mix that gives Olive Eggers their signature egg color.

These chickens are not just about looks, though, as they are also robust layers. In fact, an Olive Egger hen can lay around 150 to 200 eggs per year.

8. Green Queen

In terms of the diversity of egg colors, the Green Queen chicken truly stands as the queen of the coop. This breed is a specific type of Easter Egger. As such, they inherit the ability to lay eggs with varying colors.

As with other fowls in this list, Green Queen chickens lay green eggs. Yet, they don’t stop there. They also lay blue, pink, brown, and even white eggs, which makes them stand out from the rest of their brethren.

When it comes to productivity, these chickens lay approximately 280 to 320 eggs yearly. Such prolific laying makes them a great choice for those who want a consistent supply of eggs.

9. Steele Egger

Another designer chicken breed that can lay green eggs is the Steele Egger. Developed by Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily, these fowls can lay an array of colored eggs.

The egg-laying prowess of Steele Eggers isn’t confined to green eggs; they also lay blue and tan-pigmented ones. This means you’ll have a great selection of browns, blues, and greens available at any time.

Steele Egger chickens are known for their medium-sized eggs as well. Furthermore, they are excellent egg layers, producing about 150 to 200 eggs in an annual cycle.

10. Ameraucana

If you are planning to get chickens that lay different colored eggs, Ameraucanas are a top pick to consider. They are a breed that combines aesthetics and productivity, making them a good addition to any coop.

For one thing, these chickens are pretty productive, as up to 200 green eggs are produced by female Ameraucanas annually. However, they don’t stop at greens; sometimes, a few of their eggs are blue in color.

On another note, it should be highlighted that Ameraucana chickens are not a specific breed but rather a mixed variety.

They were bred from the Araucanas and several other chicken types like the Dominique, Brahma, and Ancona.

Overall, the influence of these different breeds contributes to the Ameraucana’s distinct egg colors.

11. Ice Cream Bar

One of the chicken breeds laying green eggs that you should know about is the Ice Cream Bar. Basically, they are a cross between Swedish Isbars and Cream Legbars, contributing to their name.

Generally speaking, Ice Cream Bar chickens lay green eggs but with a twist. The eggs are not just green; they have a greenish-blue hue. This trait comes from both parent breeds having blue-green eggs themselves.

Ice Cream Bars are also notable for their productive laying. They can lay between 150 and 200 eggs yearly, making them an ideal option for anyone looking to start their own egg business or simply get fresh eggs daily.

12. Starlight Green Egger

For those who are interested in a hybrid that specializes in laying green eggs, the Starlight Green Egger is also an excellent choice. They are distinct for their genetic makeup and color-specific egg production.

In terms of their origin, these chickens were created by Hoover’s Hatchery, which utilized a crossbreeding process. They combined a Prairie Bluebell Egger, another mixed chicken, with a brown egg layer to form this breed.

In addition to their green egg color, Starlight Green Eggers are impressive egg layers. They can lay up to 280 eggs a year, making them reliable and high-yielding fowls.

To add to that, Green Eggers lay regularly and continue to lay throughout the year, ensuring a constant supply of unique green eggs for their keeper’s family or business.

What Gives the Green Eggs Their Color?

Generally, understanding how green eggs get their color involves a glimpse into the biology of egg production. It all begins with different chicken breeds and their ability to produce colored eggs.

While most hens lay brown eggs, there are chicken breeds that lay green, blue, or, more specifically, olive-colored eggs. The process behind green egg-laying involves two primary pigments: protoporphyrin and oocyanin.

Initially, chicken eggs start out white and will be mixed with a brown layer, courtesy of the protoporphyrin pigment. This pigment is produced by a fowl breed that can lay brown eggs, like Orpingtons and Welsummers.

However, note that for chickens that lay blue or green eggs, there’s another layer added. This additional layer is colored with oocyanin, which the hen secretes as the egg goes through its creation process.

Specifically, oocyanin overlays the brown egg and gives it a blue or leafy color, resulting in beautiful green eggs. Yet, bear in mind that if the initial brown layer is murkier, the end result is a darker green egg.

In short, the balance between these two pigments determines the final shade of a particular egg.

Why Would You Want Chickens That Lay Green Eggs?

You might wonder why anyone would want to keep chickens that lay green eggs, but there are a few compelling reasons.

First, green chicken eggs add uniqueness to your egg basket, elevating it beyond the regular white or brown eggs typically produced by most hens.

On the other hand, for those who enjoy hosting Easter egg festivals, having hens that naturally produce green eggs can make the event even more fun and memorable.

Instead of needing to dye the eggs, they are already a beautiful shade of sage green or even dark olive green, straight from the chicken coop. The visual appeal of these colorful eggs can really set your celebration apart.

Moreover, for individuals who appreciate aesthetics and have a fondness for different colored eggs, green egg layers, like Olive Eggers, are an excellent choice.

These hybrid chickens add a vibrant touch to your daily egg collection — and with their capacity to lay around 200 eggs per year, you’ll have plenty of green-colored eggs to appreciate.

Are Green Eggs Different Than Other Eggs?

Visually, green chicken eggs are certainly unique, standing out amidst the usual white, cream, pink, or brown eggs.

To be specific, this green color is the result of crossbreeding, typically involving chicken breeds that lay blue eggs with those that lay darker eggs.

Green eggs are also relatively rare. Only a few specific breeds, such as the Olive Egger and Swedish Isbar, have the genetic makeup that allows them to lay such eggs.

Despite these differences, it’s essential to note that green eggs share lots of similarities with other eggs.

In terms of taste and nutritional content, green chicken eggs are just like their differently-colored counterparts. They contain the same components inside — a yolk surrounded by egg white.

As an avid homesteader, I vividly remember the amazement I felt when my first batch of chickens, particularly a mixed flock of Easter Eggers, Sage Gems, and Cream Legbars, started to lay green-colored eggs.

What struck me was the similarity in taste and texture between the green and standard white eggs. Despite their dissimilar outer colors, their insides were identical, which was a pleasant surprise.

So, while its shell might have a different hue, the flavor of a green egg is virtually indistinguishable from that of a white or brown egg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Rare Is a Green Chicken Egg?

Green chicken eggs are among the rarest in the egg-laying world. They’re typically the product of crossbreeding between different chicken breeds that lay blue eggs and those with dark brown eggs.

Further, green egg-laying chickens are usually a relatively new breed, like the Olive Eggers, contributing to their scarcity. Hence, know you have something unique if you happen upon a green egg in your coop.

What Easter Egger Lays Green Eggs?

The type of Easter Egger that lays green eggs is the Olive Egger, which results from crossbreeding generally involving a blue egg layer and another breed that makes brown eggs.

There’s also the Steele Egger, Starlight Green Egger, and the Green Queen chicken that produces bluish-green eggs.

Why Are Green Eggs So Expensive?

Green eggs can cost anywhere from $3 to $20 per egg, and their price is mainly attributed to their rarity and high demand.

Also, only specific chicken breeds, such as the Olive Egger, Sage Gem Bantam, and Ameraucana, can lay eggs that are green in color, making them scarce.

Therefore, the combination of limited supply and high demand contributes to the higher price of green chicken eggs than more commonly colored ones.

Are Green Eggs Better Than White Eggs?

Green chicken eggs are not at all superior to white eggs. The only distinction between them is the color, which is a result of the breed of chicken that lays them.

Inside, green-colored eggs contain the same nutritious content as white ones. Simply put, they provide the same amount of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals you’d find in a standard white egg.

Thus, the choice between green and white eggs is typically based on personal preference or aesthetic considerations rather than nutritional benefits.

Do Green Eggs Taste Different?

Despite their unique exterior, green eggs do not taste different from other eggs. Always remember that the color of an eggshell does not influence the flavor of the contents inside.

So, whether a chicken lays green, white, or even blue eggs, know that the taste won’t be altered. This means you can enjoy your green eggs just as you would any other, whether that’s scrambled, boiled, or in an omelet.

Did the article spark your interest in chickens that lay green eggs? Share your thoughts, insights, and questions about these green egg layers in the comments!