Move over plain white and classic brown—today’s chickens are laying jewel tones. Blue, green, olive, pinkish, speckled—sometimes all from the same backyard. And honestly, who doesn’t want their morning scramble to look like an Easter egg hunt?

But how does it happen? Is it magic? Chicken dye kits? A secret poultry paintball club?
Nope. It all comes down to science, breeds, and a little something called oocyanin.

Let’s crack into it. 🥚

🧬 The Science Behind Egg Color

All chicken eggs start out white. Even brown ones.
The final shell color depends on what pigments are deposited during the egg’s journey through the hen’s oviduct (aka her internal egg factory).

There are two main pigment players:

1. Protoporphyrin IX

This one’s responsible for brown egg shells.
It’s a pigment derived from hemoglobin (yep—blood!), and it’s applied late in the egg process—right before the egg is laid. That’s why if you crack a brown egg open, the inside of the shell is still white. The brown is just a surface-level spray tan.

2. Oocyanin

This is the pigment that gives us blue eggs.
It’s derived from bile, and here’s the fun twist: it’s introduced much earlier in the egg development process. That means oocyanin infuses all the way through the shell, turning both the outside and inside of the egg blue-ish.

🧠 Fun fact: If you crack a blue egg open, the shell is blue inside too. It’s like a Fabergé egg from nature.

🐔 Which Breeds Lay Colored Eggs?

Alright, now that you know it’s not chicken magic, here’s the good stuff: which chickens to get if you want that rainbow basket.

💙 Blue Egg Layers:

These breeds carry the oocyanin gene, which gives eggs their striking blue color—and yes, that includes the inside of the shell too. Here are the top blue-laying stars:

  • Araucanas – Originated in Chile
    These are the OG blue-egg layers. They’re rumpless (no tail feathers), often have ear tufts, and can be a bit tricky to breed due to genetic challenges.

  • Ameraucanas – Developed in the U.S. from Araucanas
    Beard and muffs? Check. Blue eggs? Check. Slightly easier to find and breed than Araucanas, and accepted by the American Poultry Association (APA).

  • Cream Legbars – A British blue-egg beauty
    These were developed in England in the 1930s by crossing Barred Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns, and Araucanas.
    Cream Legbars are friendly, stylish (hello, head crests), and best of all? They lay consistent, sky-blue eggs.
    They're also autosexing, meaning you can tell males from females at hatch based on color—aka less mystery, more planning.

🥚 Green & Olive Egg Layers:

These eggs are basically the result of blue + brown = green.
A chicken with both oocyanin and protoporphyrin in her gene pool will produce eggs in stunning shades of green, sage, or even olive.

Common breeds include:

  • Olive Eggers – A hybrid, usually a mix of a blue-layer (like Ameraucana) and a dark brown-layer (like Marans).

  • Easter Eggers – Ah yes, the wildcard of colored eggs…

🐣 So What Is an Easter Egger Anyway?

You’ve probably heard someone say, “Oh I have Easter Eggers!” like they just won the backyard chicken lottery. And… they kinda did.

Easter Egger isn’t a recognized breed—it’s more like a nickname for any chicken that carries the oocyanin gene but isn’t a purebred Araucana or Ameraucana.

They’re often a mix that might lay blue, green, pink, olive, or even tan eggs. Every hen is a surprise, and no two are exactly the same.
It’s like having chickens that come with a built-in egg lottery. 🐓🎟️

🐔 Pro tip: Want a colorful egg basket? Get a variety of blue and dark brown layers, toss in a few Easter Eggers, and boom—rainbow.

🧺 How to Keep the Color Coming

Whether you’re team sky-blue or love a good speckled olive egg, keeping your colored-egg layers happy is key.
That means:

  • A well-ventilated, predator-proof coop (👋 hey there, OverEZ)

  • Calcium-rich feed to support shell quality

  • Clean nesting boxes (because nobody wants their rainbow dirty)

Want to show off your eggs? A nice egg basket with soft padding keeps them from cracking before you’ve posted them on Instagram. #HumbleBrag

🎉 Final Cluck: Let’s Get Colorful

Raising chickens that lay colored eggs isn’t just fun—it’s like having a living art project in your backyard.
With the right breeds, a cozy coop, and a little know-how, you can have your very own rainbow in a basket.

And the best part? They’re not just pretty—they’re tasty, too.

Now go forth and collect those technicolor treasures, you fabulous egg wrangler. 🐓🌈🥚

Want help picking the perfect coop for your colored-egg crew?
OverEZ Chicken Coop has coops big enough, safe enough, and stylish enough to house your flock and their fabulous egg collection.