Olive Egger – The Designer Egg Layer

The Olive Egger isn’t a breed — it’s a brilliant genetic mashup. Created by crossing a dark brown egg layer (like a Marans or Welsummer) with a blue egg layer (like an Ameraucana or Araucana), the Olive Egger is your ticket to eggs in every shade of green. Mossy green, army green, sage, and sometimes so dark you’d swear they were painted by a forest nymph on a caffeine bender.

Because they’re hybrids, Olive Eggers don’t have a set appearance. Some have fluffy muffs and beards, others look sleek and clean-faced. Feather colors? Everything from smoky gray to coppery brown, sometimes even splashed or speckled. It’s a backyard chicken roulette — but every spin lands on “gorgeous eggs.”

Egg-laying varies based on parent breeds, but you can expect a solid 170–220 eggs per year, with color intensity and size shifting from one bird to the next. These chickens tend to be hardy, personable, and great foragers. They're not fussy, they handle most weather well, and they’ll often strut around like they know their eggs are the reason your neighbors are jealous.

They aren’t ideal for breeders (because the results are inconsistent), but if you’re collecting chickens for color, charm, and that "ooh!" when someone sees your egg carton, the Olive Egger is your green-shelled golden girl.

Olive Egger at a Glance

Size: Medium to large
Egg Production: 170–220 per year
Egg Color: Olive green (shades vary widely)
Temperament: Calm, curious, good foragers
Cold Hardy: Yes
Heat Tolerant: Yes
Good for Beginners: Absolutely
Feather Color: Wild card — no standard
Broody Tendency: Occasionally
Life Expectancy: 6–8 years
Bonus Feature: The most envied eggs at the farmer’s market

The Olive Egger is the coop’s rebel with a purpose. Unpredictable in looks, unbeatable in personality, and a total show-off when it comes to egg color, she’s the hen that turns a plain carton into a treasure chest.