Claire Thompson
Olive Egger chickens are a hybrid breed known for their olive-green eggs and endearing personalities. They originated in the early 20th century through the crossbreeding of heritage chicken breeds, specifically those that lay blue and brown eggs. The goal was to create a hybrid with the desired trait of laying greenish-hued eggs. Olive Eggers can vary significantly in appearance and temperament depending on their parent breeds, but they are generally medium-sized with striking plumage and docile personalities. They are known to be compatible with a wide variety of other chicken breeds, making them a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Egg colour | Olive or moss green |
| Weight | Females (hens): 6 lbs.; Males (roosters): 7-8 lbs. |
| Appearance | Gray and black (adults) or brown and black (chicks); can also be various colours like black or grey, depending on the parents |
| Plumage | Striking and varied; can be smooth or frizzled; mixture of earthy tones |
| Behaviour | Docile temperament; chatty; can be broody |
| Compatibility | Compatible with a wide variety of other chicken breeds but should be matched for temperament and physical size |
| Lineage | Hybrid breed; unpredictable; can have feathered feet |
| Egg-laying abilities | May lay eggs in winter; hens normally produce 3-5 eggs per week, or 150-200 eggs per year |
| Breeding | Cross between a breed that lays blue eggs and a breed that lays brown eggs, e.g. Ameraucana, Araucana, Marans, Barnevelder, Empordanesa, Penedesenca, or Welsumer |
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What You'll Learn
Blue-egg-laying breeds like Araucana, Ameraucana, and Cream Legbar
Olive Eggers originated in the early 20th century through the crossbreeding of these blue egg-laying breeds with dark brown egg-laying breeds like Marans. By selectively breeding chickens with these traits, breeders were able to produce offspring that inherited the genes for both blue and dark brown egg-laying, resulting in hens that laid olive-green eggs. The colour of Olive Egger chickens' eggs can vary depending on the specific genetics inherited from their parent breeds. In addition to their unique egg colours, Olive Eggers are known for their endearing personalities and striking plumage, which can vary significantly depending on their parent breeds. They often display a mixture of earthy tones such as browns, greys, and blacks in their feathers, along with speckling, mottling, or other unique patterns.
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Brown-egg-laying breeds like Barnevelder, Empordanesa, and Marans
Olive Egger chickens are a hybrid breed known for their unique olive-green eggs and endearing personalities. They originated in the early 20th century through the crossbreeding of heritage chicken breeds, specifically those that lay blue or dark brown eggs, such as the Araucana, Ameraucana, and Marans. The resulting hens, or Olive Eggers, inherit the genes for both blue and dark brown egg-laying traits, leading to their distinctive olive-green eggs. The specific parent breeds involved in crossbreeding can vary, resulting in a diverse range of appearances, including varied plumage colours, patterns, and feather textures.
When considering brown-egg-laying breeds to contribute to the desired dark brown egg trait in Olive Eggers, three notable options are the Barnevelder, Empordanesa, and Marans. Barnevelder chickens, originating from the Netherlands, are known for their docile and friendly personalities, as well as their ability to tolerate both summer heat and winter cold. They are medium-sized, with hens weighing around 5.5 to 6 pounds and roosters reaching 7 to 8 pounds. Barnevelders lay dark brown eggs, sometimes described as "chocolate" in colour, and they are excellent nurturers, making them a good choice for families with young children.
Empordanesa chickens, on the other hand, are a Spanish breed from the Catalonia district. They are well-suited to hot climates and are known for their alertness and wariness of predators. Empordanesa chickens are smaller, with roosters averaging 5 to 6 pounds and hens around 4 pounds. They lay unusually dark brown eggs, ranging from warm terra cotta to a very dark chocolate brown. The Black variety of Empordanesa is particularly prized for its dual-purpose capabilities. However, it is important to note that only the White Empordanesa variety has been imported to the United States, and the breed is not recognised by the American Poultry Association.
Marans chickens have a complex history, with the British Marans potentially deriving from crossbreeding a variety of breeds, including the Braekel, Coucou de Malines, Coucou de Rennes, and others. The French breed standard recognises ten colours, while the British Marans is known for its unfeathered shanks. Marans chickens are believed to be one of the parent breeds that contributed to the development of Olive Eggers due to their dark brown egg-laying trait.
By selectively breeding Barnevelder, Empordanesa, or Marans chickens with other blue egg-laying breeds, such as Araucana or Ameraucana, breeders can aim to produce offspring that will inherit the desired combination of genes for both blue and dark brown egg-laying traits, resulting in the coveted olive-green eggs of Olive Egger chickens. It is important to note that the specific parent breeds and their genetic contributions will influence the resulting appearance and characteristics of the Olive Egger offspring.
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Appearance and colour variations
Olive Egger chickens are known for their captivating and diverse appearances, which can vary significantly depending on their parent breeds. They are a hybrid breed, resulting from the crossbreeding of chickens that lay blue eggs and those that lay brown eggs. This unique combination gives rise to their olive-green eggs. The specific shades of olive can range from paler green to darker olive, depending on the genetics inherited from their parents.
In terms of appearance, Olive Eggers typically display a mix of earthy tones, including browns, grays, and blacks in their feathers. They may also showcase speckling, mottling, or other distinctive patterns, adding to their visual appeal. Some Olive Eggers might have smooth plumage, while others may sport frizzled feathers. Additionally, they can be identified by their puffy cheeks and muffs, and some may even have fluffy feathers or a pea comb.
The size of Olive Eggers can vary, but they are generally considered medium-sized. However, they may be larger if they carry certain genes, such as the Ameraucana or Maran genes. The weight of adult hens typically ranges from six to seven pounds, while roosters can weigh between seven and eight pounds.
The temperament of Olive Eggers is generally described as docile, but it's important to consider their housing arrangements carefully. While they are usually compatible with various chicken breeds, it is essential to match their individual temperament and physical size to prevent bullying within the flock. Olive Egger hens can also exhibit broody behaviour, especially when protecting their eggs, which may result in aggression during egg collection.
The unpredictability of hybrid breeds, such as Olive Eggers, can lead to variations in their appearance, egg-laying abilities, and personalities. Each Olive Egger chicken can showcase its own unique combination of colours and patterns, contributing to their overall charm and appeal.
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Broody tendencies and temperament
Olive Egger chickens are hybrids, a cross between a blue egg layer and a dark brown egg layer. They are not a breed in their own right and are not recognised as a standard breed by the American Poultry Association. As a result of this cross-breeding, Olive Eggers can have a wide variety of traits and appearances, including temperament and broody tendencies.
Olive Eggers are generally friendly, docile, and easy to tame and train. They can be a little shy, sassy, or skittish, but they are not considered to be "mean birds". Their temperament depends on the breeds used to create them, so it is difficult to predict. However, most folks who own Olive Eggers report them as being fairly amicable birds.
Broody behaviour in Olive Eggers arises as an instinct to sit on the nest constantly to protect the eggs. This behaviour can become aggressive, especially when attempting to collect eggs from the nest. Olive Eggers can be broodier than some other breeds, but this depends on their genetics. Most of the breeds used to develop them are also broody, so they tend to be of average broodiness.
It is important to research how to deal with broody hens before caring for Olive Eggers, as their broody tendencies and temperament can vary.
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Winter laying capabilities
Olive Egger chickens are a hybrid breed, a combination of chickens that lay brown eggs and those that lay blue eggs. The result is a chicken that lays olive-green eggs. The specific shade of green can vary depending on the genetics inherited from their parent breeds.
Olive Eggers are known for their winter-laying capabilities. Unlike many other chicken breeds, they occasionally lay eggs in the winter. They are hardy and can adapt to a wide range of climates, from cold and dry to hot and humid. They have soft feathers and puffed-out cheeks during the winter months.
The frequency of egg-laying in Olive Eggers depends on the parent stock. They typically lay between 140 and 200 eggs per year, with some laying up to 260 eggs per year. If the parent stock are good winter layers, the Olive Egger offspring will also tend to lay well in winter.
To ensure healthy egg production in winter, Olive Eggers need proper care and attention. In cold weather, they require protection from extreme temperatures with a coop heater and drinking water that hasn't frozen. They are generally docile and friendly, making them suitable for backyard flocks and those seeking colourful egg baskets.
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Frequently asked questions
Olive Egger chickens are a hybrid breed that lays brown and blue eggs to produce green-colored eggs. They are the result of crossbreeding heritage chicken breeds.
To create an Olive Egger chicken, you should breed a pure breed that lays eggs with blue shells, such as Ameraucana, Araucana, or Cream Legbar, with a pure breed that lays eggs with brown shells, such as Barnevelder, Empordanesa, Marans, Penedesenca or Welsumer.
The exact shade of olive in the eggs of Olive Egger chickens is determined by the darkness of the blue and brown shells of their parent breeds. The darker the shell color of the brown egg layer, the richer the shell color of the Olive Egger's eggs.
Olive Egger chickens can vary in appearance, with colors ranging from black to gray, and they may inherit feathered feet from the Marans breed or beard and cheek puffs from the Ameraucana breed. They have a docile temperament and are compatible with various chicken breeds, although they should be matched in temperament and physical size to prevent bullying.
