If you are wondering how blue eggs get their color, you have come to the right place. This article will discuss everything you need to know about blue egg formation.
We will also take you through some chicken breeds that lay blue eggs. Keep reading to learn more.
We are all used to regular white and brown chicken eggs. But did you know that chicken eggs can come in various colors?
Several chicken breeds lay other egg colors, such as green, purple, and blue.
Adding chickens that lay colorful eggs to your flock will ensure a steady supply of colorful eggs throughout the year.
You can use these eggs for decorative purposes or consumption. The only difference between blue-colored eggs and regular white/brown eggs is the color. They have the same taste and nutritional value.
How Are Blue Eggs Formed?
Blue eggs are formed in the chicken’s oviduct. They are unique for the fact that they are blue throughout.
They do not have a white inner layer, as blue-laying chickens produce a special pigment known as oocyanin. This pigment is a by-product of bile.
All eggs start as white during the formation process. This is because shells are made from calcium carbonate, a naturally occurring white element.
An egg’s colorful pigment is only found on the outer coating of the shell. In blue-egg-laying chickens, the blue pigment is added after the shell formation and permeates the whole shell. This gives the egg its blue appearance.
What Chickens Lay Blue Eggs?
If you are a fan of colorful eggs, you will want to add chickens that lay colored eggs in your flock. Here are some of the chicken breeds that will give you blue-colored eggs.
Ameraucana
The Ameraucana chickens originated in South America. They were first bred in Chile. These birds were created from the Araucanas to retain the blue eggs but remove the lethal genes from the breed.
It took several years for these birds to emerge as a success story. In 1984, they were admitted to the American Poultry Association (APA).
These birds are prolific egg layers and can produce three to four eggs per week. This translates to around 200 eggs per year.
The Ameraucanas lay medium-sized blue eggs. They are also known to lay green-tinted eggs.
They usually lay throughout the year and tend to slow down during the cold winter months. Their egg production rate will also drop as they get older.
They are average-sized birds. A mature hen weighs 5.5 pounds. Roosters are slightly larger than hens and can weigh around 6.5 pounds.
The birds come in a variety of colors, including white, black, wheaten, silver, buff, brown, red, blue, and blue wheaten.
The Ameraucana is a hardy chicken breed that will do well in both hot and cold climates. They are not usually broody.
If they tend to get broody, you can easily discourage them by isolating them from their eggs.
They are docile, curious, and friendly birds that will relate well with others in the flock. They are good foragers and will enjoy free-range.
If you have enough space in your backyard, you can allow them to roam freely around and free range.
Araucana
It can be very difficult to source Araucana chickens from traditional breeders. This is because their genetics can lead to low hatch rates.
However, if you manage you get a quality Araucana chicken, you can be sure of getting around three eggs in a week. This translates to about 200 eggs in a year.
The Araucanas are also a South American breed with origins in Chile. They usually lay medium-sized eggs.
They do their best laying during the warmer months and will hardly lay eggs during the colder winter months.
Although they tend not to lay eggs during the colder winter months, they are hardy chickens and will do well in both hot and cold temperatures.
They are small-sized chickens weighing around 5 pounds when fully mature. They have tufts of feathers growing from under their ears. Besides, they do not have tails (they are rumpless).
These adorable birds have a friendly and docile personalities. They will do well in any backyard flock when raised alongside other chicken breeds.
Despite their low hatch rate, they are known for their broodiness. They are also known for being good mothers to their baby chicks.
They will enjoy a lot of space to roam around and be free. Therefore, if you have plenty of space, you can allow them to move around freely.
However, you will need to keep an eye on them so that they do not fall victim to predator attacks.
Easter Eggers
Easter Eggers carry the blue egg-laying gene from the Araucana and Ameraucana breeds. They are considered cross-breed chickens and not purebred.
They are sometimes confused with the Araucanas and the Ameracaunas, and you can end up buying either of the two.
Therefore, if you want to add this breed to your backyard flock, it is advisable to buy directly from a reputable breeder.
Some people describe them as the Ameraucanas that do not conform to the breed standard. They are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA).
They are prolific egg layers. Under good care and proper nutrition, an Easter Egger hen can produce 3 to 4 eggs in a week. This translates to about 200 eggs in a year.
Easter Eggers are quite similar in appearance to Ameraucanas. They can look different from one another based on their parentage.
Some may have tails, beards, and muffs, while others may not have some or all of these features.
These birds are known for their friendly disposition. If you are looking for a chicken breed that is docile and friendly to kids, look no further!
They are hardy chickens that will thrive in both hot and cold temperatures. Besides, they are low-maintenance birds that will tolerate both confinement and free range.
Easter Eggers are a little on the smaller side. Mature hens weigh around 4 pounds, while roosters weigh around 5 pounds.
There are several blue Easter Eggers chickens, such as Azure Blues, Arkansas Blues, and Whiting True Blues.
Cream Legbars
The Cream Legbar is one of the most popular blue egg-laying chicken breeds. They first arrived on the scene in 1931 after cross-breeding Gold penciled Hamburgs, Araucanas, Leghorns, and Barred Rocks.
They are efficient and prolific egg layers. Under good care and nutrition, a Cream Legbar hen can lay 4 to 5 eggs per week.
This translates to about 230 eggs a year. If you plan to add to your backyard flock a chicken breed that will ensure you have a constant supply of blue eggs throughout the year, you can consider the Cream Legbars.
Cream Legbars are small-sized chickens weighing around 6 pounds. As the name suggests, their feathers are creams and greys. Hens may have additional salmon-colored feathers along the breast and neck.
They are friendly birds that will get along well with other chickens in the flock. Since they are docile and non-aggressive, they can sometimes be victims of bullying by aggressive birds in the flock.
Therefore, you should raise them alongside chicken breeds that are also docile and non-aggressive.
They are good foragers and love to free-range. Since they can become flighty, it is good to have plenty of outdoor space.
They are fairly cold-hardy, although you should provide them with a warm and dry place to roost.
The Cream Legbar was accepted as a recognized breed by the British Poultry Club in 1958.
However, they are still quite rare in the United States of America and not yet recognized as a breed by the American Poultry Association.
Arkansas Blue
The Arkansas Blue is an experimental breed from the University of Arkansas. It was developed by Dr. Keith Bramwel. He mixed an Araucana chicken with a Leghorn to create a blue egg-laying bird.
The result was a medium-sized bird that lays eggs very well. They can lay 4 to 5 eggs in a week, which translates to about 250 eggs per year. They usually lay medium-sized pale blue eggs.
Like their Araucana parents, the Arkansas Blue chickens are friendly and docile birds. They will do well in any backyard flock. They are also hardy chickens that will thrive in both hot and cold climates.
Conclusion
Brown and white chicken eggs are the most common and least expensive. However, they are several chickens that lay other egg colors, such as green, purple, and blue.
Some of the chicken breeds that lay blue eggs include the Araucanas, Ameraucanas, Cream Legbars, and Easter Eggers.
