When I first started raising backyard chickens, I never gave much thought to egg color. I just pictured wandering out to the coop and gathering breakfast. Then I started dreaming about a colorful egg basket, one thing led to another, and 47 chickens later here I am with zero regrets. The Olive Egger is one of the breeds that helped make that rainbow basket happen, and it has become one of my favorites. If you want a friendly bird that lays gorgeous, moody-green eggs and handles tough weather like a champ, this is a breed worth knowing.

What Is an Olive Egger?

An Olive Egger is not a single purebred chicken but a hybrid created by crossing a blue-egg-laying breed with a dark-brown-egg-laying breed. The result is a hen that lays eggs in that signature olive shade. The olive color comes from a brown pigment layered on top of a blue eggshell, which blends into shades of green. Because Olive Eggers are crosses, their exact look and egg tone can vary a little from bird to bird, which is honestly part of the fun.

The Olive Eggers I have came from Hoover’s Hatchery Olive Eggers, and here is how their breeding works. One line crosses Ameraucanas with French Cuckoo Marans, and with this hybrid most of the females turn out black while a few come out blue. Another line crosses Legbars with Welsummers, with the goal of creating a green egg speckled much like a Welsummer’s. Both crosses also have a chance of laying brown eggs, so every chick is a little surprise. If you love this kind of genetic variety, you might also enjoy meeting the Starlight Green Egger, another colorful layer with its own personality.

Olive Egger Temperament and Personality

If you want a calm, sociable bird, the Olive Egger rarely disappoints. My two, Opal and Olive, are a delight and add a ton of personality to our flock. Olive Eggers are typically docile, friendly, and make excellent flock companions. They have a pea comb, they rarely go broody, and they love to tootle around the yard while staying fairly quiet. That easygoing nature makes them a great pick for families, first-time keepers, and mixed flocks where you do not want a bossy bird stirring up trouble.

Olive Eggers are also considered a dual-purpose breed, meaning they are raised for both eggs and meat. That said, ours are firmly pets. Opal and Olive are far too funny and bring far too much joy to our home for us to ever consider them dinner. If personality matters as much as productivity in your flock, this breed checks both boxes.

Those Beautiful Olive Eggs

Let’s be honest, the main reason most people buy this breed is the eggs. An Olive Egger can lay up to 260 large, olive-colored eggs per year. Olive’s eggs come out a rich green with lovely speckles, and they are easily my favorite find in the nesting box each day. They bring a depth to the egg basket that store-bought cartons simply cannot match.

People often ask whether colored eggs taste different, and the answer is no. All eggs taste the same inside, regardless of shell color. The color comes from pigment the hen applies to the shell right before laying, and each breed contributes its own shade. As we have grown our flock, we have really diversified our egg colors, and the Olive Egger is a star of that lineup. If you are curious about which other birds can fill out the green end of your basket, take a look at our guide to which chickens lay green eggs.

Are Olive Eggers Cold Hardy?

We live in Minnesota, and one of the most common questions I get is how our chickens survive the frigid winters. Olive Eggers handle it beautifully. Olive Eggers are a cold-hardy breed that tolerates winter weather well and does not seem to mind the snow. Their pea comb is a big advantage here, since smaller combs are less prone to frostbite than the large single combs you see on some breeds.

Chickens come with built-in winter coats thanks to all those feathers, and the Olive Egger’s plumage is especially soft and full. Ours look extra adorable in the cold with their little puffed-out cheeks. They also handle summer temperatures well, which makes them a versatile choice for a wide range of climates. If you want to understand the limits of poultry cold tolerance before the first freeze, our article on how cold chickens can tolerate is a helpful read.

Is the Olive Egger Right for Your Flock?

If you are looking to add a fun, friendly chicken that earns its keep with stunning eggs, the Olive Egger is hard to beat. It brings entertainment to your yard, color to your egg basket, and an easygoing attitude to your flock. Between their docile nature, their cold tolerance, and those speckled green eggs, Olive Eggers fit right into both beginner and experienced backyard setups. You can browse the full lineup of green and blue layers on the Hoover’s Hatchery colored egg layers page to plan your own rainbow basket.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color eggs do Olive Eggers lay?

Olive Eggers lay eggs in a distinctive olive-green shade, often with speckles. The color is created when a brown pigment is layered over a blue eggshell base, blending into green. Because the breed is a hybrid, the exact tone can vary slightly from hen to hen.

How many eggs do Olive Eggers lay per year?

A healthy Olive Egger can lay up to 260 large eggs per year. Like most breeds, their production is highest in their first couple of laying years and can slow during winter or molting. Consistent light, good nutrition, and a low-stress environment help keep them laying well.

Are Olive Eggers friendly and good for beginners?

Yes. Olive Eggers are known for being docile, friendly, and easy to handle, which makes them an excellent choice for beginners and families. They rarely go broody and tend to get along well in mixed flocks. Their calm temperament means less squabbling and more enjoyment for you.

Are Olive Eggers cold hardy?

Olive Eggers are very cold hardy and do well even in northern winters. Their pea comb is less susceptible to frostbite than larger combs, and their soft, full feathering helps them stay warm. They also tolerate summer heat, making them a versatile year-round breed.

Are Olive Eggers a dual-purpose breed?

Yes, Olive Eggers are considered a dual-purpose breed, meaning they can be raised for both eggs and meat. In practice, many keepers raise them primarily as friendly, productive layers and beloved backyard pets rather than for the table.

If you are looking to add a fun and friendly chicken to your flock, look no further than the Olive Egger. They bring a lot of entertainment to your yard as well as your egg basket. Until next time, happy flock keeping!

–The Wing Lady