Olive eggers are a cross of a blue egg layer and a brown egg layer resulting in a kaleidoscope of olive green colored eggshells. In general an olive egg is a blue egg with an overlay of brown pigment which results in the olive green shade of shell. Over the years I have experimented with not only different breeds but also with matte and glossy shells which also contribute to a cool olive egg. I have found ameraucana/marans to be the best cross for olive eggers. I especially love the speckled olive eggs, it’s like Christmas every time you collect your eggs!
Olive eggers are a fun hybrid with no breed standard. So if you are looking for a beautiful egg basket with lots of different shades from light olive, to khaki to dark olive to mocha olive eggers than look no further. You may even be one of my lucky customers and get a gray egg layer. I’m continuing to work on my cocoa eggers as well. It takes a few years and lots of selection. One thing also to remember about olive eggers is the darker the brown layer in the mix, the higher the chance that the eggs can go back brown.
Nature: Sweet personality and docile
Egg Color: large olive green eggs, moss green eggs, olive green, speckled green eggs
Eggs per year: 180-200 depending on depth of color and filial (generation)
Winter Hardy: great winter layers, but males have large single combs so should be housed accordingly.