If you’re looking to add some color to your egg basket, choosing chicken breeds that lay eggs in various hues can be a delightful addition to your flock. In this guide, we’ll explore different chicken breeds known for their colorful eggs, along with a handy color chart to help you select the perfect variety for your backyard.
1. Ameraucana: Blue Eggs
Ameraucana chickens are prized for their stunning blue eggs, which range from pale blue to teal. These birds have fluffy cheeks and come in various colors, including black, blue, and buff. They are docile and make excellent additions to any flock.
2. Araucana: Green/Blue Eggs
Similar to Ameraucanas, Araucanas lay eggs in shades of blue and green. These birds have distinct tufts of feathers near their ears and are known for their unique appearance. Araucanas come in various colors, including black, white, and silver.
3. Easter Egger: Various Colors
Easter Eggers are hybrid chickens that lay eggs in a wide range of colors, including blue, green, pink, and even light brown. These birds are not recognized as a standardized breed but are popular for their colorful eggs and friendly personalities.
4. Olive Egger: Olive Green Eggs
Olive Eggers are a cross between blue egg layers and dark brown egg layers, resulting in eggs with a distinctive olive green hue. These birds come in various colors and are prized for their unique egg coloration.
5. Marans: Dark Brown Eggs
Marans chickens lay eggs in rich, dark brown hues, ranging from chocolate brown to nearly black. These birds are known for their robust build and friendly demeanor. Marans come in various colors, including cuckoo, black copper, and wheaten.
6. Welsummer: Terracotta Eggs
Welsummer chickens lay eggs with deep terracotta-colored shells, often speckled with darker spots. These birds have distinctive red-brown plumage with black and gold accents, making them a beautiful addition to any flock.
7. Legbar: Pastel Blue/Green Eggs
Cream Legbars are known for their pastel blue or green eggs, which have a lovely sky-blue hue. These birds are auto-sexing, meaning you can easily identify male and female chicks at hatch. Cream Legbars have creamy-colored plumage and a friendly disposition.
Color Chart:
- Blue Eggs: Ameraucana, Araucana, Cream Legbar
- Green Eggs: Araucana, Easter Egger, Olive Egger
- Brown Eggs: Marans, Welsummer
Conclusion:
With so many chicken breeds to choose from, selecting varieties that lay colorful eggs can add excitement and diversity to your flock. Whether you prefer blue, green, or dark brown eggs, there’s a breed out there to suit your preferences. Use this color chart as a reference when choosing chicken breeds for your backyard, and enjoy the beauty of a rainbow-colored egg basket straight from your coop!
