Blue Egg Chicken Breeds, Which is the Best?

What are Easter Eggers

Have you heard the term Easter Eggers? These are chickens that lay colorful blue or green eggs. The term Easter Egger really refers to any chicken that has the blue egg gene but doesn't actually meet a breed standard defined by the American Poultry Association It's often commonly misused as a term and sometimes a marketing ploy.

First and foremost, the Easter egger is not a true breed of chicken.  Easter Egger is a term for a blue or green egg laying chicken that is not a true Ameraucana or Araucana. However, all Easter Eggers have some Americana or Araucana blood in them or a mixture of both. So an Easter egger is a hybrid of any different chicken so long as it lays a green or blue egg meaning it has enough Americana or Araucana genetics in it to do so. Their eggs can be many different shades ranging from almost white to really dark.  

There are no set color patterns in their plumage either. They can be any color available to poultry. The diversity of Easter Eggers in a single flock can be great, not to mention in between different flocks. No two are exactly alike, however their hybrid nature tends to make them good layers with vigor enough to work in many different production systems But, if you're looking to get a blue egg laying chicken then it might be best to stick with a pure breed and not a crossbreed for blue eggs there are three main types of chicken breeds Ameraucanas, Araucanas, and Cream Legbars.

Araucana Chickens and Blue Eggs

Araucanas are a breed of chicken that was domesticated in Chili. They are known to be very energetic have distinctive feathering and be very vocal. Araucanas love free space and are great for very large backyards and fields. Araucana chickens actually develop faster than most and they are typically friendly with people. There are a number of genetic disorders that these chickens can suffer from, however, and it has led to the development of other breeds as a result.

Ameraucana Chickens and Blue Eggs

The Ameraucana chicken is actually derived from the Araucana. It's an American domesticated breed that is ideal for US chicken owners. Like the Araucana it retains the genes to produce blue eggs but may be more well suited to life in the states because it lacks some of the unique genes of its parent species that can be problematic.  Speaking from experience they can be a little aggressive when mixed with the a more passive species. They're fun to watch they are very active, and they have tons of personality.  

The eggs of the Ameraucana range from light pastel blue to a darker hue.  They're easy to come by, just make sure that if you purchase one the name is spelled correctly.  Some sellers like to misspell the name and ship you a different species.  Watch out!

Ameraucanas are a relatively new breed developed in the 1970s in the United States. They were developed from Araucana breeders who wanted the colored eggs of the Araucana but not the lethal allele combination that makes chicks die in incubation. These beautiful birds come in both standard and bantam. They have combs accompanied with beards and long tails. They come in many color varieties some being black, white, wheat, and blue. What makes the Americana so popular is its egg color.  Ameraucana is lays blue eggs. If it is a true Americana it will not lay a green egg.

The Ameraucana lays almost year-round, slacking off a little in the winter sometimes.  Ameraucanas can be wild and I would suggest training them as soon as possible. The Ameraucana is a wonderful breed I would suggest it to anyone whether you are a producer, homesteader, or a backyard chicken grower.

Cream Legbars and Blue Eggs

Cream Legbars are one of the hardest breeds to come by. They're very popular, yet there are not very many in the United States. They are good forgers and are very sought after as an easily handled, good egg layer. They lay wonderful blue eggs and they can adapt to small yards and runs They are a British autosexing breed, both a cold and heat hardy bird, very curious and have charming personalities.

The American Poultry Association does not yet recognize the Cream Legbar as a formal breed. This can make him harder to find in the US. You can easily tell the roosters from hens when they hatch. Many sources claim the Cream Legbar is an ideal chicken for families to raise and it adds some fun variety to your color of eggs. Friendly and calm, it's only been in the US for a couple of years. They are slender and regal in appearance. The Cream Legbar was standardized in 1958 but nearly died out in the 1970s as blue eggs were not in demand.

The Cream Legbar possesses a crest due to its Araucana blood.  The crest of the female Cream Legbar is somewhat fuller and larger than that of the male Cream Legbar. They are medium sized foul. Roosters way between six and seven and a half pounds and the hens weigh between four and a half and six pounds. They are known to lay 180 to 250 blue tinted eggs per year.  They are not considered to be good winter egg layers and hence seldom go broody.  Due to the size of their combs, Cream Legbars can be susceptible to frostbite.  Extra care should be taken in very cold weather.  

The breed is well suited to free range, pasture-based systems as they dislike confinement. Cream Legbars are known for their active foraging. The roosters are vigilant and protective of the hens as the hens efficiently go about the business of gathering every seed and insect from the pasture. Although the Cream Legbar is still a rare breed, it is gaining popularity with homesteaders and small farmers mostly for the quantity and novelty of their blue tinted eggs