What is the Rarest Color of Chicken Egg and Who Lays it?

When we think about chicken eggs, the first colors that come to mind are the familiar whites and browns. But the world of backyard chicken keeping quickly reveals a far more colorful reality. One egg color stands out as the rarest and most sought-after: the blue-green egg, famously laid by the Araucana chicken. But what makes this egg color so special, and who else lays them?

The Beauty Behind Blue-Green Eggs

Blue-green eggs are striking. They add a fun pop of color to your egg basket and are sure to spark conversation with anyone who sees them. This unusual egg color comes from a specific genetic trait found in select breeds of chickens.

The Araucana chicken, native to South America, is the most well-known breed for laying these unique eggs. They carry a gene called the "O" locus, which causes a blue pigment called oocyanin to be deposited on the shell. This results in eggs with a vibrant blue or blue-green tint, and Araucanas typically lay 150–200 eggs per year.

Picture credit: Backyard Poultry Magazine

What Makes Araucana Chickens So Rare?

Araucanas aren’t just special for their eggs. They’re also known for their quirky appearance, especially their cute ear tufts and friendly personality. However, they’re relatively rare in many parts of the world due to specific breeding requirements and genetic challenges, like their lethal gene combination that can complicate breeding success.

Still, if you’re in the U.S., you can often find Araucanas with a little bit of searching, and trust me, they’re worth the effort.

Why Are Blue-Green Eggs So Uncommon?

The rarity of blue-green eggs comes down to limited genetics and breed availability. Only a few chicken breeds carry the genetic trait needed to lay them, and even then, not all hens with the gene consistently lay blue eggs. Things like diet, environment and stress can also affect egg production and shell color.

Other Chicken Breeds That Lay Blue or Green Eggs

Thankfully, you don’t need an Araucana to enjoy colorful eggs. Several other breeds lay blue or green eggs and are more widely available to backyard chicken keepers:

• Ameraucanas

• Easter Eggers

• Cream Legbars

• Prairie Bluebells

• Olive Eggers

These chickens bring a rainbow to your egg basket, with various shades of blue, teal, mint and olive green. And here’s a fun fact: chickens lay the same color egg for life! Every egg starts out white. The shell color is determined by genetics and added at the end of the laying process.

Do Blue-Green Eggs Taste Different?

Nope! Blue and green eggs have a nutritional profile nearly identical to that of white and brown eggs. The flavor and quality come from what the chickens eat, their health and how they’re raised, not from the color of the shell.

So, whether your eggs are sky blue or speckled brown, they’re all a great source of protein and nutrients when fresh from well-cared-for hens.

Add Color to Your Coop

In the end, the rarest color of chicken egg, blue-green, adds a delightful dimension to your backyard flock. As backyard chicken keeping continues to grow in popularity, so does the desire to collect a more colorful basket.

While I haven’t owned an Araucana myself, I’ve raised just about every other blue and green egg layer out there. It’s truly rewarding to look into the nest box and see those bright, beautiful eggs. If you get the chance to add some variety to your flock, do it. You won’t be disappointed.

Until next time,

—The Wing Lady