Quick facts
| Adult hen weight | Typically 5–7 lb |
|---|---|
| Comb | Varies (often pea) |
| Eggs per year | ~200 |
| Shell color | Olive green |
| Temperament | Varied |
| Cold hardiness | Very good |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
About the Olive Egger
A blue-egg breed crossed with a dark-brown-egg breed. Blue shell plus brown coating equals olive green — the one egg color you cannot get from any pure breed. Usually dark, bearded and cold-tolerant. Living proof of how shell color actually works.
Cold and heat tolerance
An Olive Egger is a cross, so its climate tolerance depends on the parents. Most are bearded, small-combed and heavily feathered, and do well in northern winters in a dry, ventilated coop.
Heat tolerance is usually good. Treat each bird individually: shade, cool water and airflow once temperatures pass 90 °F, and watch for panting.
Eggs and laying
Olive Eggers combine a blue-egg parent with a dark-brown-egg parent, which stacks blue shell and brown coating into olive green. The darker the brown parent, the deeper the olive. Expect about 180–220 medium to large eggs a year, starting around 22–26 weeks. Because they are hybrids, shade and size vary, and they do not breed true.
Temperament and care
Temperament depends on the parents, but most are calm to moderately friendly. They are active foragers and handle free-ranging well. Buy from a reputable hatchery or breeder, since quality and egg color vary widely between sources.
Who they're for
a rainbow in the egg basket. Every flock is a sitcom cast — the Olive Egger is the color experiment.
Olive Egger FAQ
Why do Olive Eggers lay olive green eggs?
They are a cross of a blue-egg breed and a dark-brown-egg breed. The blue shell with a brown coating on top looks olive green.
Are Olive Eggers a real breed?
No. They are hybrids, so size, looks and egg shade vary and do not breed true.
Are Olive Eggers cold-hardy?
Usually. Most are well feathered with small combs and handle winter in a dry, ventilated coop.