Building a colorful egg basket

A carton with blue, green, olive, chocolate and cream eggs side by side is one of the best parts of keeping a backyard flock. Getting there takes a little planning, because different colors come from different genes, and some colorful layers are better producers than others.

Plan your colors

• Blue. The Ameraucana and Cream Legbar lay true blue eggs.
• Green and olive. Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers cover this range, with shades that vary by hen.
• Dark brown. The Marans and Welsummer lay the deepest browns.
• White and cream. A Leghorn or a Silkie fills in the light end.

Pick one or two hens per color rather than a dozen of one. Three to six breeds is enough for a striking carton.

How to choose among colorful layers

If you want the most eggs, Easter Eggers are a strong pick. They tend to lay well and are usually friendly, though you will not know the exact shade until they start laying. If you want a guaranteed true blue, go with a breed like the Cream Legbar from a good source. If deep chocolate eggs are the goal, buy Marans from a breeder who selects for egg color, since many hatchery lines lay medium brown.

Mixing colorful breeds in one flock

Most colorful egg breeds get along fine, but they differ in personality. Cream Legbars and some Easter Eggers are active and alert. Marans are usually calmer. Mixed flocks are easier to manage when you also know who laid what. Pick breeds that look different so you can track each hen's eggs and spot a drop in laying.

Pitfalls with colored egg layers

• Mislabeled chicks. Hatchery birds sold as Ameraucanas are often Easter Eggers. Ask the seller.
• Expecting colors to stay the same. Brown, olive and dark eggs often fade over the laying season and come back after the molt.
• Hatching for color. Crosses do not breed true. Chicks from an Olive Egger may lay blue, green, olive or brown.
• Choosing color over climate. Make sure each breed suits your weather.

Common questions about colorful egg breeds

Do colored eggs taste different?

No. Shell color does not change taste or nutrition. Freshness and diet matter much more.

Which breed lays the most colorful eggs?

Easter Eggers give the widest range of shades as a group, since each hen lays her own color.

Why are my blue eggs green?

The hen likely carries brown egg genes too, which add a brown coat over the blue shell.