Olive Eggers
Multi-Generational
Olive Egger hen displaying eggs ranging from blue-green, to olive, and brown, adding depth and variety to a beautiful egg basket in
every shade in between.
Breed Overview
-
Temperament >> Varies by cross; generally adaptable
-
Egg Color >> Blue-Green, to Olive, to Shades of Brown
-
Egg Production >> Moderate to Strong
-
Cold Hardy >> Moderate
-
Heat Tolerance >> Good
-
Broodiness >> Low to Moderate
-
Purpose >> Hybrid/ Cross - For Egg Color
Why We Raise Olive Eggers
We raise Olive Eggers to intentionally add depth and variation to the egg basket, not to create uniformity. By crossing blue-egg layers with dark-egg breeds, we’re able to produce hens that lay a wide range of natural egg colors, from olive and blue-green to shades of brown in between.
Olive Eggers are raised here with the same attention to health, temperament, and function as our pure breeds, but with the understanding that variability is part of their appeal. Each bird is a little different, and that diversity is what makes them valuable in a working flock and enjoyable for families who appreciate a visually rich, natural egg basket.
Living With Olive Eggers
Living with Olive Eggers means embracing a bit of variation, both in appearance and behavior. Because they are crosses rather than a standardized breed, temperament and activity level can vary depending on parentage, but most integrate easily into mixed flocks and adapt well to typical farm or backyard settings.
They are generally curious, active birds that do well with space to move and forage. Like most good layers, they benefit from consistent care, balanced nutrition, and routine, rather than special handling. What they lack in uniformity, they make up for in interest, often becoming personable flock members that contribute reliably while adding visual variety to the egg basket.
For keepers who value function, adaptability, and a bit of individuality over strict predictability, Olive Eggers fit comfortably into everyday flock life.
Breeding Work
For those interested in a deeper look at this variety, Olive Eggers are raised here with intention and transparency. Because they are a cross rather than a standardized breed, our focus is on thoughtful pairing, flock health, and predictable egg color outcomes rather than long-term breed preservation.
A Brief Look at Our Olive Egger Crosses
Olive Eggers are not a standardized breed, but the result of intentional crosses between blue-egg and dark-egg laying birds. In our program, we use Crele Penedesencas and Black Copper Marans on the dark egg side, paired with Cream Legbars on the blue egg side to create a wide range of egg color outcomes.
The initial cross produces a hybrid, where hybrid vigor often plays a strong role. As breeding continues, offspring may be crossed back to one another or returned to one of the parent breeds. Incorporating pure parentage stock helps maintain overall vigor, balance, and long-term flock health while continuing to explore egg color depth and variation.
Because of this approach, Olive Eggers can vary widely in appearance and egg color. That variation is expected and embraced, and it’s what allows them to add depth and interest to a diverse egg basket rather than uniformity.
Olive Egger Generations at a Glance
Olive Eggers are produced across multiple generations, each offering different combinations of egg color, consistency, and variation. In 2026, we will begin breeding F4 (fourth-generation) Olive Eggers, an exciting milestone that reflects the natural progression of our ongoing work with these crosses.
As breeding pens allow, we will continue to produce limited numbers of F1, F2, and F3 Olive Eggers. Some first-generation crosses are commonly referred to by informal names based on parentage. For example, the F1 cross between a Cream Legbar hen and a Black Copper Marans cock is often called a Marsbar, while Cream Legbar crossed with Crele Penedesencas is commonly known as a Penbar. These names describe the pairing only and do not indicate a standardized type or guaranteed outcome.
While some hatcheries label crosses by the egg color they expect to produce, we do not. Generation and parentage play a role in what each bird lays, and variation is expected. Availability reflects natural timing, flock needs, and breeding pen structure rather than a fixed production schedule.
Why We Emphasize Hatching Eggs & Chicks
With Olive Eggers, we place emphasis on offering hatching eggs and young chicks rather than maintaining large numbers of older birds. This allows us to continue evaluating crosses thoughtfully while keeping the breeding flock balanced and responsive to the needs of the farm.
Because Olive Eggers are the result of intentional crosses and ongoing evaluation, starting birds from the beginning matters. Offering hatching eggs and chicks gives customers the opportunity to raise birds from the start, while also allowing us to focus on health, vigor, and functional traits without overextending the program.
Birds that remain on the farm through maturity are integrated either back into breeding groups as part of ongoing egg color work or into the farm egg flock, where their varied egg colors contribute to a diverse and beautiful egg basket for our customers. Availability reflects natural timing and flock needs rather than a fixed production schedule.
Following the Program’s Progress
As the program continues to develop, we share updates, photos, and seasonal progress through our social channels. This allows those who are interested to follow the evolution of the flock over time and see how long-term selection translates into visible improvement.
Pricing & Availability
Hatching Eggs
• $ 6 per egg
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
-
Local pickup: Available by arrangement
-
Order size: Minimum 5 / Maximum 10
Availability is seasonal, reflects nature's timing, and is communicated once breeding pens are established and the ladies begin to lay. Quantities are limited and may vary each week.
Eggs are marked with both breeding pen and collection date for buyer reference. As a courtesy, one additional egg is included for every five eggs purchased.
Availability is announced by email when eggs are offered. Subscribing to our email list is the best way to receive notification when ordering windows open.
Chicks
Straight Run Chicks
• $15 each (0–2 weeks)
• $20 each (3–4 weeks)
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
Straight run chicks are offered directly from the hatch and reflect the natural outcome of that specific hatch. Choosing straight run means your order will be filled from what hatches in that batch, without selection for sex.
For example, if you order 15 straight run chicks and the hatch produces more pullets than cockerels, you will receive that natural ratio. If the hatch produces more cockerels than pullets, the same applies. Straight run pricing reflects this shared risk and reward and is handled as fairly as possible based on hatch results.
Pullet Chicks (Auto-Sexing & Sex-Linked)
• $22 each (0–2 weeks)
• $32 each (3–4 weeks)
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
Because some of our Olive Egger pairings are an auto-sexing plumage and still others are a sex-linked cross, we are able to offer guaranteed pullets in limited numbers. Pullet availability depends on hatch outcomes and is more limited than straight run offerings.
Chicks are offered in limited, seasonal batches. Availability varies by hatch.
Requests from specific breeding pens may be accommodated in limited situations.
All chicks hatched on the farm are wing-banded at hatch for identification and tracking.
Availability announcements are sent by email when ordering windows open.
