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Her Eggers
Genetics of Colorful Eggs
Create Date: March 12th, 2024
So, you're curious about our Eggers? Look no further! Everything there is to know is located on this page--including the genetics behind colorful eggs!
Egg genetics are actually pretty simple and come down to two key pigments: protoporphyrin (brown) and oocyanin (blue). Then, there’s the bloom—a natural coating that can further influence the egg’s appearance.
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Chocolate, Tan and Tinted Eggs
Protoporphyrin is polygenic—meaning multiple genes are responsible for intensifying brown pigment. The more genes, the darker the egg will be.
Protoporphyrin is just a pigment added on top of the egg, like an overlay. This brown pigment is added after the shell is formed but before the bloom. That’s why you can scrub off speckles and even remove the brown layer—it’s just surface pigment! Meanwhile, speckles are just the benign result of the hen not laying down protoporphyrin properly.
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Blue Eggs
Oocyanin is dominant, which means a bird either has it or doesn't have it.
Heterozygous blue layers (O/o+) can lay eggs that are blue inside and out, just like homozygous blue layers (O/O), because oocyanin (the blue pigment) is deposited throughout the shell rather than being an overlay like brown is. A hen only needs one copy of the blue egg gene to lay blue eggs.
Having two copies of the gene doesn’t necessarily make the eggs a deeper or more intense blue. The shade of blue can vary based on the hen’s individual genetics, age, health, and other factors—but not simply from having more copies of the gene.
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Pink, Purple and Gray Eggs
A heavy bloom can cause a green egg to appear gray, a brown egg to appear purple and a tan egg to appear pink.
The bloom is a protective coating on the outside of an egg that helps prevent bacteria from entering. Eggs are highly porous, which allows moisture to escape and air to enter. This process is essential for a embryo to properly develop.
The genetics behind heavy bloom layers remains unknown, but we do know that this trait can be passed down, though not consistently.
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The information provided by Josie is the result of dedicated research, hands-on experience, and careful documentation. If you choose to reference or share this content, please provide credit by properly citing my work, Josie Chang and Her Chickies. In no way, shape, or form may this content be used to promote or advertise your own birds, farm, or business.
Something to Keep in Mind
Short Snippet of Our Hatching Egg Policy
When purchasing hatching eggs from our Eggers, you understand:
- You may receive eggs from our P1s (Blue or Brown). The resulting chicks will be F1s (Green or Olive).
- While we aim to provide a variety of eggs from different layers (F1 & BCs), this is not guaranteed.
- Backcross offspring (BC) may not inherit any blue/brown egg genetics, which means they could end up laying only brown eggs or blue eggs.
- Eggers are mixed breed hybrids. These are not Ameraucana, Americana, etc. and should not be referred to as anything except Her Eggers, Her Blues, Her Greens, Her Olives, Her Chocolates, and any applicable and associated name.
To read more, click here.
Her Green Eggers
We’ve been working with our Green Eggers since 2023—one year before we created Her Chickies. Our original cross was between an Ameraucana and a Frizzled Cochin (#2), and we kept back one female from that pairing—she lays the cutest pastel green eggs and produces frizzled babies! Some of our newer crosses are between our Blue Copper Marans (#4) and Ameraucana.
The Marans Egg Chart is a reliable way to identify the difference between brown eggs. #1 is a white egg and #9 would be a very dark egg. You will see us reference these numbers quite often when speaking about eggs from our Marans.
If you’re looking to brighten up your egg basket, Her Greens are the birds for you!
What colors will Her Green Eggers lay?
Her Green Eggers are expected to inherit light to medium-brown egg genetics. They can lay any shade of green from mint, tea, pale green, pastel green, seafoam, etc.
Her Olive Eggers
We haven’t officially started working on our Olive Eggers yet, but we plan to begin in late 2025. Our first cross will be between our Blue Ermine Ameraucana, F1 Green Egger and our Black Copper Marans cockerel.
Our Black Copper Marans male comes from a dark egg line (#8 and above), so many of his F1 offspring are expected to inherit about half of that rich, dark pigmentation. His BC offspring are expected to inherit even more of that darker coloring.
If you are looking to darken your egg basket, Her Olives are for you!
What sets Olive Eggers apart from Green Eggers?
Well, Olive Eggers are the result of crossing a dark brown egg gene carrier (#6 and above) with a blue egg gene carrier.
Her Olive Eggers are expected to inherit much, much darker egg genetics compared to Green Eggers. Her Olive Eggers may lay any shade of dark green from olive, walnut, pine needle, army, etc.