The Chicken That Lays Eggs With Blue Shells

At first glance, they look like Easter eggs.

Pale blue. Light turquoise. Sometimes with a greenish tint.

But these aren’t plastic decorations or painted shells from an art project. They’re real chicken eggs, laid fresh from the coop.

No dye. No tricks. Just genetics.

Meet the Araucana chicken, the hen that naturally lays eggs in soft shades of blue and green — a bird so rare and unusual, even scientists were puzzled when they first discovered it.

A Hen Unlike Any Other

The Araucana isn’t your typical chicken.

It comes from Chile, believed to have originated centuries ago in the Mapuche region of South America.

This chicken is already visually striking:

• It has tufts of feathers near its ears instead of a full comb

• It often lacks a tailbone, giving it a rumpless look

• Its plumage can range from black and white to gold and grey

But the real mystery lies inside its nest — where it lays naturally blue-shelled eggs.

And not just blue on the outside. The shell is blue all the way through, unlike brown eggs which are only colored on the outer layer.

Why Are The Eggs Blue?

Scientists used to think it was a fluke.

But genetic studies revealed something fascinating: the color is caused by a retrovirus that inserted itself into the chicken’s DNA centuries ago.

Yes — a virus, the same kind that infects cells, ended up changing the bird’s genes permanently.

Here’s how it works:

• The gene activated by the virus causes the chicken to produce a pigment called biliverdin, a byproduct of broken-down blood cells

• This pigment is deposited throughout the entire shell, turning it blue

• The mutation has been passed down over generations — making it a stable trait in Araucanas and a few related breeds

It's a bizarre but beautiful example of how nature, randomness, and evolution can mix to create something truly unique.

Not the Only Blue-Layer

Araucanas aren’t the only blue-egg chickens out there, though they were the first. Selective breeding led to other blue-laying breeds, like:

• Ameraucanas – bred from Araucanas to keep the egg color but with more common body traits

• Easter Eggers – hybrids that lay blue, green, or even pink-tinted eggs

• Cream Legbars – British breed known for consistent sky-blue eggs

But only Araucanas can claim to be the original blue-egg layers, straight from the Andes.

Are They Safe to Eat?

Absolutely. Blue eggs are just like brown or white eggs — same nutrition, same cooking methods. Some people even claim they taste creamier or richer, but there’s no proven difference in flavor.

In fact, the only real difference is the shell color and the aesthetic value.

Because let’s face it — who wouldn’t want to crack open a blue egg for breakfast?

Popular Among Backyard Chicken Keepers

Because of their exotic appearance and colorful eggs, Araucanas are a favorite among backyard farmers. They're not just pretty — they’re also:

• Hardy and adaptable

• Relatively friendly

• And surprisingly good layers

But they're also a bit rare, especially the true Araucana strain with both ear tufts and no tail. Many chickens sold as "Araucanas" are actually hybrids or close relatives.

Blue Eggs in Ancient Cultures?

There’s even debate among historians about whether blue-egg-laying chickens existed before European contact in the Americas. Some archaeological finds suggest that pre-Columbian tribes may have already been raising these birds.

That would mean chickens with blue eggs were roaming South America long before anyone else knew they existed.

Nature’s Pastel Surprise

In a world of brown and white eggs, the Araucana chicken reminds us that nature still has surprises tucked in straw and feathers.

A virus in the past…

A gene mutation passed on…

And today, a little blue egg in your hand that whispers the story of evolution, survival, and a bird unlike any other.