Chicken Guide: Sapphire Olive Egger - Eco Peanut (2024)

Do you like a rainbow-colored basket of eggs? Then you are going to love the Sapphire Olive Egger chicken. These hybrid chickens are similar to Olive Eggers and Easter Egger chickens in that they lay brilliantly colored eggs that have a green-tinged shell. But are Sapphire Olive Eggers a good chicken to add to your flock? Or should you consider a true breed of chicken?

Here is everything you need to know about Sapphire Olive Eggers, including what they look like, how they act, and how many eggs they produce.

What is a Sapphire Olive Egger?

The Sapphire Olive Egger is not a breed but a hybrid of multiple breeds. By mixing breeds that lay colored eggs, you can get a hybrid chicken that produces green ones. The exact combination requires:

• A chicken that lays dark brown eggs (the darker, the better)
• A chicken that lays blue eggs

The result is an Olive Egger.

Now, since the Olive Egger is also a hybrid, there is no single look for this chicken. One of the more famous varieties of an Olive Egger is the Sapphire Olive Egger, known for its smoky-blue feathers. Usually, the Sapphire Olive Egger results from a combination of either the Aracuana or Ameraucana breed (an Easter Egger) and a Blue Plymouth Rock (or Sapphire Gem) chicken.

Keep in mind that you can use any blue egg laying chicken, not just Aracuana or Ameraucana.

Are Sapphire Olive Eggers Different From Olive Eggers?

The main difference between a regular Olive Egger and a Sapphire Olive Egger is the appearance. Genetics plays a role in the bluish color of a Sapphire Olive Egger, so it looks slightly different from an Olive Egger. However, both produce olive eggs.

Some hatcheries combine a variety of breeds to make a distinct Sapphire Olive Egger, so you might have chicks that have both splashes of blues and blacks on their plumage.

Why Isn’t The Sapphire Olive Egger Considered a Breed?

Olive Eggers are a very popular chicken; so why aren’t they a recognized breed? That’s a frequently asked question for any hybrid chicken. The truth is that hybrids are hybrids because they can often result from a number of combinations. Sapphire Olive Eggers, for instance, are called that because, one, they lay a different colored egg, and two, have unique plumage.

But since the parentage of one Sapphire Olive Egger can be different from another, there is no way to make a specific breed. You never will be able to.

All About The Olive-Colored Eggs

Are those lovely olive eggs any different from regular eggs? Not really. Like blue or pink colored eggs, these olive ones contain the same amount of nutrients and flavor. However, you can use the novel color as a selling point for your eggs. People will love the appealing look of olive eggs mixed into a carton of blue eggs and may pay more for that.

Typically, Sapphire Olive Eggers begin producing eggs between 5-6 months old and lay around 4-5 eggs a week. That gives you about 240-260 eggs a year.

Why Do Sapphire Olive Eggers Lay Olive Eggs?

As mentioned earlier, Sapphire Olive Eggers lay a vibrant green egg because they are the hybrid of dark brown egg-laying and blue egg-laying chickens. Due to that cross, you get a slightly bluish brown egg that looks green. However, you may have a Sapphire Olive Egger that also lays brown and blue eggs. Some people have received Sapphire Olive Eggers that lay pink eggs. There really is no way to accurately predict whether a Sapphire Olive Egger is going to routinely lay olive eggs or not.

Are Sapphire Olive Eggers Good For Meat Production?

Like Olive Eggers, the Sapphire Olive Egger is primarily used for their eggs. That said, they are not produced for meat, though you could use them if they are big enough. Some Sapphire Olive Eggers are the hybrids of smaller chicken breeds, so they may not have enough weight to produce a decent amount of meat.

Physical Characteristics of Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens

Since the size and color of the Sapphire Olive Egger depends on which breeds were mixed to create the chicken, appearances may vary. However, since the Sapphire Gem breed is often used, you can expect to see that breed reflected in your Sapphire Olive Eggers.

The Sapphire Gem is a combination of the Blue Plymouth Rock and Barred Plymouth Rock breeds. Blue Plymouth Rock chickens can also be used to make a Sapphire Olive Egger.

This results in exotic colors, such as smoky grays, blues, and lavender feathers. The hens are mostly bluish-gray and have a little ridge of feathers atop their head or a single comb. The head and neck tend to be darker in coloring than the rest of the body. Sapphire Olive Eggers also walk with an upright stature that comes from the Plymouth Rock breed.

Personality and Temperament of Sapphire Olive Eggers

As with most hybrids, Sapphire Olive Eggers are a bit of a wildcard in terms of personality. Depending on the breeds used to produce the Sapphire Olive Egger, you could have a very friendly, energetic bird or a relaxed, docile one. Generally, Sapphire Olive Eggers are fairly calm and do well in a fenced-in space.

They are easy to care for and to raise, as they are relatively adaptable. You don’t have to worry about these chickens bullying any other members of the flock; they also play well with others.

Caring for a Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken

Want a low maintenance breed? Go with a Sapphire Olive Egger. The hens produce a lot of eggs with very little need for anything but quality food. As long as you give your flock enough space to roam, they will be a productive group. Make sure the hens have a protein-rich diet, too. You can supplement with chicken grit throughout the year.

Sapphire Olive Eggers also love a treat once in a while. Chopped up fruits and vegetables make for an excellent snack. Plus, it is fun to watch your Sapphire Olive Eggers peck at their favorite morsels.

Here is another bit of good news: Sapphire Olive Eggers are cold hardy. They can tolerate colder temperatures in the wintertime, as well as humid summer heat. You do not have to rearrange the coop or change your schedule to accommodate them, as they will adapt to whatever conditions are available. The only thing you might note is that egg production subtly drops in the winter.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, if you came here wondering about Sapphire Olive Eggers and where they come from, you now have an answer. Sapphire Olive Eggers are a hybrid chicken that has bluish feathers and lays green eggs. That is where the name comes from. They are also docile birds and can be used for meat production, so they make a great addition to any flock — maybe even yours!