When I began raising backyard chickens, I never imagined how much joy they would bring to my life. What started as a simple plan to enjoy fresh eggs collected from the coop for breakfast quickly turned into a passion for building a colorful egg basket.
The experience of caring for a variety of breeds has been incredibly fun and rewarding, as my yard is now filled with happy chickens, creating something truly beautiful every day.
If you’re a chicken enthusiast looking to expand your flock, the Sapphire Olive Egger is a fantastic choice. This unique breed stands out with its stunning appearance, friendly temperament, and reliable egg-laying abilities.
With proper care and attention to their specific requirements, these birds can bring even more vibrance and charm to your collection. There’s truly so much to know and appreciate about these lovely creatures.
Sapphire Olive Egger Breed History
The Sapphire Olive Egger is a unique hybrid with an intriguing history. Its origin can be traced to a mix of chickens, including the Araucana, Legbar, and Sapphire Gem, alongside breeds like Marans and Ameraucanas.
These chickens were carefully crossbred to combine specific traits, such as the gene for laying blue eggs and the rich tones of brown egg layers, resulting in stunning olive-green eggs.
Though not yet recognized by the American Poultry Association as of 2023, the breed is celebrated for its gorgeous eggs, genetic hardiness, and compatibility with other flocks.
First appearing in the 1840’s, the breed has gained popularity among backyard breeders due to its refined programs and colorful personality, making it a staple for chicken enthusiasts worldwide.
Sapphire Olive Egger Breed Appearance
The Sapphire Olive Egger is a beautiful breed with a striking appearance. These chickens are typically grey with shades of blue, black, and brown, giving them a unique and vibrant coloring.
While their overall look is somewhat consistent, there’s a lot of diversity in their features. For instance, some have feathered legs, while others sport a single or pea comb, adding even more variety to their personality.
Whether you’re looking for a dual-purpose breed or just want a delightful addition to your flock, these Eggers bring so much joy to any home. Their quiet nature and charming traits make them as much fun to explore as their vibrant colors are to admire.
How Much Do Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens Weigh?
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are considered an average-sized chickens, with roosters typically weighing around 6.5 pounds and hens closer to 5 pounds.
On average, roosters weigh about 6 pounds, while hens weigh approximately 5.7 pounds, making them manageable in size for backyard flocks.
Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken Temperament
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are known for their friendly and docile nature, making them a perfect choice for families. While they are not prone to aggression or broodiness, they can be a bit skittish, especially the roosters. In my experience, even the roosters are rarely aggressive unless the ratio of hens to roosters is unbalanced. If you’re interested in another calm and beginner-friendly breed, the Plymouth Barred Rock Chicken is also an excellent option to consider.
For this breed, an ideal ratio is 1 rooster to every 12 hens, ensuring harmony within your flock while keeping their natural mild temperament intact.
Are Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens Hardy?
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are known for being incredibly hardy in both cold winters and hot, sunny weather. During summer, they are tolerant to heat but still require shade to stay comfortable.
Providing access to clean water is crucial to keeping them cool, and following a guide with helpful tips and tricks can make all the difference.
In winter, these chickens typically don’t need special accommodations like a heater or brooder, even in moderately cold conditions. However, you should monitor them for frostbite on their combs, wattles, and feet during extreme cold and ensure they stay warm and hydrated. This practical care ensures your flock thrives year-round.
Common Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken Health Risks
Sapphire Olive Eggers are known for their hardiness, making them less likely to suffer from significant illnesses. However, to ensure their health, I always add vitamins to their water as a precaution, especially for younger birds still integrating into the flock. This helps prevent any potential deficiencies and keeps them strong as they adjust.
Despite their resilience, it’s essential to maintain a watchful eye on your flock. Like any chickens, they can occasionally be affected by parasites or other general health issues, so early detection is key to keeping your Eggers healthy and happy.
Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken Housing Requirements
To keep Sapphire Olive Eggers comfortable and healthy, their housing must meet specific needs. Each bird requires 4 square feet in the coop with adequate space and height to ensure they remain happy. A secure coop free from predator’s access and limited drafts is essential, even if it’s unheated.
For outdoor areas, an enclosed run of 8 to 10 square feet per bird is ideal. In sunny weather, a roofed run with proper airflow and shady spots helps maintain a cooler environment. This setup worked perfectly for my chickens, even on days reaching 90 degrees, ensuring they remained safe and comfortable.
Is Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken Noisy?
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are generally a mix when it comes to noise levels. In my experience, the hens are quiet and seldom make much noise, making them suitable for urban farms or populated neighborhoods. However, the roosters tend to crow and can be noisy, which is why we don’t recommend them for densely populated areas.
Despite being a slightly noisy breed, their hens can still be a great candidate for small flocks in quieter environments.
Egg Production of Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are known for their consistent egg production, starting around 20 to 24 weeks of age (approximately 5 to 6 months).
In their first year, these hardy chickens can lay up to 208 eggs if provided with a proper diet and care. Their beautiful eggs come in lovely shades of green and are typically medium to large in size. If you’re curious about other unique egg layers with rich-colored eggs, the Cuckoo Maran Chicken is also known for producing stunning dark brown eggs that stand out in any basket.
Over time, their egg-laying ability may decrease by about 10 to 15% per year as they age. Despite this, they remain a friendly and docile breed, making them great companions in a flock. With their pea combs, they handle cold winters and hot summers well and may even bless you with up to 260 olive-colored eggs per year, rarely going broody.
Sapphire Olive Egger Chicken Egg Color
The eggs of Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are a truly standout feature of this unique breed. Known for their captivating colors, these eggs range from dark olive green to lighter, more muted shades, with some even showing khaki hues. Certain hens may lay tan or brown eggs, adding a delightful touch to your egg basket or kitchen.
Egg colors can vary between individual hens due to their genetics and the influence of their parent breeds. The shape and size of these eggs are typically medium to large, similar to the regular eggs of other chickens. Their distinctive appearance and wide array of vibrant shades make them highly sought after by chicken enthusiasts.
Are Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens Broody?
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are seldom broody, which makes them a great choice for those who don’t want to deal with hens sitting on eggs. In the two years we’ve had two hens, they have never shown broody behavior. This trait adds to their appeal for chicken keepers looking for easy-to-manage flocks.
Breeding Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens
When breeding Sapphire Olive Egger chickens, it’s important to understand the general rule of thumb for hybrids. Unlike heritage breeds, which consistently produce the same breed of offspring, hybrids often result in a mixed chick due to the varied genetics of each parent breed. To achieve consistent traits, you’ll need to pair a pure-bred rooster with a hen.
However, keep in mind that this breed was designed with specific characteristics, which can sometimes lead to health issues in the chicks. Careful attention to the birds and their breeding practices can help minimize the risk of producing unhealthy chicks while maintaining the desired traits.
Average Lifespan of Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens
Sapphire Splash chickens have an average lifespan of 5 to 8 years, which is considered above average compared to most chickens that typically live between 3 to 7 years.
When kept in backyard confinement with optimal conditions, these chickens are likely to live longer, making them a resilient and rewarding breed to care for.
Are Sapphire Olive Egger Chickens Right For You?
Sapphire Olive Egger chickens are a suitable option for beginners due to their friendly personalities, cold hardiness, and heat tolerance. While they are not strong egg producers and lay less than average eggs per year, their unique appearance and ability to produce green eggs make them a great addition to a colorful flock.
If you’re looking for a gray chicken with a uniquely colorful purpose, this breed may be perfect for you. However, for those seeking a meat chicken or a heritage breed, it might be worth considering other breeds instead.
