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Olive Eggers

As far as our poultry program is concerned, Olive Eggers are our priority. We fell in love with them years ago and finally had the time to dive deep into it all. 
 

For someone interested in our Olive Eggers, it is essential you have a well-rounded understanding of how Olive Eggers are created, in addition to the genetics behind egg color.  Most of everything explained below applies to ALL Olive Egger programs.

 

We are not reinventing the wheel. This information can be found all over the internet. Nothing we are sharing is new or something we personally discovered. Any links provided are NOT our work. 

General Olive Egger Information

The links below have very good explanations and pictures specifically pertaining to Olive Egger breeding.

Olive Egger Breeding - Silver Homestead

F1 vs Back Cross Olive Eggers - Silver Homestead

Here at Crosby Lake Farm, we have varying generations and backcrosses of Olive Eggers. We have hens laying brown eggs under DNA verified true blue roosters, which will hatch out F1 Olive Egger offspring guaranteed to lay a green egg, all the way to very dark, deep chocolatey olive eggs which will hatch out backcrossed offspring laying an even deeper olive OR a dark brown. It is essential to backcross (breed olive laying hens to dark chocolate breeds, like a Marans) in order to get deeper olives. The 50% chance of laying brown is a necessary evil to create "better" olives. Brown eggs laid by Olive Eggers who do not end up with the correct genes to lay green are usually stunning and are a beautiful addition to a rainbow egg basket. Some are even as dark as a pure Marans. The important takeaway from this is the only time a green egg is a guarantee from Crosby Lake Farm is with a first generation cross. Any crosses after that will depend on the parents. 

 

The only eggs labeled are F1. The rest are considered Multigenerational Olive Eggers. We do not keep track of exactly what generation or cross birds are, we breed according to egg color only. The egg color of the hen depends on the breeding pen she is in, regardless of genetics. 

Olive Egger hatching egg dozens will be packaged according to what the hens provide. We will do our very best to assure there is an assortment of all available shades. We do not take specific requests for particular eggs to be included in Olive Egger hatching egg dozens. 

Olive Eggers are hybrids and do not breed true. You cannot necessarily hatch Olive Egger hatching eggs, breed the chicks, and expect to get the same results. Olive Egger breeding is an art.

Breeds & Breeder Credit

At Crosby Lake Farm, we have spent years researching and looking for the best birds to reach our egg color goals. We also sought out to find breeders with similar goals in order to start with our best foot forward.

Our current breeds utilized in the making of our own Olive Eggers are: Black Copper Marans, Welsummers, Cream Legbars, Silverudd's Blues, and Ameraucanas. We have lots of crosses purchased as hatching eggs from other breeders that round out our original breeding stock. 

As stated prior, we do not keep track of exact pairings and breeds used. We breed for egg color only. Once a pullet lays and her egg color is identified, she is given to whatever rooster we feel will best enhance her egg color. This cycle continues with each subsequent generation. 

*Individual Breeder Credit Under Construction as of November 2025*

Ermine Ameraucanas- Becky Pelton of Dusty Bugs Poultry 

Black Copper Marans- Burberry Homestead, Hollyoaks Fluffy Butt Hutt, Feather Shack Farm, & Flockin Hen Haus

Cream Legbars- Powers Farm & My Pet Chicken 

Frizzles- Sad Scientist 

Olive Eggers- Hollyoaks Fluffy Butt Hutt, Feather Shack Farm, Sad Scientist, H7 Homestead, Crooked Oak Farm, & My Pet Chicken

​Welsummers- Hoover's Hatchery

    843-893-7726
    crosbylakefarm@gmail.com
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