Chicken Blue Egg Gene DNA Test
Curious which birds carry the magic for blue and teal shells.
This test helps you see which chickens carry the blue egg gene so you can plan your colored egg projects with confidence instead of guessing from shell color alone.
Whether you keep Ameraucanas, Easter Eggers, Legbars, or mixed flocks, the goal is simple: reveal which birds carry the blue layer genetics so you can shape future generations of your rainbow basket.
Best For These Flocks
- Ameraucana
- Araucana
- Easter Egger
- Olive Egger
- Legbar and similar lines
- Mixed backyard flocks
- Project pens for colored eggs
- White or brown layers with unknown background
- Any chicken where you want to confirm blue gene status
The test is for chickens only. Other species have different shell pigment pathways.
About This Test
This test examines a region of your chicken DNA that is associated with blue eggshell pigment. The result helps you understand whether a bird is likely to pass that color on to future offspring.
The shell pigments that create blue, green, and teal eggs can hide inside ordinary looking hens and roosters. By reading the DNA directly, the lab can show you which birds carry the blue layer genetics even when their own shells keep secrets.
What your result means for eggs
- O/O (homozygous blue): two copies. Hens lay blue-shelled eggs, and every chick inherits a copy.
- O/o (heterozygous carrier of blue): one copy is enough. Despite the word "carrier", these hens still lay blue-shelled eggs.
- o/o (non blue layer): no copies. These hens do not lay blue eggs.
Blue colours the whole shell; brown is a coating laid on the outside. A blue-gene hen from a brown-egg line lays green or olive eggs, and a heavy brown coat can make a blue egg look brown. Crack one open: blue or green on the inside of the shell means she has the blue egg gene.
Sample Type
A tiny amount of blood on a triangle piece of coffee filter, printer paper or paper towel.
The sample dries quickly, travels well, and keeps the DNA stable for testing in our homestead lab.
Full step by step instructions are available on the How it works page.
Turnaround Time
Most blue egg gene results are ready the next day after samples reach Little Haven DNA. Please allow up to 72 hours in case of heavier lab days or late deliveries.
You will receive an email as soon as your samples are logged into the system. Shipping with tracking is recommended so you can watch your envelope arrive at the lab.