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Blessed chick: Hen that lays green eggs
Associated Press
Wednesday, January,30 2008 (Mexico city):

Ordinary-looking hen with brown feathers has become a celebrity in Cuautitlan, a small village north of Mexico City, because every day she lays an egg with a green shell.

At first glance, Rabanita looks no different from the other chickens in the yard.

"Since the December 5 she has been laying green eggs," said her owner, Elvira Romero.

Romero is a housewife who got the hen as part of a government aid package to help villagers.

"Well, my children say 'Oh Mummy, God looks favourably on you so that you were given as a prize a chicken that lays green eggs'," said Romero with a smile.

So far, there is no explanation for the colour of the eggs.

Romero says that Rabanita does not have a special diet different from the rest of the chickens, just the usual corn, tortillas and chicken feed.

Scientists believe that shell colour - which does not affect the colour or flavour of the yolk or white - is determined by the genes, and say blue or green shells are frequently found in the Araucana chicken strain.

Green egg layers attract a premium in some parts of South America, where poultry breeders aim to produce chickens, which lay nothing else.
 
User Comments [ +Comment on the story ]
Latest Comments
  • I have several thousand Belps and pullets (laying hens) and probably around a hundred or so lay green, or blue, eggs. Although generally considered to be Rhode Island, or, production Reds these green and blue egg layers probably have some 3rd or 4th Auracana (or Americauna) cross breeding in them. As an organic, free-range chicken Farmer I believe that green eggs are tastier though, in reality, thats more fancifil than actual fact.
    Posted by Chris Copley at 5:2 on Jun 16, 2008
  • Hmm...sounds suprisingly like a certain Doctor who wrote many an excellent book for the young and young at heart.
    Posted by Jason at 1:38 on Feb 1, 2008
  • Oh my break out the holy candles and wait for an egg with the image of Gonzo the saint of all green egg laying chickens.
    Posted by chiknfkr at 1:36 on Feb 1, 2008
  • Aracunas lay green or light blue eggs. Everytime. It is a common and recognized breed of poultry. I have raised them myself. The chicken in your report is not BLESSED. It simply does what that breed of chicken does. Perhaps it is a cross. True Aracunas commonly have feathers covering their ear holes. A small amount of research will corroborate my statements. Thank you.
    Posted by wolfgang bohm at 23:1 on Jan 30, 2008
  • Green and blue eggs are not rare at all in South America. I visited Vichuquen, Chile last year and my aunt has chickens that lay colored eggs, easter eggs. She has hens are are mixed with Collonca (tailess, blue egg laying) and Queterors chicken (is tailed, has ear tuffs and usually lays pinkish brown eggs) resulting as the Araucana chicken.
    Posted by LILI at 22:7 on Jan 30, 2008
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