In a surprising and rare event, a hen in Karnataka’s Davanagere district has laid a blue-colored egg, leaving veterinary experts puzzled and drawing a stream of curious villagers to the owner’s home. The unusual egg was discovered by Syed Noor, a local farmer, whose hen had consistently laid white eggs until now.
Noor, who purchased the hen two years ago for ₹20 from a local trader, said he had never seen anything like it. “All ten of my hens eat the same feed and lay white or yellow eggs. This is the first time I’ve received a blue one,” Noor remarked, still astonished by the discovery. Since then, his home has turned into a mini attraction, with locals visiting in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the egg.
Experts Suspect Rare Pigmentation Behind Blue Shell
Veterinary experts from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department have been equally intrigued. Dr. Ashok, Assistant Director of the department, said that while hens sometimes produce greenish or yellowish eggs, a blue egg is an extremely rare phenomenon in this region.
He pointed to biliverdin, a pigment found in the pancreas of some birds, as a possible reason for the unusual coloration. “The presence of biliverdin in the shell gland can result in blue or green eggshells, but it’s not something commonly observed in local breeds,” he explained.
Dr. Raghu Nayak, another veterinary officer, suggested the coloration could also stem from genetic anomalies or dietary variations, although Noor insists that all his hens follow the same feeding routine.
Possible Link to Rare Breeds Sparks Curiosity
Though the hen in question does not appear to belong to a rare breed, experts have noted that similar egg colors have been linked to specific genetic lines. Breeds such as the Araucana chicken from Chile and the Whiting True Blue Chicken developed in the U.S. are known to lay blue eggs. However, Noor’s hen is not one of these breeds, deepening the mystery.
A friend of Noor, Hafeez, confirmed that the hen had always laid white eggs until just two days ago. “I’ve never seen or even heard of a blue egg before,” he said. Noor has preserved the egg and taken photos of it, which have since gone viral online.
With widespread attention and speculation, both villagers and veterinary specialists remain fascinated by the rare occurrence, which remains unexplained for now.
