Throughout history, ambitious breeders have been unable to resist tinkering with chicken genetics in pursuit of the perfect bird. In Sweden, that person was Martin Silverudd, a parish priest with an extraordinary passion for genetics. Silverudd spent much of the twentieth century experimenting with poultry breeding and developing several unique chicken breeds that remain admired today.  

Martin Silverudd's goal was to create a practical, dual-purpose chicken that combined high egg production with hardiness and efficiency. He envisioned a bird capable of laying large numbers of attractive green eggs while remaining well-suited to Sweden's demanding climate. The breed also needed to be economical to maintain, with a moderate body size that required less feed than heavier breeds yet still provided a worthwhile table bird. To achieve this, Silverudd is believed to have incorporated genetics from the Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, and Cream Legbar, the latter contributing the blue egg gene that, when combined with brown egg genetics, produced the desired green egg color. 

Unfortunately, Silverudd passed away unexpectedly in 1986 before the breeding project was fully documented or standardized. As a result, no complete records detailing the breed's development survive. However, poultry historians and breeders have been able to reconstruct much of its likely genetic background by studying Silverudd's notes and the birds that remained after his death. Recognizing the breed's unique qualities and historical significance, the Swedish Cultural Chicken Association undertook efforts to preserve and refine the population, ensuring that Silverudd's vision would continue for future generations of poultry keepers. 

The breed has been known by several names over the years, including Isbar, Isbar Blå, and Swedish Green Layer. These names originated from handwritten notes and breeding records dating back to the breed's development. However, a thorough review of those records in 2015 revealed that the Isbar was actually a separate breed created 20 years prior and happened to exist at the same time as what is now known as Silverudd's Blue. Additionally, because the term "bar" in poultry breeding traditionally refers to barred or striped plumage patterns, the name Isbar was considered misleading for this breed. To prevent confusion and distinguish it from non-purebred green-egg-laying chickens in Sweden, the Swedish Cultural Hen Association officially adopted the name Silverudd’s Blue in 2016, honoring the breed's creator, Martin Silverudd. 

Father Silverudd developed several distinctive breeds during his breeding career, including the 55 Flowery Hen, Smaaland, Queen Silvia, Molilja, and, perhaps his most internationally recognized creation, the Silverudd's Blue. 

Silverudd's Blues are medium-sized birds with an athletic build that reflects their origins as active foragers. They carry themselves with confidence and alertness, exhibiting the strong survival instincts often associated with Scandinavian poultry. 

There are three primary color varieties of Silverudd's Blue: black, blue, and splash. Because the blue coloration is controlled by the incompletely dominant blue gene, breeding two blue birds together naturally produces offspring in all three colors. Birds that inherit no copies of the Blue gene are black, those with one copy are blue, and those with two copies are splash. Within these color categories, plumage can vary considerably, ranging from pale silver-blue to deep slate gray. Roosters typically display lighter silver accents in their hackle and saddle feathers, while hens tend to exhibit a more uniform coloration. Both sexes possess a single comb, red wattles, red earlobes, and clean, slate-colored legs. 

Bred to thrive in Sweden's demanding climate, Silverudd's Blues are hardy, active birds that excel in free-range environments. They are intelligent, curious, and energetic foragers, often covering large areas in search of food. Their alert and resourceful nature also helps them remain vigilant against predators, making them an excellent choice for pasture-based flocks. Silverudd's Blues are friendly without being overly dependent on human interaction. They tend to integrate well into mixed flocks and generally coexist peacefully with other breeds. 

Silverudd's Blue roosters typically reach a mature weight of 5.5 to 7 pounds, while hens generally weigh between 4 and 5.5 pounds. Hens are known for their exceptional laying performance, producing roughly 200 to 250 eggs per year. While not typically considered a broody breed, occasional individuals may exhibit broodiness. The breed's primary reputation rests on its ability to produce large quantities of attractive green eggs over an extended laying season. The breed's greatest claim to fame is their beautiful green eggs, which can range in color from light moss green to rich olive. Some hens also produce eggs adorned with delicate brown speckling, adding even more variety to an already colorful egg basket. 

Because the Silverudd's Blue was developed primarily as a utility breed rather than a standardized exhibition breed, considerable variation still exists within the population. Even so, quality birds share several defining characteristics, including clean, feather-free legs, a straight single comb, and red earlobes. The breed occurs in three primary color varieties: black, blue, and splash.

Hens should exhibit predominantly solid coloration, although small amounts of silver or gold in the hackle feathers are considered acceptable. Roosters are more colorful, typically displaying silver or gold accents in the hackle, saddle, and wing covert feathers.

For a more detailed look into the Silverudd’s history and breed standard, check out the link below! The page is in Swedish, so translation is needed. 

https://kulturhons.se/produkt/silverudds-bla/

We incubate at 99.5F and 55% humidity. Under these conditions, eggs that are set in our hatchers typically achieve an average hatch rate of approximately 60%. Because the breed carries the blue gene, chicks may hatch in any of the three recognized color varieties: black, blue, or splash.

Fertility and hatchability can vary throughout the season, but our Silverudd's Blue breeding flocks generally maintain a viability rate of around 80%. As with all breeds, factors such as flock age, weather conditions, egg handling, and shipping can influence final hatch results.

When hatching Silverudd's Blue eggs, chicks that display excessive light yellow coloring on the head or body often develop mottled plumage as they mature. Because the breed standard calls for solid-colored birds in the black, blue, or splash varieties, these mottled individuals are considered undesirable for breeding. While they can make perfectly healthy and productive flock members, they should be excluded from breeding programs to help preserve the breed's intended appearance and maintain consistency within the population. Breeders should also evaluate chicks for other disqualifying characteristics, including feathered legs and comb deformities. 

In 2024, we genetically tested our Silverudd's Blue breeding flock to ensure that only birds homozygous for the blue egg gene are used in our breeding program. Testing was performed by IQ Bird Testing Lab in Miami, Florida. As a result, we guarantee that all offspring produced from our flock will be homozygous for the blue egg gene. 

Import Notes

Greenfire Farms first imported Silverudd's Blue from Sweden in 2011. While these birds were fertile and productive, we observed indications that the population may have originated from a relatively narrow genetic base. Although they reproduced well, some birds exhibited traits that suggested reduced genetic diversity, a concern that can arise in small or closely related breeding populations.

To strengthen the genetic foundation of the breed in North America, we imported additional Silverudd's Blue stock from unrelated Swedish flocks in 2013. By incorporating these new bloodlines, we increased genetic diversity within our breeding flock to maintain vigorous, healthy birds while minimizing the long-term effects of inbreeding.