An Easter Egger chicken is a mixed breed chicken that originated in Chile and became popular in America for its ability to lay colorful eggs. Unlike pure chicken breeds recognized by poultry associations, Easter Eggers are hybrids without a breed standard. But their fun personalities and egg-laying talents make them backyard favorites.
A Brief History
Easter Eggers descended from South American fowl breeds – the Araucana and Ameraucana – that possess a dominant blue egg gene. In the early 1900s these birds were crossed with other chickens resulting in a mixed breed that retained the signature colorful egg trait.
While the parent breeds originated in Chile, the Easter Egger hybrid first emerged in America as a novelty chicken kept for its rainbow eggshell hues. Their fame grew among small farm owners, and Easter Eggers continue as a top pick for family coops today.
What’s in a Name?
The name “Easter Egger” refers to the egg colors produced by these hens, which can mimic the festive Easter palette. Each hen lays eggs of a single shade – blue, green, pink, or brown – that remains consistent throughout her life.
Since they don’t conform to one breed standard, Easter Eggers are not recognized by poultry associations. Nonetheless, they remain a backyard favorite thanks to their egg capabilities and friendly personality.
Easter Egger Characteristics
Part of the Easter Egger’s charm is that no two birds look exactly the same Their features can vary widely based on their diverse genetic mix
Some defining physical traits include
- Small, medium size
- Compact body shape
- Weight of 4-5 pounds
- Pea comb most common but comb type varies
- Puffed cheeks
- Muffs and beards
- Full tail or rumpless (no tail)
- Feather colors like black, brown, white, gray, red
- Possible feather patterns such as lacing, spots, stripes
- Yellow, blue, or green legs
Beyond looks, Easter Eggers share some key temperament traits. They tend to be active, curious chickens with calm dispositions. While not aggressive, their gentle nature means they can be bullied by bossy flockmates.
Excellent Egg Layers
Without a doubt, egg laying is the Easter Egger’s foremost talent. On average, hens produce 4-5 eggs weekly, yielding up to 280 eggs annually. They rarely go broody and devote most of their energy to delivering a steady egg supply.
Since each hen lays just one egg color, collecting a rainbow dozen requires a flock of Easter Eggers genetically predisposed to different hues. But even a single Easter Egger delivers excellent production of vibrant colored eggs.
Caring for Easter Eggers
These active birds thrive when able to roam and forage freely. In the coop, they need a minimum of 4 square feet of space per chicken. Nest boxes should measure about 12x12x18 inches.
Chicks require a protein level around 20% and temperatures of 95°F. As they grow, protein needs drop to 16% and 70-75°F temps suit them just fine. Feed them layer feed rich in calcium to support egg production.
Health-wise, Easter Eggers are quite hardy but still susceptible to common chicken issues like parasites, egg binding, and vent prolapses. Providing clean living conditions, high-quality feed, and regular vet checks keeps them in top form.
With an expected lifespan of 4-7 years, Easter Eggers are considered a good beginner breed that first-time owners can enjoy success with. Their predominantly docile nature also makes them a kid-friendly choice.
The Pros
So what makes Easter Eggers such a hit for backyard chicken keepers? Here are some of their best qualities:
- Prolific layers producing 200-280 colorful eggs annually
- Excellent foragers that help reduce feed costs
- Friendly, docile personalities ideal for children
- Enjoy human interaction and being handled
- Hardy in diverse climates and environments
- Rarely bully or pick fights with flockmates
- Quieter than many chicken breeds
- Their uniqueness adds visual appeal
Potential Drawbacks
While Easter Eggers offer backyard enthusiasts clear advantages, there are a few potential downsides to consider:
- As hybrids, they lack a breed standard
- Can be bullied by more dominant chicken breeds
- Prone to standard chicken health problems
- Size and appearance varies bird-to-bird
- Seldom exhibit broody behaviors
The Bottom Line
When it comes to lively personalities, prolific egg laying, and charm, Easter Eggers prove tough to beat. Their distinctive features and rainbow egg abilities make them prized backyard chickens. While not ideal for the show circuit, Easter Eggers are perfectly designed for family-friendly coops.
Why I Added Easter Eggers to My Flock
They are incredibly hardy birds with great personalities. And their egg color takes them to the next level in my mind!
I currently have four Easter Eggers and they are all a hoot.
- Chocolate is my snack queen, always digging her head into treat bags.
- Ophelia is a quiet sweetheart and a great companion to new flock members.
- Drumstick loves dust bathing and soaking up the sun.
- Gladys is my fastest runner—she avoids me at all costs but lays the most gorgeous eggs!
These girls are beautiful, kind and great egg layers. It’s safe to say, that as long as we’re raising backyard chickens, this breed will be part of our flock.
Chocolate always gets her head in a bag of treats! She loves Happy Tract!
Drumstick in fine form on a foggy spring morning!
What Are Easter Eggers?
Easter Eggers are technically not recognized as a breed at all! They are more of a barnyard mix that has taken off. Easter Eggers are bred from an Araucana and a brown egg layer. Araucanas are known for their beautiful blue eggs. They have poofy cheeks and no tail feathers. They’re a funny little chicken but can have a lethal gene that can kill chicks while in the shell. In order to combat this lethal gene, the Ameraucana chicken was bred. These chickens still contain the blue egg genes, but not the lethal gene that kills chicks. I feel like it’s harder to find these two breeds around here, but the Easter Egger breeds have been proven to be easy to get a hold of and are super hardy to boot!
No filter needed for these beauties!
Easter Egger Everything You Need To Know About This Chicken
FAQ
What breeds make up an Easter Egger?
They are more of a barnyard mix that has taken off. Easter Eggers are bred from an Araucana and a brown egg layer. Araucanas are known for their beautiful blue eggs. They have poofy cheeks and no tail feathers.
Are Easter Egger chickens good layers?
Yes, Easter Egger chickens are generally considered good layers, producing a decent number of eggs, typically around 150-200 per year.
What is an Easter Egger a mix of?
“Easter Eggers” are mixed-breed chickens that have been crossed at some point with Araucanas or Ameraucanas.
What color egg does an Easter Egger lay?
Some of the most popular crosses are called Easter Egger or Olive Egger chickens. Easter Eggers can lay a variety of egg colors, from blue to green and sometimes even pink. Olive Eggers are aptly named for the olive-colored eggs they lay and are a result of crossing brown egg layers with blue egg layers.
How long do Easter egger chickens live for?
Since they do not lay as many eggs as the Golden Comets, they generally have a longer chicken lifespan. Easter Egger can live around 8 years old. Read more about Easter Egger. Summary. Chickens are fascinating creatures that can make excellent backyard pets or utilized as a barnyard animal.
Is My Easter Egger a hen or rooster?
Rooster tails will start to arc at the end and the feathers will be pointier. In general, roosters seem to be pointier, both in appearance and personality. Red on the wings is a sign that an Easter Egger chick is a rooster. All my EE roos have been evil but they are so beautiful! That guy above was a jerk, you can see the red coloring on his wing.
What are easter egg chickens real name?
They’re not an official breed, they’re “mutt” chickens that have some Araucana (which is a real, but hard to find and breed) type of chicken. Some hatcheries sell them by Ameraucana, which is a blended name referring to the fact that the EE chicken has some Araucana blood. They lay tinted eggs.