An Easter egger chicken is a great addition to your homestead or backyard, since they produce such beautiful eggs.
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History and background of the easter egger chicken
Easter eggers are actually a mutt! They are a cross breed of an Araucana or Ameraucanas along with other breeds. The original Araucanas were South America, in the 1930s. They are rumpless birds which means they have no tail and no coccyx. The Ameraucana was bred from mixed-breed chickens and Araucanas. They were bred to retain the blue gene for eggs.
When these types of birds are crossed they create a range of egg colors from green to blue or even pink!
Easter eggers as they are known now have been around for quite a long time and are still popular. In fact they may even be gaining in popularity for backyard chicken owners because their beautiful eggs and they are fairly low maintenance.
What is an easter egger chicken?
An easter egger chicken is simply means a mixed bird that lays a green, blue, greenish-blue, or pink egg.
What to expect from an Easter egg chicken
Since an easter egger is a hybrid bird, there is no set standard for them. They are like mutts and can range in their physical appearance.
The easter egger is a mix of features.
- They can have any comb, with single and pea being the most common (depends on their parents).
- Their ear lobes can be any color but are usually red or white, and occasionally a bird will have ear tufts.
- Facial features can include all, some or no muffs and/or beards, giving them a look that some folks describe as chipmunk-ish.
- Usually have a tail, but because of the Araucana genes, some birds may not.
- It’s really not possible to give a ‘true’ coloration of Easter Egger. Their feathers can come in solid colors, patterns, and splashes of any color. It depends on what the parent birds had and which of those colors become genetically dominant.
- They are small for a standard chicken. (4-5 lbs)
Why you’ll love the easter egger chicken
- They lay beautiful large eggs in a variety of colors, including green and blue.
- Easter Eggers are not known to go broody.
- She is a friendly and sweet hen that is great around children.
- These chickens are able to tolerate the cold well due to their pea comb.
- You can find them in most hatcheries.
Dispostion
Easter egger chickens are typically outgoing and happy birds! They are friendly and gentle, perfect for kids. They are not usually the “bully birds” so they might get picked on by more aggressive breeds. So keep and eye on them!
Noise levels of easter egger chickens
Many urban homesteaders are particularly interested about the noise level of the breed that they are raising because of city ordinances and neighbor complaints. Overall easter eggers are fairly quiet chickens. Most people would agree that they are suitable in urban settings. They only time they make much noise is when they are laying an egg (which most chickens do), or to alert if a predator is around.
Egg laying and broodiness
Easter eggers are decent layers, they won’t lay an egg a day like a Brown Nonagon or leghorn however they will produce about 200 eggs a year (4-5 a week).
Keep in mind, whatever egg color the hen lays is the only color she has. They don’t lay a different color every time. This is a common misconception.
If you have a few easter egger chickens in the flock you may get a variety of different egg colors simply because easter eggers can vary in the color that they each lay.
Broodiness is not something you need to worry about with easter egger chickens.
Health Issues of easter egger chicken
Easter eggers are a healthy breed with no particular consistent health problem. Of course, since they have beards and lots of extra “fluff” around their face, keep an eye on parasites.
Facts about the easter egger chicken breed
- They are technically not considered a “true breed.”
- These chickens carry a gene called enocyanin that allows them to lay blue eggs.
- Many have beards and ear tufts.
- Since there are no breed standards they can come in a variety of shapes and colors.
- They also come in bantam size!
Is an easter egger chicken breed right for you?
If you are looking for a charming bird with beautiful eggs that is great with children, look no farther than the easter egger! They are interesting looking and can tolerate both heat and cold which makes them pretty hardy to a variety of environments.
How to care for an easter egger chicken
Feed easter eggers just as you would other chickens. They will need a starter feed for the first several weeks of life At about 6 weeks you should move them to a grower feed, and at 20 weeks they can transition to a layer feed. They should always have access to oyster shell in a separate container and clean fresh water!
Easter eggers do not need 4 square feet per chicken in the coop, and 8-10 inches of roosting space. Nesting boxes that are 12×12 inch will be fine for this breed. One nesting box for every three birds should be sufficient. Keep the nesting boxes clean if you want to have clean eggs for water glassing or to avoid having to wash them.
Easter egger chicken frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What color eggs do Easter Egger hens lay?
Easter eggers can lay a variety of different colored eggs. Whatever color the eggs the hen has, is the only color she will lay. However, different hens can have a variety of colored eggs such as blue, teal, green, and even pink!
Are Easter Eggers good chickens?
Yes, easter eggers are great chickens for the backyard chicken owner. They typically do not have health issues, are friendly, and lay beautiful eggs 4-5 times a week.
Do Easter Eggers lay good eggs?
Yes, easter eggers lay beautiful healthy eggs. They do not lay as many eggs as some breeds, but provide an abundant amount of eggs for the chicken owner.
How often do Easter Egger chickens lay eggs?
Easter eggers lay eggs about 4-5 times a year. At this rate you should receive about 200 eggs a year from these birds.
What is the difference between an easter egger and an olive egger?
An olive egger is specific breed that lays olive colored egg consistently. An easter egger is a mix of breeds and they eggs won’t be predictable until that hen starts laying. They can be a greenish eggs like olive egger but that does not make that chicken an olive egger.
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How to Freeze Dry Eggs the Right Way
Homesteading for Beginners (What You Actually Need to Know)
Chores for Homestead Kids by Age
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