Last Updated on September 3, 2024 by Alice Benny
Learn about the Easter egger chicken and if it’s a fit for your backyard. Their colorful eggs are great fun for kids and their low maintenance needs make them the perfect choice for busy or first-time chicken owners.
They are typically hardy birds that can adapt to hot or cold climates with proper care. This makes them a popular for many backyard chicken keepers.
Here I discuss Easter eggers to help you decide whether this could be the right chicken for you.
What Kind of Chickens Are Easter Eggers?
Easter Eggers are hybrids that result from crossbreeding Araucanas or Ameraucanas— both known for their blue eggs — with other breeds. This mix can result in hens that lay a variety of egg colors, including shades of pink, blue, green, tan, and brown. This is why they’re called “Easter Egger chickens”.
An Easter Egger is classified as any chicken with the blue egg gene that doesn’t meet a specific breed standard. It lays beautifully-colored eggs so many backyard keepers raise them for their egg-laying. However, they make dual-purpose birds (for eggs and as pets). Their friendly and curious nature makes them suitable to backyard flocks.
Most people don’t raise them for their meat though they may cull older, non-laying hens.
Breed Background
Easter Eggers are hybrid chickens that were created when people started crossbreeding Araucanas or Ameraucanas with other breeds.
Araucanas originated in Chile and are known for being rumpless, meaning they have no tail or coccyx. They have small pea combs and ear tufts, the latter of which can be lethal to embryos if both parents have it, which makes them rare. They carry a dominant gene that produces blue eggs. Araucanas were brought to the USA in the 1930s.
Ameraucanas were bred from Araucanas and mixed breed chickens to a breed standard. The ear tufts were bred out, while the dominant blue egg gene was kept.
Easter Egger Hen Appearance
A female Easter Egger’s appearance can vary wildly since they aren’t bred to a specific standard. They’re more like the mongrels or mutts of the chicken world, so you never know what you’re going to get.
Depending on their specific parentage, they could have any sort of comb, although pea combs are common. They can also vary widely when it comes to the color of their feathers and their facial features, sometimes growing muffs and/or beards (feather clusters around their face and under their beak). These features are inherited from their Ameraucana ancestry.
Unlike Araucanas, Easter Eggers usually have tails. True ear tufts, which are small feathers growing from a fleshy protrusion near the ear, are a characteristic of Araucanas and are rare in Easter Eggers. Easter Egger chickens usually have small wattles.
Their feathers can be many different colors and patterns because they are hybrids. They have clean legs.
They usually weigh between 4 – 5 pounds when fully grown, with the hens being lighter than roosters.
Easter Egger Temperament
Easter Eggers are known for their gentle and friendly dispositions. They often mix well with other easy-going chicken breeds such as such as Cochins, Orpingtons, Australorps, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, or Brahmas.
They are friendly and curious and will often approach humans for treats or attention and lap time. This makes them popular as backyard pets. Their docile nature typically makes them a good choice for families with children, though every chicken is different.
They aren’t typically noisy so they may be a good fit if you have neighbors.
Pecking Order
Due to their gentle temperament, Easter Eggers may sometimes be lower in the pecking order when in a flock with more assertive/aggressive breeds. Since they’re so gentle, they may get picked on by more aggressive breeds. Pay attention to make sure they’re not getting bullied. Raising them with similar-mannered breeds is important.
Easter Eggers are also known for their foraging abilities and adaptability to different environments. Keep chickens stimulated by supporting their natural curiosity.
The University of New Hampshire Extension recommends creating diversions. Some ideas are to hang some cabbages and/or lace a bale of hay in their area with bird seed. This will help satisfy their natural instinct to search and peck something.
Remember…
While Easter Eggers share common traits, each bird can have its own unique personality. Some may be more outgoing, while others might be slightly skittish. Consistent, gentle handling from a young age can help foster a friendly disposition in these colorful egg-layers.
Are Easter Eggers Good Layers?
Easter Egger hens are considered excellent layers, producing around 200 – 280 eggs in their prime egg-laying years (from when they are 6 months old to around 2 – 3 years old). This is typically a minimum of 4 – 5 eggs per week per hen.
As for when they start laying eggs, Easter Eggers usually begin at around 5 – 6 months old. This is fairly standard for most chicken breeds.
As they grow past 2 – 3 years, their egg laying will decrease to around 2 – 3 eggs per week and less when they reach 4 – 5+ years old.
They don’t get broody very often either, so you can rely on them to devote most of their time to egg-laying. (However, they usually make attentive mothers if they do.) This makes them a great choice if you’re looking for consistent egg production without the interruption of broody behavior.
Lifespan
When fed and cared for properly, Easter Eggers are reliable layers. Easter Eggers can live between 5 – 8 years on average, though with excellent care, they may live even longer.
What Color Eggs Do Easter Egger Chickens Lay?
Many people keep this breed not only for high volume of eggs but also for the fun of collecting eggs in different colors. Their egg colors range from blue to green, olive, pink, or brown.
A Hen Will Lay Only One Color
An Easter Egger hen will only lay one color egg for her lifetime. So if you want a variety of colors other than the typical white, off-white, and tan eggs other chickens lay, you will want to keep several Easter Egger hens.
Easter Eggers eggs are most often in shades of blue and green, but the exact color varies from hen to hen. For example, when a blue egg layer is crossed with a brown egg layer, Easter Egger eggs can be green or olive color.
Why Choose Easter Eggers?
Since Easter Eggers aren’t an actual breed recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), they aren’t raised for show purposes. However, they have a devoted following among backyard chicken enthusiasts who appreciate their unique qualities.
Productive Layers
Easter Eggers are popular for their egg-laying abilities both for their volume (4 – 5 per week per hen) and their colors. Their eggs are often large which adds to their appeal.
The Ameraucana is one of the best egg laying chickens, and Easter eggers are hybrids of this breed.
As Pets
These chickens also make superb pets because of their docile, personable, and friendly nature. They’re considered to be one of the friendliest types of chickens, along with Golden Buffs, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Red, and Silkies, among others.
It’s not uncommon for Easter Egger chickens to greet you at the gate or door and, if encouraged, will follow you around like a puppy. They really enjoy interaction and are ideal for teaching children about nature, agriculture, and caring for animals. When handled when they are young, they may do well being petted and handled.
Adaptable and Hardy
Easter Eggers are among the easiest chickens to raise, thanks to their hardiness and adaptability. With proper shelter and care, they are tolerant of both heat and cold, making them suitable for various climates.
Their smaller combs also make them less prone to frostbite.
Whether you have a free-range setup (preferred) or a more confined space, Easter Eggers adjust well and thrive. They do have a curious and inquisitive nature, so if you’re raising them in a confined space, you should make sure they have a lot of stimulation, natural light, and fresh air.
Versatility
While not primarily raised for meat, Easter Eggers are versatile. They can be part of a multi-purpose flock, providing eggs and, if necessary, meat from older or non-laying birds. Many flock owners cull Easter Egger roosters and older hens who no longer lay.
Their primary value lies in their egg production and friendly disposition. These traits usually make them a wonderful addition to backyard flocks.
Low Maintenance
Easter Eggers are considered low maintenance birds, so they are a great choice for first-time bird owners. They’re usually very healthy birds that don’t have any major health issues you need to be aware of.
Like with most chickens, you’ll need to spot check for external parasites such as lice. If your Easter Eggers have beards or muffs, then they can be more prone to parasites, but parasite problems should be expected with all breeds.
They don’t have any specific dietary requirements (leave chicken feed out so they can consume as they wish), don’t get broody very often, are not aggressive and mix well with other friendly birds.
How to Keep Easter Eggers
If you want to breed Easter Eggers and since they’re not good brooders, you may have to resort to incubating the eggs yourself. But apart from that, keeping Easter Eggers is pretty easy because of their low maintenance needs and adaptability.
The happier and healthier your chickens are, the better, so here are some tips for keeping them that way.
Chicken Coop
When considering how much space do chickens need, a rule of thumb for any chicken coop, not including outdoor space, is to allow at least 20 inches x 20 inches of space per chicken.
Make sure you have adequate space for nesting boxes, one box for every four or five birds. You must also have a roosting rail at least 1.5 inches wide for when the birds sleep.
Building or buying a coop that can be raised off the ground is a good idea. This will ensure they have a dry roosting space all year round.
Even if they are hardy birds, you should still ensure that they have a cozy coop in the colder months. Likewise, if you live in a hot climate, they will need access to shade.
No matter where you live, their coop should be draft-free and well-ventilated.
Create nesting box spaces for them, and give them plenty of fresh, dry bedding such as wood shavings, straw, soft hay, or shredded paper.
Chicken Run
It’s important to remember, Easter Eggers do enjoy foraging. They will enjoy following you around the garden.
However, you can keep them in smaller, confined spaces if necessary. Easter Egger chickens can flap and get airborn low to the ground, but they generally like to stick to the comfort of the flock. Unless you have another more flighty bird in your flock, the chances are that your Easter Eggers will stay put on your side of the fence.
When building a chicken run for your Easter Eggers, make sure to fully cover the run in chicken wire to protect them from predators.
Easter Eggers Diet
What to feed Easter eggers is similar to any other chicken breeds and animals in general. You should always make sure your chickens have access to clean, fresh water.
Also, if you’re like most people who plan on keeping Easter Eggers as layers, you should make sure you feed them with a high-quality chicken layer feed with at least 16% protein to support their egg production.
Easter Eggers produce a fairly large amount of eggs. This means nutrition is very important. They enjoy foraging for insects, snails, worms, seeds, etc.
To supplement their diet, especially when foraging is limited, consider offering treats such as fruits, vegetables, and mealworms. These treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of their daily food intake.
NOTE: It’s okay to feed them your table scraps alongside an age-appropriate chicken feed. Just make sure you’re familiar with the kinds of food that you shouldn’t feed your chicken.
To help them produce strong eggshells, BackyardChickens suggests providing a source of calcium, such as oyster shells, which the hens can consume as needed.
Lastly, chickens tend to eat more in the winter. This is because that’s when they expend the most energy. Therefore, be sure to increase their feed allowance slightly but don’t overfeed.
Easter Egger Chicks
Newborn chicks do not need to eat for the first 24 to 48 hours of their lives, as their bodies still absorb nutrients from the yolk sac.
It’s important to know what to feed baby chickens after hatching. Be sure to feed your Easter Egger chicks a special chick starter feed. Start this feeding when they are 24 – 48 hours old and continue until they are around eight weeks old. This feed should contain approximately 18 – 20% protein to support their growth and development.
After eight weeks, you can transition them to a grower feed until they are ready for layer feed at about 18 weeks of age.
Flock Size
Easter egger chickens have a sociable nature. They tend to do better in a flock than on their own. A good practice is to keep a minimum of 4 – 5 chickens in your flock at any one time. However, you can keep more with enough space and resources.
Are Easter Eggers Right for You?
So, now you know more about Easter Egger chickens, are they right for you? If you’re looking for a fun addition to your egg-laying flock, then consider if Easter Eggers are a good fit for your property, needs, and reasons for wanting to raise chickens.
Looking for other chickens that lay colorful eggs? Consider Prairie Bluebell Eggers which lay blue eggs and Olive Egger chickens which lay olive-colored eggs.
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Featured image credit of our EE; her name is Chloe ~ Dawn Head