Easter Egger

History of Easter Egger breed

The Easter Egger is a special bird that's often recognized for its distinct blue eggs. Easter Eggers are any chickens bred from Ameraucana or Araucana stock, which carry a special blue-egg gene. The Ameraucana was a product of the Chilean Araucana, bred to be a bit hardier and introduced into the United States around the 1970s. The predecessors of the Easter Egger are difficult to find in hatcheries today, but as breeders started to mix their Ameraucanas and Araucanas with other breeds of chicken, the colored eggs they laid led to the new, hybrid Easter Eggers to explode in popularity. Though not considered a true registered chicken breed, Easter Eggers are identified through their uniquely colored eggs in a variety of colors, which can be anywhere from light blue to olive green. Though they may not have uniform appearance, Easter Egger chicks acquired from hatcheries are united by their friendly temperaments and strong egg production.

Temperment and good-to-knows

Due to their Ameraucana and Araucana heritage, they are smaller than average. Hens typically weigh around 4 pounds with roosters coming in at 5. Their size makes them great for those with limited coop space. They work well as backyard chickens and fit well into smaller coops, but if you have the space available, Easter Eggers are known as great foragers—perfect for free-range. Owners have noted their predator-awareness and curiosity. A love of exploration, treats and a friendly temperament make them fun companions for the backyard. Families with small children should feel comfortable around Easter Eggers, as they are known to be friendly and rarely, if ever, show aggressiveness. Around other chickens, they can often be found lower down in the pecking order due to their passive nature. 

Easter Egger visual and egg characteristics

Easter Eggers can have any appearance—there is no accepted, registered coloration for Easter Eggers chicken breeds due to their hybrid nature. As the Ameraucana and Araucana had long ear tufts, there is a good chance your Easter Egger will retain this trait, but not guaranteed. Smaller wattles and pea combs are typical. It is important to note that one Easter Egger will not lay a variety of egg colors. Each bird will have their own set color, and that color can vary widely depending on the bird’s genetic stock. Green, pink and blue eggs—all of these colors are possibilities, including all the various shades in between. No matter what color eggs your Easter Egger lays, you can expect anywhere around 280 large eggs of that color per year. Breeders knew these birds would be prized for their uniquely colored eggs, and as such, broodiness had largely been bred out of their stock. Your Easter Eggers should be the same way, but depending on the breed it was mixed with, results may vary. Those looking to discourage rare broody behavior in their hens can keep them distant and out of sight from nests. 

Health and care

Hardiness should be of little concern in owning Easter Eggers, as they are both heat and cold hardy. When encountering extremes, however, it is important to watch your individual birds if they need extra care. Easter Eggers are generally healthy but they occasionally develop ‘scissor beak’ or ‘cross beak’, a defect which causes awkward beak growth that impairs eating and drinking. Many birds can adapt to their defects, but it is best if they are not bred further due to the defect’s genetic origin. Birds with scissor beak can be helped by altering their feed to allow easier scooping, which is a common adaptation found by afflicted birds. If severely misaligned, their beaks can also be carefully trimmed. Sometimes birds will do this naturally using rocks or stones in the yard. Outside of this rare affliction, Easter Eggers have no outstanding health problems and can live happy, productive lifespans of 4 to 7 years.

Explore more breeds >

How long does it take for easter egger chickens to lay eggs?

Easter Egger chickens usually begin laying eggs between four to five months of age. However, some may start laying as early as three months or as late as six months.

Are there different types of easter egger chicken breeds?

Easter Eggers are not an actual chicken breed, but rather created by crossbreeding different types of chickens, including Ameraucanas, Araucanas, Leghorns and Plymouth Rocks.

What colors can easter egger chickens be?

Easter Egger chickens can come in a wide range of colors and patterns, including those in shades of brown, black, gray and white, as well as variations of red, orange and yellow. In addition to solid colors, Easter Eggers may have patterns such as speckles, stripes and patches of color. These chickens' eggs can also vary in color, ranging from shades of blue to green and even pink, tan or gray.

Are easter eggers cold weather chickens?

Easter Eggers can generally tolerate cold weather better than hot weather. They have smaller comb and wattles as well as thicker feathering than some other breeds, which helps them stay warm in cooler temperatures.