Easter Egger Chickens: The Colorful Egg Layer

What an Easter Egger is

The poultry extension service defines Easter Eggers as hens with Araucana or Ameraucana ancestry whose feathers do not meet the American Poultry Association standard for either breed. In other words, they are a type rather than a breed, so you will not find them at a standard-bred poultry show, and no two flocks look quite the same.

Most are sold by hatcheries, sometimes labeled as Ameraucanas or Araucanas when they are not. Genuine Ameraucanas meet the APA standard, with set colors, a muff and beard and blue eggs, while Araucanas are rumpless and have ear tufts. If you want show birds or a guaranteed blue egg, buy from a breeder of the standard breed; if you want a fun, productive layer, an Easter Egger is ideal. Our chicken coop guide covers how much room Easter Egger hens need, and our backyard chicken supplies cover the rest of the setup.

Egg colors

The extension service notes that Easter Eggers lay eggs ranging from pink to green, and blue and olive shades are common too. Each hen lays one color for life, so a flock of several hens fills a carton with a mix of shades. The blue comes from a gene inherited from the Araucana, which deposits pigment through the whole shell; green and olive appear when brown pigment is layered over a blue shell.

You cannot reliably predict a chick's egg color, though some keepers notice that hens with greenish or slate legs often lay blue or green eggs. Easter Eggers also break the usual rule the extension service describes, that red earlobes mean brown eggs: like Araucanas and Ameraucanas, they often have red lobes and lay blue or green eggs.

Laying and appearance

Easter Eggers are generally good layers, with many hens producing three to five medium to large eggs a week in their prime and continuing through cool weather. Because they are mixed birds, size and laying vary. Most are medium-weight birds of around four to five pounds, with a small pea comb that resists frostbite.

Many have puffy cheek muffs and beards, and feathers come in almost any color or pattern, from wheaten to blue to speckled. That variety is part of the appeal, and it makes each hen easy to recognize. Some Easter Egger hens go broody, though not as reliably as Silkies or Cochins.

Temperament

Easter Eggers are usually friendly, curious and easygoing, and they tend to fit well into mixed flocks. They are active foragers but tolerate confinement, and many become tame with regular handling, which makes them a good choice for families and first-time keepers.

Because they are not a standardized breed, temperament varies more than in a pure breed. Roosters can be protective like any rooster, so many keepers stick to hens. They fly a little better than heavy breeds, so a taller fence or covered run helps keep them home.

Care

Easter Eggers are hardy in both cold and heat; their pea combs and muffs help in winter, while shade and fresh water keep them comfortable in summer. Give them at least 4 square feet per bird in the coop and 10 in the run, nest boxes for every four or five hens, and a complete layer feed with oyster shell for strong shells.

Check muffs and beards for mites and for food caked in the feathers. Call a vet who treats poultry if a hen stops laying suddenly outside the molt, sits hunched and fluffed, has trouble breathing, or strains without passing an egg. Eggs from your backyard chicken flock should be collected daily and refrigerated at 40°F or below.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.