Easter Egger: What To Know About Rainbow Egg Layers (2024)

The Easter Egger is a much loved hybrid chicken.

They are extremely popular because you are never quite sure what you are going to get in the way of plumage or egg color.

As their nickname Rainbow layers suggests they are layers of eggs with colored shells.

She makes a wonderful addition to small backyard flocks as they get on well with children and tolerate being held and cuddled.

If you want to learn more about this unique chicken then keep reading to learn all about them…

Easter Egger Overview

The Easter Egger chicken has a very large following.

Children absolutely adore them as do regular chicken folk that want different colored eggs.

They are all so different!

Some have muffs and beards whilst others do not – some even have tails.

They are definitely a one of a kind chicken.

Whilst some may look down on the humble Easter Egger, she is a beautiful chicken that gives you a great bang for your buck.

These hybrids are robust, healthy and very rarely suffer from anything more serious than parasites in their early years.

They can tolerate a wide variety of climates (from desert to snow) too.

Just make sure to give them the basics of shelter, food and water and they are good to go. While they may not be recognized by Poultry Associations in the long run that could be a good thing. It is often the case that birds groomed for show are not the best layers or performers in the pasture.

These chickens can certainly hold their own in egg laying department and make a good all purpose hen.

Why We Love This Breed

Appearance

This is definitely an unconventional chicken.

It is uncommon for two Easter Eggers to have exactly the same plumage.

Starting from the head they all have pea combs and wattles. Wattles can be large or almost non-existent.

They may have ear tufts or not.

Eyes can be a reddish bay, yellow or orange color and their beak is stout and generally horn colored.

They may have muffs or beards and some may even have a tail present.

Legs can vary from yellow to a greenish/slate color and sometimes have feathers.

As this breed is not a recognized by the American Poultry Association or the American Bantam Association there are no official breed standards.

There really is no surefire way to tell the roosters apart from the hens.

It is commonly thought that roosters have more white on their plumage and that their coloration is more random and blotchy. Whereas hens have a more evenly colored plumage.

However the best way to tell the difference is by observing their behaviors. Roosters have a lot more attitude, are more curious and walk around almost upright. While the hens will be quieter, more cautious and try to keep a lower profile.

At 7-12 weeks the hackles and sickles of the boys should start to be noticeable.

Size and Weight

Although they are considered a standard sized chicken they are a touch on the small side:

• Hens are around 4lb with roosters around 5lb.

However you might occasionally find one that is slightly larger.

There are bantams available too (hens are around 26oz and roosters are 30oz).

Color Varieties

As noted before their plumage color is widely variable with no two birds exactly the same.

Easter Eggers plumage can take on many colors and hues. They can be white, black, brown or any mixture in between – there is no set pattern for this breed.

Feathering may be tight or loose.

What Is It Like To Own A Easter Egger?

Easter Egger chickens enjoy being active.

You will find them rummaging around the yard picking up tasty tidbits and exploring.

They are curious and friendly hens that will follow you around looking for handouts or helping with chores.

Of course one of the main attractions of this chicken is their eggs.

As a relative of the Araucana and Ameraucana they carry the blue egg gene.

This is a very unique trait that only a few breeds have.

Chickens that have this gene lay eggs that are blue shelled both outside and inside.

The particular gene responsible for the pigmentation was altered by a virus several hundred years ago in a few breeds in China (the Lushi and Dongxiang) and South America (Araucana or Mapuche).

The oocyanin pigment is spread evenly throughout the eggshell resulting in pale blue eggs.

In Easter Eggers the oocyanin colors the shell first then a second pigment (protoporphyrin) is laid on top resulting in green or olive colored eggs.

Personality

They are known as calm non-aggressive birds.

Once they have settled into your flock they will be docile enough to eat from your hand or sit in your lap.

They are not shy with humans and really are a family oriented chicken.

She may even approach you for treats or a cuddle!

They are happy-go-lucky chickens that always seem to be cheerful and pleased to see you.

Unfortunately because they are so docile it can mean they get picked upon by more breeds. It is best if they can be penned with other gentle souls such as Cochins, Polish or Faverolles. They are incredibly hardy so can tolerate both hot and cold climates equally well. Just make sure they have enough food, water and shelter.

Curiosity is another of their traits – they like nothing better than poking around to see what they might find in the way of snacks.

Egg Production

They are a decent producer of eggs and can lay around 4 each week.

This puts them into the 200+ eggs per year category!

Not as prolific as some but really not too shabby.

Depending on the individual chicken they should reach their point of lay around 18-20 weeks.

The color of the egg can be nywhere from blue to green, olive or light pink and shades in between. However she will only lay one color through her lifetime.

Noise Levels

Overall they are fairly quiet chickens.

Because of this they are suitable in urban settings.

The usual loudness comes with the egg song and predator alerts, otherwise they chatter quietly.

Facts About This Breed

1. They are technically not considered a true breed.
2. These chickens carry a gene called enocyanin that allows them to lay blue eggs.
3. Many have beards and ear tufts.
4. Since there are no breed standards they can come in a variety of shapes and colors.
5. They also come in bantam size.

Easter Egger Chicken Care Guide

Health Issues

Easter Eggers are healthy and robust chickens.

They have a pretty deep gene pool so rarely are there any genetic issues to speak of.

The usual chicken parasites (lice and mites) can be expected. They can be treated by regular feather checks and treatment as needed or by schedule.

You should watch for intestinal worms – if you see them in the droppings you need to treat the chicken to remove the infestation. Taking a fecal sample to the veterinarian once every six months is a good idea and will help you keep on top of health issues.

Feeding

Their feeding regimen is the same as other chickens.

Chicks will need 20% or higher starter feed for the first several weeks of life

Then at 6 weeks or so they should change over to a grower feed which is 16-18% protein.

Finally at 20 weeks they transition to 16% layer feed. At this point they should always have access to oyster shell in a separate container – the same applies to insoluble grit.

Lastly they should always have access to clean and fresh water.

Coop Setup

These chickens are a bit on the small side, so the 4 square feet per chicken rule will do very nicely for them.

As for roosting space, 8-10 inches each will suit them just fine.

However they are on the small side and not at all aggressive. So try to make sure there is enough roosts for them to be away from the bullies if they want to be.

Nesting boxes that are 12×12 inch will be fine for this breed. One nesting box for every three birds should be sufficient, although there will always be a favorite box that all want to use at precisely the same time!

Run and Roaming

This breed likes to free range and they are good foragers.

Allowing them time to free range will not only supplement their diet but give them exercise and mental stimulation. They like to help around the garden so put them to work at turning over a bed or pecking through the weeds.

However as docile and non-aggressive birds they tolerate confinement too.

They should have a minimum of 8 square feet per chicken in their outside pen. If they are kept in a run then provide them with boredom busters such as leaf piles, cabbage pinata and other stimulating things.

If they are penned with more assertive chickens then make sure there is enough room for them to escape from the bullies.

As always the more room the better.

Easter Egger Breed History

The Easter Egger has a pretty short family history.

In order to understand their history you need to know about the Araucana and Ameraucana.

The Araucana originated in South America and is sometimes called the Mapuche chicken after the indigenous tribe that originally kept them. The Ameraucana is an American breed that was bred from the Araucana.

Ameraucanas were created from the Araucana and other breeds with the intention of eliminating the Araucana’s lethal gene.

Both the Araucana and Ameraucana breed true – this means that their offspring will look like their parents.

The Easter Egger is a product of either the Araucana or Ameraucana that has been bred with another breed.

Although they retain the blue egg gene they are not classified as a true breed.

Ear tufts, muffs, beards and no-rump can appear in some chicks and not in others – it simply depends upon the particular genetic code of that chick’s parents.

Easter Eggers started to make an appearance in the late 1970s and now have become one of the most popular backyard chickens in the US.

They are easy to care for, friendly and lay a colored egg – very all positive traits!

Summary

All things considered the Easter Egger is a great addition to any flock.

She lays well and their egg color will always add some pizazz to your egg carton!

They are friendly, docile and enjoy exploring the yard.

She can also be left to free range and forage to supplement their diet which in turns reduces the feed bill.

They are fairly inexpensive to buy as chicks and once you have them you can always breed more chicks from them if you desire.

These delightful birds always seem to be cheerful so if you are looking for a family oriented chicken you really cannot go wrong with the Easter Eggers.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below…