Easter Eggers lay a variety of chicken egg colors, from cream, to pink, to every shade of blue and green. They were developed to the breeders liking and so a standard was issued. Easter Eggers share a common heritage to Araucanas and Americaunas breeds. Somewhere in the mix, there is a blue egg-layer — often an Araucana — bred to another breed of chicken (literally any other breed). Although they retain the blue egg gene they are not classified as a true breed. Minimum order of 5 chicks. Easter Egger is a marketing ploy for the colored eggs. Purpose: Dual … In fact, the untrained eye often confuses the Americuana breed with Easter Egger chickens. It is neither a separate nor recognized chicken breed by the American Poultry Association (APA). It is actually a hybrid breed that is a cross between one of the blue egg chickens (the Ameraucana or the Araucana) and another chicken. They are lightweight and do not eat as much as larger breeds. Disreputable hatcheries use the similarities to pass off EE chicks on an unsuspecting public. The Easter Egg chickens are great chickens for backyards, chicken coops, larger chicken houses and for raising free range chickens. Instead, they are happy birds that lay funny colored eggs. Their lack of pedigree and their personality attracts a cult like following. They are not recognized by the American Poultry Association or the American Bantam Association, so they are not shown in competitions. You just never know what you’re going to get with this fun breed! Easter Eggers do well in confinement. The Ameraucana is an American breed of domestic chicken.It was developed in the United States in the 1970s, and derives from Araucana chickens brought from Chile. Araucanas are a unique breed known for laying blue eggs, exaggerated cheek poufs and no tails. They’re a very popular breed because they lay different colored eggs. Shop now for Easter Egger Bantam Chicks. This means that the body type, comb, and other features will often resemble those of one of these breeds, but the egg color and feather color/pattern can vary widely. This breed was created by crossing Araucanas and White Leghorns, this creates a chicken that lays a large quantity of eggs that have blue shells. However, 1/16 of the chickens resulting from crossing a brown-egg breed and a blue-egg breed will have a single comb and lay brown eggs, which is undesirable. 3. But the blue gene is not always passed down to their chicks. They are a popular pick, not only for their egg color but also because they are docile. They usually have muffs and pea combs, but come in nearly every variety and color, some even have ear tufts or are rumpless. They are derived from the same descendants of Ameraucanas, and Araucanas breeds from Chile and Falklands and were bred with many other different breeds. Ameraucanas Non-standard is the standard. Many new backyard chicken owners have heard of Easter Eggers! Easter Eggers are one of the most popular hybrids in backyard flocks because of their egg color. The origin of Easter Egger Chicken is not distinguished. Although seldom broody, the hens nevertheless make good mothers to their chicks. The main breed they are derived from is the Araucana. Due to a pigment deposit on the surface of the eggshell called oocyanin it gives the eggs a green-blue tint. The Easter Egger is not really a breed. Easter Eggers are not a recognized standard breed. Easter Eggers are a mutt chicken and not a real breed. The third, known as the Easter Egger Chicken, is not a recognized breed, but rather a cross between any other chicken and either an Ameraucana or an Araucana. www.chickenbreedslist.com Custom Chicken Socks, Chicken Nutrition- What Your Chicken Needs in Its Feed. As previously described, Ameraucanas are very similar to Easter Eggers. Disinfect cuts. They are relationed to the breeds Ameraucanas and Araucanas, then bred with many different breeds so they no longer fit either breed's standards. A chicken will only lay one color egg and not multiple colors. The Easter Egger chicken is not truly a chicken breed but is instead a cross between different chicken breeds. The Easter Egger isn’t a recognized breed. The pageant of Easter Egger plumage encompasses every color of the rainbow. All Rights Reserved. The fowl come in as many colors as their eggs. However, the EE has a few common traits. Other known (misleading) aliases of this same breed: Ameraucanas, Americanas, or sometimes Araucanas; We are one of only a few places that provide true Ameraucanas. 1 out of 100 chicks as they grow may have some variance in severity of scissor beak/cross beak. Easter Eggers are not a breed per se, but a variety of chicken that does not conform to any breed standard but lays large to extra large eggs that vary in shade from blue to green to olive to aqua and sometimes even pinkish. None recognized, but plumage varies widely. Easter Eggers are not a breed per se, but a variety of chicken that does not conform to any breed standard but lays large to extra large eggs that vary in shade from blue to green to olive to aqua and sometimes even pinkish. Uses. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Examine their muffs and beards for cuts or scrapes. Availability. They all have the blue egg gene and trace their roots to Chile. With each generation, the shade of the egg deepens to more and more of an olive color. Easter Eggers apply to any chicken that lays colored eggs. It was bred to retain the blue-egg gene but eliminate the lethal alleles of the parent breed. It’s a variety of chicken that carries the blue egg laying gene, and the modern version is descended from the ancient Araucana breed … The Prairie Bluebell Egger™ is an active bird that is very good at foraging. To get an F2 olive egger, breed an F1 olive egger back to a purebred dark egg layer such as a Marans. The Easter Egger club in America has as their motto, “Thumbing our Noses at the A.P.A. Easter Egger chickens can lay blue, green or pink eggs depending on their poultry pedigree. This, in my opinion, is what gives Easter Eggers their charm. Easter Egger chickens are not a breed but a group of chickens with specific features. Once you have your F2 olive egger, you would breed that bird back to your purebred dark egg layer. The Easter Egger is a product of either the Araucana or Ameraucana that has been bred with another breed. Since 1976.” Few fowl have a fan base as devoted.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'chickenbreedslist_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',115,'0','0'])); Easter Eggers do well in a backyard environment. This cross is usually between Araucana and Ameraucana birds, but truthfully, Easter Eggers are rather mixed and can be produced when other birds are crossed with either the Ameraucanaor Araucana. ©2005-2021 MY PET CHICKEN, LLC. Colored eggs secures the Easter Egger’s (EE) position as the most popular chicken in America. “Easter Eggers” are a mixed breed chicken with delightful, amusing personalities that many people add to their flock due to the fact that they lay eggs in a wide variety of colors, including blue, pink, green, sage, and yellow. The name “Easter Egger” is given to all the hybrid chickens in America with the blue … Easter Egger. They do not conform to any standard, so they don't always look the same. Of course, kids love them. Some people have great luck breeding a true blue laying hen to brown producing roosters. The similarities end there. Ear tuft genes come from the Araucana and usually lead to high mortality rates among brood in the egg. Feed them a good layer feed with supplemental protein and calcium. The hens seldom go broody. Easter Eggers are both cold and heat-hardy, making them a great addition to any flock. In fact, the untrained eye often confuses the Americuana breed with Easter Egger chickens. They have a friendly, calm temperament. The Easter Egger is not a recognized breed but rather any chicken that does not meet any poultry breed standard that has been defined by the American Poultry Association but has the “blue-egg” gene.Easter Egger is a name that comes from the colorful eggs these birds lay. True Ameraucanas and Araucanas are currently only available through breeders. … Quiet and docile, they seamlessly blend into a typical suburban neighborhood. These birds are usually a cross of various Ameraucanas, Araucan… Most hatcheries mistakenly label their Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas or Araucanas (or various misspellings thereof). Breed Alternatives 1. Easter Eggers come from the same genetic pool as the Americauna and the Araucana as evidenced by their blue eggs. Roosters take equally good care of the hens. There are both standard-sized and bantam versions.. History. These hens lay about 250 eggs per year, and some do lay blue eggs. The Easter Egger lacking a tail or exhibiting ear tufts would better fit into the Araucana breed line. Araucanas are a chicken breedthat was originally from South America bu… The eggs range from green to blue and pink including other colors. One flock can give an EE farmer blue, green, creamy, or or even pink eggs. “Easter Eggers” are mixed-breed chickens that have been crossed at some point with Araucanas or Ameraucanas. Easter Eggers vary widely in color and conformation and are exceptionally friendly and hardy. This is because Easter Eggers are not an actual breed either. 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. One of the most notable features is the production of extra-large multicolored eggs. Ameraucana and Araucana owners classify Easter Eggers as a mongrel crossbreed of their sanctioned breeds. The Easter Egger is a backyard favorite because of their lovable and friendly nature. Easter Egger aren’t a breed per se. The Araucana chicken and Ameraucana chickens have a number of different color patterns being worked on all across the USA and are being shown in poultry shows. Which came first? Legbars have a different appearance than Easter Eggers. If you only want to pick one chicken breed but are eager for colorful eggs, our breed choice is the Easter Egger. Easter Eggers are for sale starting mid-January through late fall. Like their cousins, the Olive Eggers, Easter Eggers are a random mix of traits from their mixed parentage. Over the years, this particular type of chicken has grown in popularity due to the blue and green-tinted eggs that they produce and the excitement that goes along with such colors. Easter Eggers. Easter Egger chickens are a hybrid breed that can lay blue eggs, but, unlike Ameraucanas, can also lay green, brown, or light pink eggs. One step away from the Araucana and a little closer to the Easter Egger is the Ameraucana. The Easter Egger can literally be a mixed bag of features. Whiting True Blue Class: Not recognizedType: Large Fowl & BantamSize: Small (4-5 lbs)Rarity: CommonPurpose: Egg-layingRecognized Varieties: None recognized, but plumage varies widely, Egg Laying: Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color: Green/Blue/Pink/MultiEgg Size: X-Large, Comb Type: Pea CombCrested: NoFeathered Legs: NoNumber of Toes: 4, Cold Hardiness: Hardy in winterHeat Tolerance: Tolerates heat wellBears Confinement: Bears confinement wellEspecially Docile: YesSetter/Broody: NoPersonality: Fun. Easter Eggers vary widely in color and conformation and are exceptionally friendly and hardy. This mix produces a chicken that does not meet any particular breed standards but instead displays a variety of colors and patterns. Cull any Easter Eggers with ear tufts. The chicks manifest intelligent curiosity in their surroundings and show little fear or flightiness. A single purpose fowl, people keep Easter Eggers primarily for the egg laying capabilities. Owners can easily handle an EE. Please note that while Easter Eggers chiefly lay blue or green eggs, they may (rarely) lay any egg color, including tinted, white, brown or even pinkish eggs. The Ameraucana was bred from mixed breed chickens and Araucanas. They were bred to retain the blue gene for eggs, but eliminate the lethal gene from the parents which caused ear tufts. Now is the time to order your very own Easter Egger chicks. EE devotees believe that their common chicken served as the genetic foundation for the other two purebreds. Large Fowl. Easter Egger. eval(ez_write_tag([[970,250],'chickenbreedslist_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',126,'0','0'])); © Copyright 2011-2017. Instead of cheek muffs and a beard, these spunky... 3. Australorps. Most have full muffs, a pea comb, a spreading tail, a curved beak, and full hackles. Easter Eggers are a mixed breed chicken, making each chicken similar, yet different in their looks (as you can see in the picture above). Temperament: Friendly. Araucanas are the chicken breed of choice. Naturally curious birds, give Easter Eggers room to explore. Valley Hatchery also has many other varieties of show quality chickens for sale. There are also some crosses of those breeds available often simply called Easter Eggers. Easter Egger chickens, which are often referred to as Ameraucana chickens, are a mixed breed that is derived directly from the Araucana breed. Since they are usually quite friendly to children and humans in general, they are a great choice for a family flock. Although hardy birds, provide your EE’s insulated, draft-free coops for maximum health. Foraging for a flock of colourful egg layers that will surprise you? Get to know these breeds and their happily hued eggs a little better. The Easter Egger™ chickens are great chickens for backyards, chicken coops, larger chicken houses and for raising free range chickens. Appearance. Every chicken enjoys a certain amount of foraging and exercise. There are several pure breeds that lay blue or green eggs. Care Level: Easy. NOTE: It should be noted that this breed has an inherent genetic beak issue. Save me for later! Unlike the chicken breeds previously mentioned, not all Easter Eggers … Noise Level: Moderately quiet. From this point on discussions dissolve into a classic “chicken and egg” debate. Easter Eggers do not qualify to be shown since they do not conform to a breed standard. That’s right, if your chicken has tail feathers it’s not really an Araucana. Information on Chicken Breeds from A to Z. If you’re looking for a slightly... 2. Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam pictures, video, information, and chicks. Many have beards. Legbars Easter Eggers of all ages like to follow humans around the coop or yard and readily respond to treats. Easter Eggers come from the same genetic pool as the Americauna and the Araucana as evidenced by their blue eggs. Isbars Chickens. Easter Eggers come in an infinite number of color varieties and lay an infinite number of different egg colors. When people refer to Easter Egger chickens, there are actually several types of chickens that they can be referring to. Disreputable hatcheries use the similarities to pass off EE chicks on an unsuspecting public. Also called the Blue Isbar, Isbar is a chicken breed that originated from Sweden … A small bird, the Easter Egger tolerates heat well. In the colder months their small pea comb helps them avoid the frostbite common to larger combed breeds.