Easter Egger
Egg layerUnited StatesBeginner friendly
The Easter Egger isn't a standardized breed at all — it's any friendly mutt of a chicken carrying the blue-egg gene, and that's exactly its charm. No two look alike, the eggs come in blues, greens, and olive tones, and hatcheries can barely keep them in stock.
Eggs per year
200–280
Egg color
Blue, green, or olive
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
4–5.5 lbs
Temperament
Friendly and curious
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Each Easter Egger hen lays only one shell color her entire life; the rainbow effect comes from keeping several hens, not one overachiever.
Easter Egger egg production
Expect roughly 200–280 blue, green, or olive eggs a year from a Easter Egger in her prime — about 4–5 a week, or 17–23 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Easter Egger is generally described as friendly and curious. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Easter Egger rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Easter Eggerhens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Easter Egger hen is a medium-sized bird at 4–5.5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Easter Egger right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You'd like blue, green, or olive eggs in the basket
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
Think twice if…
- Honestly, not much — this is a versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist
Easter Egger FAQ
- How many eggs do Easter Egger chickens lay?
- A healthy Easter Egger hen lays about 200–280 blue, green, or olive eggs a year — roughly 4–5 a week, or 17–23 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Easter Eggers lay?
- Easter Eggers lay blue, green, or olive eggs, large in size.
- How big do Easter Egger chickens get?
- A Easter Egger hen weighs roughly 4–5.5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Easter Eggers cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Easter Egger is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Easter Eggers good for beginners?
- Yes. The Easter Egger is a forgiving, friendly and curious breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Easter Egger hens go broody?
- Rarely. Easter Egger hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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Keeping Easter Eggers?
Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
