Of all my breeds (Buff Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, NH Reds, Silkies and EE's) these are by far my favorite. First of all they are totally gorgeous. They have a Hawk-Like appearance and beautiful feathering. I love the muff or beard. They all have very individual personalities too. I have 3, one is and always has been very friendly, the other two were more flighty and scared but when they matured and started laying they chilled out quite a bit and I can pick them all up now with no problem. They were the first of my 5 breeds to start laying as well and as far as I can tell, even in the first 2 weeks they are laying every other day already. Two of them give me a pastel blue egg and the other one gives be a green-blue pastel egg. So pretty.
The only thing I can think of that might be a con is that mine are the lowest in the pecking order and therefore get picked on quite a bit by my top of the pecking order birds, my NH Reds. Also, they can fly very well so that might be a con for those that have lower fences for heavier birds like Orpingtons. I have one that will fly in and out of the enclosure and sometimes in harms way (dogs) but she flys back over on her own.
I am considering removing my Speckled Sussex Roo and replacing with an Easter Egger Roo so I can always have lots and lots of Easter Eggers. I would phase out my Speckled Sussex and NH Reds.
8/30/15 I just wanted to update this review! If I could give 10 stars I would. My 3 Easter Eggers lay 6 days a week. They are my most prolific layers. When I got this breed I was only expecting 3-4 eggs a week and boy have they surpassed all my expectations. I got the NH Reds specifically for their laying ability and at 26 weeks only 1 of my NH Reds just started laying tiny pullet eggs only 1 or 2 a week. The other still doesn't lay. My Buff Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex have been late bloomers as well. Out of 8 brown egg layers, all 26 weeks, I only get 4 brown eggs a week. If it wasn't for my EE's I would not have enough eggs for my family of 4.
EE's are the best. I will never not have EE's in my flock.
The only thing I can think of that might be a con is that mine are the lowest in the pecking order and therefore get picked on quite a bit by my top of the pecking order birds, my NH Reds. Also, they can fly very well so that might be a con for those that have lower fences for heavier birds like Orpingtons. I have one that will fly in and out of the enclosure and sometimes in harms way (dogs) but she flys back over on her own.
I am considering removing my Speckled Sussex Roo and replacing with an Easter Egger Roo so I can always have lots and lots of Easter Eggers. I would phase out my Speckled Sussex and NH Reds.
8/30/15 I just wanted to update this review! If I could give 10 stars I would. My 3 Easter Eggers lay 6 days a week. They are my most prolific layers. When I got this breed I was only expecting 3-4 eggs a week and boy have they surpassed all my expectations. I got the NH Reds specifically for their laying ability and at 26 weeks only 1 of my NH Reds just started laying tiny pullet eggs only 1 or 2 a week. The other still doesn't lay. My Buff Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex have been late bloomers as well. Out of 8 brown egg layers, all 26 weeks, I only get 4 brown eggs a week. If it wasn't for my EE's I would not have enough eggs for my family of 4.
EE's are the best. I will never not have EE's in my flock.
