OVERALL: The easter egg chicken is a great beginner fowl-bird, with very few health problems, and an overall easy-going nature.
They have beards, they lay colored eggs, and are relatively docile. what's not to love?
TEMPERAMENT: the hens are usually easy-going and docile. They have a tendency to be quite comical and inquisitive in nature. Be careful, though. that curiosity can get them into some strange places.
Because of their wide genetics, expect the individual personality to vary from bird to bird. some may be outgoing and brave, others shy and flighty.
The personality of the roosters are very unpredictable. Some will be docile, others will be aggressive.
Typically, they stick to their environment and heavily enjoy the safety & company of their own flock. While they CAN fly, they rarely are the "leader of escapes." However, it's not beyond them to be the first to follow another chicken who's already hopped the fence.
They have the ability to become broody, therefore usually will tolerate new generations better than a breed that rarely (or never) goes broody.
They are agile and quick, making them suitable for free-range.
HEALTH: Due to their wide genetics, one rarely comes across any severe health issue with easter egg chickens. They have good joints, hearts, & lungs. They live long lives & are naturally robust, fairly muscular, strong-boned chickens.
The most common health concern is a non-lethal genetic trait called Cross-beak. ( Cross-beak is where the upper jaw grows crooked or malformed, causing the upper and lower jaw to fail to align properly. Most cases will worsen with age. the most severe cases leave the upper jaw useless, therefore forcing the chicken to scoop up food with their lower jaw and tongue. severe crook-beaks require extra care, a "mushy" food or food propped up at head-height, to accommodate feeding. ) this deformity is estimated 1 in every 100 chicks, but is usually present far less than in ameraucanas.
APPEARANCE: A unique bird with unique, endless feather patterns & coloration, to match their relatively endless egg colors. They have both beards and tufts. Looking at one head-on, it appears to walk around with a permanent smile.
EGG PRODUCTION: This varies depending the line you get, and on what your breeder or hatchery breeds for. Some places will breed for high egg production, others will focus more on appearance. They can lay green, blue, or even pinkish-brown eggs.
AS USED FOR MEAT: this bird is also used for meat, due to a moderately fast growth rate & an insatiable taste resembling quail. The bird is not a heavy-weight, but by far isn't the smallest, either. To my best of knowledge, they are considered standards.
GENETIC HISTORY: The easter egger's genetics stem from many breeds, with a large history linked to ameraucanas. They are also related to araucanas. However, many people will tell you quite frankly, that's not the only two in the genepool. in fact, most say it's so diverse they don't know for sure all the breeds that were used create the easter egger, therefore leaving the rest a mystery.
Because they are not recognized as an actual "breed," It took many years to convince anyone that the easter egg chicken was worthy for show. That being said, the easter egg chicken could be considered one of the most beautiful "Mutt" creations. Today, they are accepted in show as misc., but remain widely known as not belonging to any certain breed, and rather are named cross-breeds, or mixed breed, etc.
PRICE: most places will sell easter eggers for a very affordable fraction of the other colored egg layers. they are usually the cheapest colored egg layer available on market.