Easter Egger Chicken Lifespan: How Long Do Easter Egger Chickens Live?

If you’ve never heard of an Easter egger chicken, you’re in for a treat. These remarkable birds lay gorgeous bluish-green eggs, just as if they’ve been pre-dyed for an Easter egg-hunting contest. On average, the Easter egger chicken lifespan is 5-8 years, which is comparable to a typical chicken that lives 3-7 years. However, owners report chickens of any breed can live longer if they have good genes and receive ideal care. There’s so much more to know about Easter egger chickens though. Read on for more fascinating facts about this breed. Maybe you’ll want to raise a few yourself!

Where Do Easter Egger Chickens Come From?

Araucana and Ameraucana chickens carry a dominant gene for producing blue eggs. When bred with other types of chickens they produce the Easter egger hybrid (sometimes called “Americanas” to distinguish them from Ameraucanas). They have a 50-75% chance of laying blue, green, or olive eggs and a 25% chance of producing eggs in peach, pink, or brown shades. While not recognized as a breed by chicken breeding associations, Easter eggers are fast becoming a beloved hybrid addition to the backyard barnyard.

What do Easter Egger Chickens Look Like?

Easter egger chickens weigh on average 4-6 pounds, making them medium-sized compared to other chickens. They’ve been described as muscular with a wide back and breast. Their legs can be yellow, green, blue, or slate gray. Sometimes they have “poofy” chipmunk-like cheeks, beards, pea combs, or feathered legs. Usually, they have a tail but sometimes they are rumpless. Their plumage can come in a wide range of colors and combinations: black, white, buff, blue, partridge, splash, lacing, and others. They have a pea comb: a small-to-medium-sized comb sitting low on their head, an adaptation that protects the comb from frostbite.

How do Easter Egger Chickens Compare to Other Chickens?

Owners say that Easter egger chickens tend to be hardier, more tolerant of temperature extremes, and more disease-resistant than many other types of chickens. This is probably because of their diverse gene pool. They do well as free-range chickens, being well-camouflaged and having hunter instincts. They lay eggs prolifically all year round and live longer: on average 5-8 years instead of the 3-7 years expected of other breeds, on average. Best of all for those who want a pet chicken, they’re gentle, tame, friendly, and relatively quiet – perfect for suburban backyards. If you’ve been thinking about keeping chickens, Easter eggers are well worth your consideration for their hardiness, long lifespan, beautiful eggs, and temperament.