EASTER EGGER CLUB OF AMERICA
Eastereggers.com
THUMBING OUR NOSES AT THE A.P.A. SINCE 1976
Welcome
Breeders and Enthusiasts Alike
Join EECOA and "STOP THE PERSECUTION" of this noble and historic breed!
OUR MISSION:
TO EDUCATE, INFORM AND FACILITATE THE PROLIFERATION OF THIS FINE BREED OF CHICKEN
TO DISPEL THE MYTHS, MISREPRESENTATIONS AND MALIGNMENT OF THE BREED.
THE EASTER EGGER: A PROUD BREED OF CHICKENS WITH A RICH AMERICAN HERETIGE.
THIS TRUELY REMARKABLE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHICKENS SPECIES,
IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A STAPLE OF THE AMERICAN CHICKEN FARMER.
FROM URBAN, BACKYARD HOBBYISTS, TO THE RURAL COUNTRY FARM,
THIS BREED OF CHICKEN HAS EARNED ITS PLACE AS THE "ALL AMERICAN CHICKEN".
NO FLOCK OR FARM IS COMPLETE WITHOUT, AT LEAST ONE OF THESE FINE SPECIMINES.

YET, DESPITE THESE UNDENIABLE TRUTHS,
THIS BREED HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RIDICULE, TREATED WITH CONTEMPT,
AND DENIED THE RESPECT OWING TO IT.
MALINED BY MANY BREEDERS, AND EVEN REJECTED AS A BREED,
IT REMAINS ONE OF, IF NOT,
THE MOST POPULAR CHICKEN IN AMERICA TODAY.*
*based on the opinions of those Easter Egger owners and breeders polled,The survey was conducted using non scientific methods.
No margin for error can be established based on the non scientific manner in which the information was obtained
WWW.EASTEREGGERS.COM
BASIC INFORMATION
The Easter Egger is known for its Colorful Eggs; Eggs can range from Green to blue and even Pink.
Originally bred from a south american breed, it has become one of the most popular breeds in the United States today.
Easter Egger's can have, virtually any feather color or pattern, and usually have greenish legs and a Pea comb.
Normally they have a beard and muffs, however breeding techniques have lead to a beardless variety as well.
Easter Egger's are found in both Large fowl and Bantam types, both exhibit the same rainbow of plumage possibilities and with the same ability to lay a range of colorful eggs.
The Easter Egger's derive their name from the colorful eggs they produce; as the name suggests, the eggs remind people of easter eggs.
The egg color alone, is enough to make this a desirable breed of chicken, but to add to this, they also display a huge range of feather color.
Although there are certain color traits that are more common then others, when you obtain and Easter egg chicken, you can never truly be sure what you will end up with, but whatever it is, you can bet it will be unique.


Breed General Description and STANDARDS OF PERFECTION

The standards of perfection established below are that of the "Ideal Easter Egger"
Birds that do not meet these "Standards of Perfection" are still considered Easter Eggers, but not of the same high quality.

Weight: Typical large fowl 5-7 pounds
Color: All
Comb Type/Wattles: Pea Comb/ small or non-existant
Beard and Muffs: Full, well-rounded, medium length (These are the norm, however some have been developed without these traits)
Head: Medium size.
Face: Nearly hidden by muffs.
Eyes: Expressive
Beak: Curved.
Ear Lobes: Small..
Neck: Well-arched
Hackel: Full.
Back: Medium length.
Leg Color: Green is typical but other colors include, willow, slate, yellow.

Rooster
Saddle: Medium in length
Tail: Well spread, medium length, carried at 45º above horizontal.
Wings: Fairly large, tips carried above the hock joint.
Breast: Prominent.
Body & Stearn: Body of medium length, stern well-tucked up.

Hen.
Cushion: Moderate.
Tail: Medium length, well spread, carried at 40º angle above horizontal.
Wings: Fairly prominent, carried above the hock joint.
Breast: Full.
Body & Stearn:Full but trim, fluff well-tucked up.

Personality: Generally friendly, Non Agressive

Egg Color: Green, Blue, Green Blue, Olive Green, Sea Green, Tinted (Pink)

STANDARD WEIGHTS for LARGE FOWL

Cock 6½ lbs
Hen 5½ lbs
Cockerel 5½ lbs
Pullet 4½ lbs


STANDARD WEIGHTS for BANTAMS

Cock 30 oz
Hen 26 oz
Cockerel 26 oz
Pullet 24 oz

The EECOA Standard Of Perfection Discounts Any Chicken Which Exhibits

  • Tufts
  • Does Not Exhibit Tail Feathers (Rumpless);
    These are considered by EECOA to be rejects from the breeding practices of Aruacana breeders.
  • Any comb other then pea.
    The above types are considered a subclass of the Easter Egger breed.
    Further, The Following Color Types Are Not Recognized by EECOA:
    The following color types are not considered to be Easter Egger's, only as they are defined by the A.P.A. and their classification of the following as a separate breed.
    Black
  • Blue
  • Blue Wheaten
  • Brown Red
  • Buff
  • Silver
  • Wheaten
  • White
    Birds that exhibit the colors listed above, but do not exhibit the traits associated with the A.P.A. Classified breed Ameraucana and DO exhibit traits associated with the Easter Egg chicken ARE EASTER EGGERS

WARNING:
THINK YOU OWN AN ARUACANA OR AN AMERAUCANA?
YOU MAY NEED TO THINK AGAIN,
MANY EASTER EGG OR EASTER EGGER CHICKENS ARE SOLD UNDER THESE ERRONIOUS NAMES, BY LARGE HATCHERIES !
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History


Before there was the Aruacana, Before there was the Ameraucana
There was the Easter Egger.
(That's Our Story and we're Sticking To It!)

Bred from two south American breeds (a small single comb,rumpless that laid blue eggs and a tufted chicken that had a pea comb, flowing tail and laid brown eggs) and reportedly had been crossed with asian breeds;

they were brought to this country around1925 from Chile' South America.
In later years, a bearded/muffed type was developed.
Continually Cross bred with other breeds of chicken, the plumage color has become one of the most diverse in all the chicken world.
Easter Egger's come in almost every color and pattern imaginable; this combined with their colorful eggs, that can range from blue to green and even pink, make them a truly remarkable chicken.

Unfortunately, a few breeders decided to change the nature and diversity of this magnificent breed.
In the case of the so called "Ameraucana",
breeders limited the color of plumage to eight types, while at the same time, striving to eliminate any Green egg laying birds, in favor of the blue egg type.
In all fairness, it should be pointed out that, the only reason an Ameraucana cannot be considered an Easter Egger, is that, in 1984 the APA declared these eight color varieties to be a separate breed; It is for this reason alone that they are not acceptable as Easter Egger's under the EECOA standard of perfection.

In the case of the Aruacana,
The lethal mutation associated with ear tufts was established within the breed, along with a lack of tail feathers (rumpless).
To maintain the Ear tuft traits, the birds need to be crossed with chickens that do not carry the gene, as two sets of the gene will kill the offspring.
it has been said that breeders must produce one hundred off spring to produce one "True Aruacana", and although the rest of these bird would technically be called Easter Egger's, EECOA considers them to be substandard Aruacana's, since we cannot condone the perpetuation of a breed that is not viable and we will not accept the by-product of this type of breeding.
Yet, despite this inability for a viable continuation of these "Desired Traits", without the constant infusion of genetic variation from outside this supposed "Established Breed", in 1976, The APA declared Aruacana's a registered breed of chicken, while the Easter Egger, remains on the APA blacklist.

How to Identify an Easter Egg Chicken / Easter Egger


Generally, an Easter Egger should exhibit some of the following traits
The Pea comb is a must (Keep in mind there are other breeds that have a Pea Comb)
Green legs, beard and muff and production of green, blue or pink eggs are standard

The easy way to Identify and Easter Egger is to see what color egg they produce, if the egg color is green, you most likely have an Easter Egger.
In the case of a blue egg laying Chicken, that has a tail, beard and muffs, the best way is to use the process of elimination,
or as Dr. Seuess would say, calculatus eliminatus is the best friend that you got.
This reference to ameraucana breeders club shows those chickens that have been declared non easter egger's.
If your chickens looks Exactly like one of the chickens shown on the linked website, your chicken is Not an Easter Egger, however,
if it looks similar to, but not exactly like, one of the chickens shown on that website, you are the proud owner of an Easter Egg Chicken!!!

Alternately
If you own a chicken that is rumpless, tufted and lays blue or green eggs,
although you may technically have and Easter Egger, The Easter Egger Club of America, regards your bird as either an Aruacana or the by product of the breeding methods of Aruacana breeders, and in essence, it is an Aruacana reject, not an Easter Egger.
For reference on the Aruacana breed we refer you to Araucanas Online

If you have found that you have an Araucana , an Aruacana reject, or an Ameraucana,
do not despair, you still have a fine chicken that will produce colorful eggs, and with a little crossbreeding, you too can be an Easter Egger breeder in good standing.


(the development of a dark egg laying variety would be a great addition, should someone want a breeding project)