In American usage, an Easter egger or Easter-egger is any hybrid or mixed-breed chicken resulting from the breeding of a bird carrying the blue egg (oocyan) gene with one that lays brown eggs. Eggs from such a bird may be any shade of blue or brown,[1]: 175  or occasionally pink or pale yellow.[2] These birds do not constitute a breed, and so are not recognized by the American Poultry Association or the American Bantam Association.[2] They may be marketed as "Americana", but are quite different from the Ameraucana, a recognized breed.[2]

Eggs from an Olive egger compared to a brown ISA Warren egg

Characteristics

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Hybrid birds of this type may be of any color. They are commonly muffed and bearded, often with a pea-comb; the wattles may be small or absent. The legs can be grey, yellow, or greenish.[1]: 175 

References

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  1. ^ a b Kathy Shea Mormino (2017). The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 2017. ISBN 9780760359792.
  2. ^ a b c Araucana; Ameraucana; Americana or the Easter Eggers. APA-ABA Youth Poultry Club. Archived 19 October 2013.