Forest Eggers

Appearance & Characteristics
Due to olive eggers requiring to be a mixed breed, each bird's appearance can vary,  displaying a beautiful combination of their parent breeds characteristics - you may end up with blue or lavender-tinted feathers, copper tones, or splash patterns. They can have feathered or clean legs (depending on which parent traits dominate), and many end up inheriting the fluffy cheeks and beards from their Ameraucana lineage.

These are medium to large-sized birds. Hens typically weigh 6-7 pounds, while roosters reach 7-8 pounds.

Egg Production
You can expect 4-5 eggs large per week, totaling approximately 200-250 eggs per year. Hens typically begin laying around 20-24 weeks of age. Our Forest Eggers are a mix of hertige breeds, so please keep in mind that they mature at a much more natural rate than a commercial laying breed. They maintain fairly consistent production through winter months, though they may slow slightly during the darkest, coldest periods without artificial light supplemented.

Forest Eggers (multigenerational olive eggers) are not typically known to be broody, but each bird has their own individual parenting goals. 

Temperament
Our Forest Eggers are typically curious, independant birds with great foraging skills. They integrate well into mixed flocks and generally rank middle in pecking order dynamics. 

Cold Hardy Excellence
With genetics from both cold-hardy Marans and winter-tough Ameraucanas, Olive Eggers excel in Canadian climates. Their full feathering provides good insulation, and many inherit pea combs or small combs that resist frostbite better than large single comb breeds. They handle Canadian winters beautifully while also tolerating heat well. All birds regardless of breed deserve a draft free coop in the winter and access to shade and fresh water during summer months. 

Care & Maintenance
Forest Eggers are hardy, beginner-friendly birds with straightforward care requirements:

• Feed: Standard layer feed (16-18% protein). They're good foragers and will supplement their diet well if free-ranged.

• Space: 4 square feet per bird in the coop, 10 square feet in the run

• Housing: Standard coop with good ventilation free of drafts in the winter. They're active birds who appreciate outdoor access but handle confinement when necessary.

• Health: Very robust and hardy with hybrid vigor. Generally resistant to common health issues with proper care and biosecurity.

Life expectancy: 6-8 years with proper care.

Why Choose Forest Eggers?
If you want an egg basket full of unique, Instagram-worthy olive eggs, our Forest Eggers are an excellent choice. Their hybrid vigor makes them particularly resilient, and their egg color makes them a conversation starter at farmers markets or with neighbors!