Does anyone know how chickens and rabbits are related to Easter? What is the origin?

Someone asked me this and I didn't have a clue but I said I knew where I could ask.

In pagan times, the "Easter hare" was no ordinary animal, but a sacred companion of the old goddess of spring, Eostre. The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season. Since long before Jesus Christ was born, parents told their children that the magic hare would bring them presents at the spring festival. The presents were often painted eggs, as these represented the new life starting at this time of year." Hares are animals which look like rabbits, but are larger and in many countries quite rare. In most places, the Easter rabbit (bunny) has replaced the Easter hare completely. - Easter Bunny

This pretty much says what I read in many other sites. Remember that the Early Christians incorporated pagan holidays into their own, figuring it was easier to convert people if you give them holidays that coincided with their old ones.

The time of year that Easter occurs is the time that things bloom, a season of re-birth. The egg symbolizes a new start.

In the Orthodox religion, Easter isn't complete without eggs dyed a purple-red. The red egg that the celebrants presents to the faithful at the end of the Paschal Divine Liturgy is also a tradition. The egg represents Christ in the tomb. Breaking the egg is symbolic of the Resurrection.

Slavic people and by some Greek families observe the tradition of bringing a basket of food to be blessed after the Paschal Divine Liturgy.

If you have eggs, chickens must be around somewhere.

Thanks Dorian, good info.