Ameraucana or Easter eggers? what kind of chickens do I have?

Hello All,
I am a new chicken momma here. I purchased these guy's from a local breeder last spring and was told they're true Ameraucana chickens. They do lay beautiful blue eggs that are always blue and uniform in color. I and curious to know if they are true Ameraucanas or Easter eggers? and if so what colors are they called? they all have the slate blue legs, ears muffs and beards..... I also just completed my first successful hatch with a 100% hatch rate with a homemade incubator! (yes, I am proud) LOL That is why I am looking to answer this question because I will getting rid of any roosters from this hatch and when I find new homes for them I need to be sure I am giving correct information in regards to the breed. Thank you all in advance! Pics below are of my new babies that just hatched ( off spring from my existing flock) a couple days ago and My established flock in question.

They look like Easter Eggers to me.

They're Easter Eggers. Lot's of people get their Ameraucana from hatcheries, and never realize that they aren't actually Ameraucana, but Easter Eggers. Then the breed them and sell the chicks as true Ameraucana. One of the biggest differences between some one selling Easter Eggers, and a true Ameraucana breeder is that true Ameraucana always have a color specified. A true Ameraucana breeder will always sell their chicks by color, either Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Black, Buff, White, Silver or Blue. Your birds also have yellow/greenish legs, which means they have yellow skin. True Ameraucana always have white skin, and it's a dominant trait.

BantamLover21 said:

They look like Easter Eggers to me.

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junebuggena said:

They're Easter Eggers. Lot's of people get their Ameraucana from hatcheries, and never realize that they aren't actually Ameraucana, but Easter Eggers. Then the breed them and sell the chicks as true Ameraucana. One of the biggest differences between some one selling Easter Eggers, and a true Ameraucana breeder is that true Ameraucana always have a color specified. A true Ameraucana breeder will always sell their chicks by color, either Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Black, Buff, White, Silver or Blue. Your birds also have yellow/greenish legs, which means they have yellow skin. True Ameraucana always have white skin, and it's a dominant trait.

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X2 on the above posts. Unlike Ameraucanas which are a true breed, Easter Eggers are hybrids produced by crossing blue egg layers with brown egg layers to produce offspring that lay eggs in colors other than just blue. Unfortunately hatcheries and feed stores frequently and incorrectly market their EEs as Ameraucanas even though they are Easter Eggers. There is a good article at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/09/ameraucana-easter-egger-or-araucana.html explaining the difference between true Ameraucanas, true Araucanas, and Easter Eggers.

Easter Eggers

Thank you all for your responses. I had a feeling they were Easter Eggers. I wonder if the breeder I bought them from knows the difference or is being dishonest on purpose? Hmmmm......Anyhow They are a awesome little flock, great layers and super friendly, even my Rooster loves to visit and be close. LOL We have enjoyed them so much! Thanks again!

sarieschicks said:

Thank you all for your responses. I had a feeling they were Easter Eggers. I wonder if the breeder I bought them from knows the difference or is being dishonest on purpose? Hmmmm......Anyhow They are a awesome little flock, great layers and super friendly, even my Rooster loves to visit and be close. LOL We have enjoyed them so much! Thanks again!

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I would give the seller the benefit of the doubt. Most hatcheries don't even know what they're selling - they sell EEs as Ameracaunas all the time. Could well be that he/she honestly thought they were the real deal and just passed on that belief in good faith. Now, if you got a guarantee of what you were getting then I'd think you'd have the right to be most thoroughly annoyed!!

In the meantime, enjoy your EEs. I really like them, and as I wander down this path of chicken keeping trying to find "the breed" that I just can't live without, EEs will always have a place here.

Most folks who sell EE as Ameraucana are simply misinformed, not dishonest. Look at it from their point of view, they bought birds called Ameraucanas, didn't they? From a reputable hatchery, who should know what they're doing, right? Sadly, it's the hatcheries' misinformation that's responsible.

Now, the poor lady on another thread who got 4 Rhodebar cockerels when she was sold pullets....I'm thinking that seller was dishonest.

donrae said:

Most folks who sell EE as Ameraucana are simply misinformed, not dishonest. Look at it from their point of view, they bought birds called Ameraucanas, didn't they? From a reputable hatchery, who should know what they're doing, right? Sadly, it's the hatcheries' misinformation that's responsible.

Now, the poor lady on another thread who got 4 Rhodebar cockerels when she was sold pullets....I'm thinking that seller was dishonest.

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Agreed. I think hatcheries do know that they are not selling pure Ameraucanas and intentionally mislabel their EEs. Unfortunately, many people who buy from hatcheries don't know the difference and think that they are getting true Ameraucanas since that's how the hatchery labeled them.

And then there are the hatcheries that call them Araucana/Ameraucana or Americauna. It's all just blatant lies.