To answer your question, about how to tell which is which, please go to http://www.eastereggers.com/ . Then, go to "How to Identify an Easter Egg Chicken / Easter Egger ". You might also want to read the "History" section .
That is the site I was referring to. That is in no way an official...
You just need to learn what an Ameraucana is supposed to look like and look at the breed representations on hatchery websites if you want true Ameraucanas. Their written description is also a clue to what you are getting. If they mention "blue, green and pink" eggs, you know they have EE types...
Most people don't know the difference and don't really care, they just want pretty eggs, and nice chickens, it is the ones who do want the purbreds that are mislead.
Exactly!
Ameraucanas did not come from anything called an "Easter Egger". That is a recent term to encompass all the mixed breed birds that may (or may not) lay blue or green-blue eggs and usually bear a general resemblance to the Ameraucana breed. I think, as Tim said, that a review of the history of...