16 week old Easter Eggers

[ksRNmama]

I think they all are pullets but can you weigh in? This is the first time I’ve posted here (with media, no less!) so my apologies for the pictures and whatever else I inevitably mess up!!

They’re all from Orschelns, a little over 16 weeks and based on the number of eggs I’ve recently started finding, I think that only 2 are laying so far. All 4 “act” like hens, are pretty shy and gentle, and are never aggressive or super outgoing (except #3, who loves me.)

#1 charcoal head and neck with grey body, noticeably bigger than the 3 light ones. Pale, very small comb, legs and feet are huge compared to the lighter ones. Also, this one is the only young bird we got this spring that our very dominant juvenile black Marans acts aggressive toward.

#2 tan with distinct black flecking around neck/collar, lavender in tail. Her comb is a little pinker and larger than #1.

#3 very blonde with black and grey flecking throughout, lavender in tail. Comb is light pink, but not quite as pale as #1. This one is smaller than the others and is especially gentle and social and sits with me, seeks me out, lets me hold her etc. my heart might actually break if she is a he!!!!

She’s on the right here:

#4 (on the left above) has a charcoal head, reddish brown body, lavender in tail, and is overall slightly larger than the 2 lightest ones. Comb is bigger and redder than all 3 of the others.

My hope/thought is that #2 & #4 have darker/redder combs bc they might be more sexually mature and are the ones laying eggs so far? I’m concerned about #1’s size and how s/he gets picked on by the rooster.

I live in-town and can’t have roosters, we have 23 chickens and I’m taking the black rooster to my friend in the country, but I want to be sure none of these EE’s are Roos as well, bc they are definitely nicer birds than the Marans - who is a total jerk

Thanks in advance for reading and looking!!!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

All are pullets. The first chicken looks like a pure Ameraucana.

 

[ksRNmama]

All are pullets. The first chicken looks like a pure Ameraucana.

Oh my gosh - you just made my heart skip a beat. I hope you’re right!!!!!! That’s the best news ever. And the black one- isn’t she just beautiful!? I just love the watercolor look of EE’s /Ameracuanas plumage.
Thanks so much!

 

[Gray Farms]

All are pullets so not to worry. The ones with the redder combs are the ones laying.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

All lovely pullets

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Beautiful pullets.
Keep in mind... Ameraucana are a specific breed, and have specific color patterns. Plumage wise, they aren't as flashy as EE, because they aren't a breed. Just wanting to keep that separate in your mind.

 

[ksRNmama]

Beautiful pullets.
Keep in mind... Ameraucana are a specific breed, and have specific color patterns. Plumage wise, they aren't as flashy as EE, because they aren't a breed. Just wanting to keep that separate in your mind.

So are you thinking that the grey/black girl is more solid/less flashy Bc she might be an Ameracauna? Also, can you tell me the difference between an Araucana and an Ameraucana? I always thought an Ameraucana and an EE were more or less mixes of Araucana and any other breed!!
Thanks everyone for all of your input

 

[Gray Farms]

I'm sure @Frazzemrat1 will explain it better than me. But Araucanas and Ameraucanas are pure breeds that will breed true generation after generation. Ameraucanas are larger, bearded and muffed. Araucanas are smaller, rumpless "lacking tailbone", and tufted. Both breeds are recognized in specific color patterns. Easter Eggers are mixed breeds that lay colored eggs. The can have any trait imaginable. Bearded, non-bearded, clean legs, feathered legs, slate/white/yellow/willow legs, any type of comb, crested or non-crested, and any color or pattern. Easter Eggers actually don't even have to have any Ameraucana or Araucana blood in them.

 

[cstephens1987]

I'm sure @Frazzemrat1 will explain it better than me. But Araucanas and Ameraucanas are pure breeds that will breed true generation after generation. Ameraucanas are larger, bearded and muffed. Araucanas are smaller, rumpless "lacking tailbone", and tufted. Both breeds are recognized in specific color patterns. Easter Eggers are mixed breeds that lay colored eggs. The can have any trait imaginable. Bearded, non-bearded, clean legs, feathered legs, slate/white/yellow/willow legs, any type of comb, crested or non-crested, and any color or pattern. Easter Eggers actually don't even have to have any Ameraucana or Araucana blood in them.

Auracana and Ameraucana are both recognized breeds, with specific colors and traits (mentioned by @Gray Farms) derived from chickens originating in Chile that possess a blue egg gene. Many Easter Eggers (essentially any chicken possessing the blue egg gene) are also derived from this stock or a crossing with it and either do not meet breed standards or are unrecognized colors and will not breed true. Most of the time they're barnyard mutts that have a blue egg gene somewhere in the mix. As @Gray Farms also pointed out they don't always come from the Chilean chickens as there are a rare handful of other breeds with the blue egg gene (most commonly crested creme legbars) used to make Easter Eggers.
Ameraucana are harder to find and more expensive than EE because they have to be much more selectively bred.
Auracana (actually have both rumpless and tailed versions depending on where you live) are even harder to find as they carry the lethal tufting gene

 

[ksRNmama]

Auracana and Ameraucana are both recognized breeds, with specific colors and traits (mentioned by @Gray Farms) derived from chickens originating in Chile that possess a blue egg gene. Many Easter Eggers (essentially any chicken possessing the blue egg gene) are also derived from this stock or a crossing with it and either do not meet breed standards or are unrecognized colors and will not breed true. Most of the time they're barnyard mutts that have a blue egg gene somewhere in the mix. As @Gray Farms also pointed out they don't always come from the Chilean chickens as there are a rare handful of other breeds with the blue egg gene (most commonly crested creme legbars) used to make Easter Eggers.
Ameraucana are harder to find and more expensive than EE because they have to be much more selectively bred.
Auracana (actually have both rumpless and tailed versions depending on where you live) are even harder to find as they carry the lethal tufting gene

Interesting - thanks for that info. I feel like chicks at feed stores here are often marked as Ameraucanas, but are actually just Easter Eggers or Olive Eggers. The bins that say “Rainbow Egg layers” make me even more wary, as I assume they are basically any chick the staff feels like throwing into the cage!!

This black and grey one is from one such bin at Orschelns, labeled either EE or Ameraucana, I can’t remember which. She was with the other 3, so I would bet she isn’t an actual Ameraucana then, right?