Ameraucana? If so, roo or pullet?

[Chad Oftedal]

So the backstory here is that I wanted to get a mix of chicks for my first flock. A co-worker said that he had a few Ameraucanas, and thought they were really neat birds. He's had them for over four years and thought they had great personalities, and had a more unique look to them. At the time, I had researched and knew that there was a difference between a true Ameraucana, and an Easter Egger, but I had never had chicks, so other then knowing a difference existed on paper, I wouldn't be able to tell in the store. I bought mine from the same place (a reputable Urban Farm store in Seattle) he bought his, and while purchasing them, I talked with the employee and said that I wanted Ameraucanas. He understood, and even discussed how he knew about the differences in detail. In their store, they also listed as carrying both (Ameraucana and EE), so I didn't feel that they were intentionally misleading a buyer. OK, now time has passed, and my chicks turned 12 weeks old on Wednesday (May 9th). Through more research and learning, I'm 99% sure one of my "Ameraucana" chicks is really an EE based on the leg color alone. In my picture set here, I have a single picture of her (hopefully?). The black chick, though, based on my very limited knowledge, might actually be a Black Ameraucana? Now, I'm not doing any shows or have any breeding aspirations, so if it's just low lineage, or not even Ameraucana at all, that's totally fine. It just has my curiosity going more than anything, and the most important question is if it is a roo or pullet. Both of these birds have been really mellow, and neither has shown any behavioral inclination that they are a roo. They are certainly not bossing the other birds around, and my white one appears to be mid to low in the pecking order (one of my barred rocks was poking her on the head the other morning when mealworms were getting passed out).

OK, here's the white/maroon one that I am 99% sure is an EE based on the leg color, and maybe other traits that I don't easily recognize yet. Sorry it is just a single pic, it didn't want to hang around for a photo session tonight.



And here are the pics of the black one.



Thanks for any help and education that you can share!

 

[2 many chickens]

Pullets

 

[lightchick]

Pullets

X2! So pretty!

 

[kk+chickens]

when our babies were growing up, turtle was pretty quick to show signs of being a rooster, you’d probably hear attempts at crowing if they were male

 

[CannedMonster]

I’m pretty sure the OP is more concerned with breed than gender based on his original post.

They may actually be real Ameracaunas.
EE will usually have many different colors of feathers. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a solid colored EE.
But Ameracaunas will always be specific colors based on the SOP.
The first one you posted looks like a Blue Wheaten and of course black is also a legit Ameracauna color.
I think you’re good!

 

[pennyJo1960]

no there are no tufts they are both EE but most things say pullets but an egg or a crow will be the real tell

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm not sure the black is an EE. Never saw a solid black one but, it really does look like a crow but smaller and more refined.

 

[drumstick diva]

forgot to say looks like a pullet - actually both do

 

[JedJackson]

The brown one is an Easter egger. If you check the skin color at the bottom of the black one's feet, you may be able to figure out if it's an EE or Ameraucana. If the skin there has a yellowish or greenish color, she is definitely an EE. If the skin under the feet is white or pinkish, she might be an Ameraucana.

 

[2 many chickens]

I’m pretty sure the OP is more concerned with breed than gender based on his original post.

They may actually be real Ameracaunas.
EE will usually have many different colors of feathers. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a solid colored EE.
But Ameracaunas will always be specific colors based on the SOP.
The first one you posted looks like a Blue Wheaten and of course black is also a legit Ameracauna color.
I think you’re good!

Oh.. well if you read his post it says "the most important question, is it a roo or pullet?"
Kinda thinking he wanted opinions on gender too.

Anywho, I have MANY Easter Eggers and none look like yours. You have beautiful birds. Maybe they are legit, I don't know.