Ameraucana or Easter Eggers?

[BlazeJester]

Some breeds. Depends on hatchery/breeder stock. They MUST use feather sexing genes if this is to be relied upon 100%. I don't think there is any way to tell at this age what gender those chicks are, unless somehow by their coloring. They are definitely EEs - a buff would have solid coloring (see buff orpington chicks). The parents may have been a buff and something else. I have one that was *advertised* as a "buff" - he is most definitely a black breasted red, first and foremost!

Some breeds feather out faster if, they are pullets. I've bought straight run chicks and been able to get just what I wanted by looking at wing and tail feathers.

 

[j and bs hens]

That's ok. I'll wait and see. 'She' has smaller legs, and seems to be just a bit behind (in feathering) then her other gf's in her age group. Keeping fingers crossed

 

[Coop Deville]

Ameraucana purists would call this an Easter Egger because Ameraucanas can only be of certain colors. Yours seems to have the typical "partridge" color that most chicks sold as "Ameraucanas" have, meaning they don't make the breed, though yours might have some silver coloring in there -- I can't tell. I have three myself that I bought as "Ameraucanas" but they're actually just Easter Eggers because of their partridge color. They meet the breed standards in every other respect.

Bottom line is that it will be a beautiful bird and lay beautiful eggs. Further, most people won't care if you call it either Ameraucana or Easter Egger, even if it's technically the latter.

 

[fried green eggs]

That's ok. I'll wait and see. 'She' has smaller legs, and seems to be just a bit behind (in feathering) then her other gf's in her age group. Keeping fingers crossed

Sorry, I hope I'm wrong and you actually have 2 pullets

 

[BlazeJester]

EEs are actually primarily duckwing. Duckwing has the lighter colored feather shaft, while partridge (as in partridge rock, partridge cochin, partridge wyandotte) is a penciled red. All too common mistake.

Most people won't care, but people come to these forums to learn about chickens and people who know better do try to educate others as to what is an EE vs Ameraucana, because it hinders the efforts of the true Ameraucana breeders to call EEs anything but. It's mostly an infraction by the hatcheries, who either don't know or don't care in the least about the differences. The notable exception is Meyer hatchery, who now calls their green/blue eggers "Easter Eggers" after the issue was raised.

Ameraucana purists would call this an Easter Egger because Ameraucanas can only be of certain colors. Yours seems to have the typical "partridge" color that most chicks sold as "Ameraucanas" have, meaning they don't make the breed, though yours might have some silver coloring in there -- I can't tell. I have three myself that I bought as "Ameraucanas" but they're actually just Easter Eggers because of their partridge color. They meet the breed standards in every other respect.

Bottom line is that it will be a beautiful bird and lay beautiful eggs. Further, most people won't care if you call it either Ameraucana or Easter Egger, even if it's technically the latter.

 

[Coop Deville]

Very helpful. So these chicks would be called "duckwing" in color?

 

[jenna76]

I have this little lady, well her breed that is. Looks like you have an EE there. Chubby and Fluffy, we named ours Chunk after the movie Goonies

 

[WhisperingWinds]

Hello all...
I am the one who started this thread.. with those two little babies.
Here is what they look like now! and the are both roos!! :-( Although very pretty.

So the next question is, not that they are almost grown, does everyone agree that they are still "EE's"???
Or do I have something else?

 

[donrae]

Wow--they are georgous! Sorry you got two roosters, but thanks for posting back and letting us know.

 

[akcountrygrrl]

Yep, still EEs. Very pretty boys though.