Ameraucana or EE? Hen or Roo?

[MapleLaurelFarms]

These are most likely EEs which can look vastly different. #1 legs and stance look a lot like a roo to me, but it's hard to tell at this age. I'm fairly confident #3 is a pullet, and I'd guess pullet with #2, but again, hard to tell at this age. I've been wrong/surprised before!

 

[SilverBirds]

From a breeder, but it seemed…like the puppy mill of hatcheries instead of someone who takes pride in their lines. Almost every post I see, there are replies about how it’s an Ameraucana is actually an EE…was curious about mine

Appreciate the reply!

Unfortunately, a lot of "breeders" don't actually know or care about what they're doing and are just trying to make a quick buck off of selling chicks. Even though they may not be well bred, I think your chicks could still be true Ameraucanas unless they start laying eggs that are not blue.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Based on appearance, I believe you may have "real Ameraucanas". (Not show quality.)

They have Slate legs, and Beard and Muffs.
1 & 3 are Blue, and 2 is Black. Both are accepted feather colors.
I'm not sure if they have the correct comb type, so I can't speak to that.

The above reasons are usually why people are told they have Easter Eggers.
Chickens don't have papers, so everything is based on the SOP (Standard Of Perfection)

If they "look right", and breed true, then they're technically the breed.

 

[elletee89]

These are most likely EEs which can look vastly different. #1 legs and stance look a lot like a roo to me, but it's hard to tell at this age. I'm fairly confident #3 is a pullet, and I'd guess pullet with #2, but again, hard to tell at this age. I've been wrong/surprised before!

Thank you for the input! I will post an update in another month or so

 

[elletee89]

Based on appearance, I believe you may have "real Ameraucanas". (Not show quality.)

They have Slate legs, and Beard and Muffs.
1 & 3 are Blue, and 2 is Black. Both are accepted feather colors.
I'm not sure if they have the correct comb type, so I can't speak to that.

The above reasons are usually why people are told they have Easter Eggers.
Chickens don't have papers, so everything is based on the SOP (Standard Of Perfection)

If they "look right", and breed true, then they're technically the breed.

I really appreciate your input and info! I love learning all about them. Thank you so much!

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Thank you for the input! I will post an update in another month or so

You may hear a beginning crow by 12 weeks, but you can likely tell by feather and crow by about 16 weeks, if memory serves me correctly. Let me see what I can find here on BYC...

Of course they have a full article. Here ya go:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-complete-guide-to-telling-a-rooster-from-a-hen.77466/

Based on appearance, I believe you may have "real Ameraucanas". (Not show quality.)

They have Slate legs, and Beard and Muffs.
1 & 3 are Blue, and 2 is Black. Both are accepted feather colors.
I'm not sure if they have the correct comb type, so I can't speak to that.

The above reasons are usually why people are told they have Easter Eggers.
Chickens don't have papers, so everything is based on the SOP (Standard Of Perfection)

If they "look right", and breed true, then they're technically the breed.

Interesting! I noticed the beards which I thought was odd for EEs these colors (we have some cream EEs with no beards or muffs). I'm not very familiar with Amerucanas with these colors, so thanks for the info!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I noticed the beards which I thought was odd for EEs these colors (we have some cream EEs with no beards or muffs). I'm not very familiar with Amerucanas with these colors, so thanks for the info!

Ameraucana have been a major contributer to easter eggers. It used to be that eggers often had beard and muffs, and it was just a classic easter egger look.
(We also used to get rumpless in the mix)

But since breeds with blue eggshells (Ameraucana and Araucana) have been used to develop other blue egg breeds with different appearances (Crested Cream Legbar, Whiting True Blue), those new breeds are being used for easter eggers more often.

(please note that the APA Araucana is vastly different from the one in other countries.)

APA Ameraucana SOP is fairly strict. It was developed decades ago with a total of 8 colors. And they've only added 2 new colors over the past few years. (I believe this is for both large fowl and bantams)

Black
Blue
Buff
Wheaten
Blue Wheaten
Brown Red
Silver
White (recessive, not dominant white)
Splash
Self Blue (aka Lavender)

The ones you most often see at hatcheries or being sold are Blue, Black, Splash, and now Lavender.
The other colors look so fun.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Ameraucana have been a major contributer to easter eggers. It used to be that eggers often had beard and muffs, and it was just a classic easter egger look.
(We also used to get rumpless in the mix)

But since breeds with blue eggshells (Ameraucana and Araucana) have been used to develop other blue egg breeds with different appearances (Crested Cream Legbar, Whiting True Blue), those new breeds are being used for easter eggers more often.

Yes that might be the cream EEs that I have right now then, maybe made from the cream Legbar? I was shocked when they arrived because until now the only EEs I've had have always been the little "turtle shell" striped chicks that usually (but not always) develop beards & muffs - bred from Ameraucanas. So I'm new to the solid-colored EEs and Ameraucanas. So fun!

 

[elletee89]

Would this brown coming out on wings indicate Roo? Or EE over Ameraucana?

 

[WingItRanch]

Would this brown coming out on wings indicate Roo? Or EE over Ameraucana?

Easter Egger cockerel.