Ameraucana or EE?

[Studio2770]

Don't Amer. have blue legs and EEs have green? I was convinced she was an EE, but her legs are looking blue to me. They used to look green, but I'm confused.

 

[DanasChicks]

Hi Studio2770,

As I understand it, true Araucanas are very rare here in America. They are a cross between a Colloncas and Quetros bread way back in the early 1900's. The distinguishing traits are they are rumpless, and have ear tuffs. Ear tuffs look like single feathers coming out of the ear. Quite lovely looking indeed. They lay blue eggs. Their skin is yellow, they do not have beards or muffs and they do not have a tail. They come in Black, White, Red with black breast, Golden Duckwing and Silver Duckwing.

Ameraucanas are a Araucana mix. They lay blue eggs. Unlike the true Araucanas, Ameraucanas are not rumpless and they have both muffs and beards, but not ear tuffs. They have white skin, a tail and black or slate legs. The recognized colors are Black, Blue, White, Silver, Brown Red, Blue Wheaton and Wheaton.

Easter Eggers are from breeding an Ameraucanas or Araucanas with another breed, showing the trait of the Ameraucanas or Araucanas. They do not breed true. They lay a variety of colored eggs ranging from blue, pale blue, green, pale green and even pink. They have smaller pea combs, and smaller waddles if any waddles at all. They can have beards and muff present or not. Their skin can be just about any color and their legs tend to be greenish slate, slate or yellow. They can be all sorts of color patterns, since they are bred with a mix of other breeds.

Olive Eggers is similar to the Easter Egger, being that they do not breed true. They are from breeding any type of dark brown egg layer such as a Marans, Welsummer, Barnevelder, and a few others dark egg laying breeds with a blue layer such as and Easter Egger, Ameraucana, or Araucana. The offspring will lay an olive green egg. Because we find more EE's bred in the U.S., the offspring can look like any kind of chicken.

So, to answer your question, yes, neither the EE or the OE are a purebred. Knowing the characteristics of the breeds helps to distinguish whether you are getting a true Ameraucana or a true Araucana. Other than those two specific breeds, you can pretty much find some lovely EE's or OE that look like all types or other breeds that lay beautiful blue or green eggs.

Hope that helps.

 

[Angelicisi]

You have an easter egger. I love the eyes! She should give you a uniquely colored egg. They are sweet hearts too! My easter egger is a faithful layer and even plays and gives treats to the chicks I'm introducing instead of bullying them like my other hens

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

EE. Ameraucanas have slate leg and EEs can have slate, green, or yellow legs.

 

[Tuhmu]

Easter egger with really pretty eyes.

 

[Studio2770]

Her legs don't look as green as other EEs. Yes she is very pretty.

 

[debid]

I have an EE with slate legs. Her legs don't make her an Ameraucana because she doesn't meet the rest of the breed standard (no matter how pretty she is!).