Ok, I'm finally caught up. A couple of quick observations & comments...
Lark Rise, I think you're spot on with your assessment. Can't tell for sure on the BW's but my guess is you're correct. One small correction to your post - those birds would be "cockerels" vice "roosters".
Secondly, wrt to the various discussions on true Ameraucanas vice EE's, whoever wrote the post about hatcheries selling Ameraucanas & therefore many subsequently do the same unknowingly passing on the misinformation - you're spot on as well. That's where the vast majority of the problem lies.
WRT to what constitutes a true Ameraucana, I would disagree that Am x Am = Am in all cases. In order for an Ameraucana to be considered an Ameraucana it must breed true. A Black Ameraucana, for example, crossed to any other variety would not breed true and is therefore an EE. I can't speak absolutely authoritatively but I imagine this holds true with other breeds as well. For example a Buff Orpington crossed to a Black Orpington I imagine would not be considered an Orpington either. But that's a guess. All I know is that the Ameraucana must breed true within the genetics of it's authorized/approved variety.
WRT to the Ameraucana's temperament, I can only speak in reference to the WBS variety. I have never had a W, BW, or SW that I would consider as overly flighty. They're certainly not like my Buckeyes which are without a doubt the friendliest chicks and adults I've ever owned. The Buckeye chicks will literally run over to your hand if you put it into the brooder whereas my other breeds will run away from my hand - the Ameraucanas included.
I have found that the degree of flightiness is directly proportional to the amount of time I or someone else spends with them. If they are handled a lot as chicks, they are a lot less flightly. I have my brooder for Day Olds to about Week Olds in the living room. This allows them to be subjected to a lot of folks walking by on a continual basis and often being handled too. From there they go to a couple brooders in the pumphouse where they don't get so much attention. And from there they are transferred to chickhouses after a couple more weeks. They are definitely more flighty in the pumphouse brooders and chickhouses.
Having said that, about once a year I'll get 10 years or so of my life taken off when one of my juvenile Ameraucanas will fly up out of nowhere and land on my shoulder. Thus far the Ameraucanas are the only breed I've ever had do that.
God Bless,
