Ameraucana vs Easter Egger

[faykokoWV]

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Illia is an authority on this subject, so I would put a lot of weight on what she has to say. She knows what she's talking about

 

[JeffinNH]

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You say there are starting to lay again? Why did they stop? is it the time of year? Please forgive me if this is a stupid question.

 

[chickee]

I have both EEs and Ameraucanas. It really depends on the bird. I have an EE that is a total sweetheart and very friendly, but I have others that don't want to give me the time of day! The Ameraucanas seem to be friendly according to color. My Lavender rooster is super friendly, yet my black rooster is standoffish. I love both breeds and the Ameraucanas and EEs can lay a super blue egg! Just look at my Avatar

This is my favorite white EE girl that lays a Robins egg blue egg!

 

[JeffinNH]

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Thats a pretty bird. Did you get your birds from an online source? I am trying to decide which is best.

 

[chickee]

Thanks!

I bought mine from my local feed store and I'm pretty sure they came from Privett Hatchery.

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Thats a pretty bird. Did you get your birds from an online source? I am trying to decide which is best.

 

[Illia]

Just for a little photo fun. . .

Blue Ameraucana

Buff Ameraucana

Black Ameraucana

I don't have any Lavenders or Splash though, and they're very pretty as well. If you have the interest in purchasing an incubator or if you have a broody hen, breeders such as myself and several other members here on BYC sell hatching eggs of Ameraucanas.

Another really neat variety are an Easter Egger better known as "Olive Eggers" a very mellow cross of Marans and Ameraucana, they lay dark, rich olive/army green eggs. They're becoming quite the popularity too.

 

[chickee]

Beautiful birds Illia!

I just had to have some Buffs after seeing pictures of yours on the Ameraucana thread, so Monday Jean is shipping me a fun mix of eggs from her W/BW, Buff and Lavender Ameraucanas

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[ChickenWisperer]

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X2. The temperaments of your EE will vary much more than what Ameraucanas will.

My true AM boys were never bad. Titan, my blue Cree boy was such a great bird. Stood quiet, never invaded my space, nice crow, beautiful - lovely boy. My black, however, was a wild child - but never did anything against me or my girls.

My EE hens are good girls, but none of them are particularly good layers (in fact, I'm about to have words with them) and none of them are particularly friendly. Out of the 7 EE hens I've owned, only 1 was friendly enough to run to me in the yard with everyone else when I didn't have treats in hand. I hope to get some true AM hens in one day - a splash and blue.

 

[artsyrobin]

i know mine came from estes hatchery, and both are friendly- they lay eggs every other day- the only problem i have with them is they do tend to be lower in the pecking order- maybe too passive for the more aggressive girls

 

[groaners]

I have mostly hatchery Easter Eggers and a couple breeder Ameraucanas. I selected EE's that are more Ameraucana type, since I believe EE's are typically primarily Ameraucana crossed with brown egg laying breeds. Be selective when picking out chicks is my advice. I skip over EE's with yellow legs (though I ended up with one), green legs, chicks with no beards/muffs, etc.
My flock of EE's are very good layers (an egg almost every day) and most lay light blue eggs, some lay blue-green eggs, and one lays a drab green egg. Most of mine seem to be a little more productive than the pure Ameraucana's, but again I won't tell you that all EE's are better layers.
Like what a lot of people mentioned...expect a greater variety within the EE's. Which is part of the fun of them!

In temperament they are all very similar to Ameraucana's. All of them are VERY friendly, some a little too friendly (always under my feet) and come running to the gate when I come home.
They tend to be very hardy and healthy, though I won't say this for hatchery birds as a whole.
My EE's are very tolerant of cold weather, snow, wind, etc. and are excellent foragers. They are also welcoming of new pullets and hens in the flock.
Just my experience. EE's and Am's are not exactly the same, but each is special on their own and I wouldn't have a flock without both!