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!
