Ameraucana Vs Easter eggers

[Bluerosesd]

sorry if this has been asked before. I am new to breeds of chickens. I was wondering if there is a difference in Ameraucana and Easter Eggers chickens. I was reading and I am now all kinds of confused. With the EE they can lay blue, green, or even pink eggs and the Ameraucana only lay blue/green eggs? What about the looks as well. I am sorry but I am all confused!

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Good question!
In short, Easter Eggers are hybrids (mixed breed chickens). They are also often called Americanas (which is partially responsible for the prevalent confusion). An Easter Egger is obtained by crossing an Ameraucana with any breed. The Ameraucana is a true breed that lays green/blue eggs which means many of the crossbreed offspring (i.e. Easter Eggers) lay green/blue eggs. However, since they can be crossed with any breed, egg color and appearance may vary.

Here is a link that explains more: http://thewayofthechicken.com/index.php/2017/08/25/easter-eggers/

 

[Hufflefluff]

It's no problem- it's very confusing!
Ameraucanas are a pure breed of chicken that come in a few standard colors. They all have muffs, they all have a set body structure, and all Ameraucana hens lay blue eggs, and blue eggs only. They're breed you can show, because they're pure, and they're pretty expensive- think about $18 a chick. They're also pretty hard to find; much more common are...
Easter Eggers aren't really a breed. They're colorful mutts with some ameraucana or other blue-egg-laying heritage, but with EEs you never really know what you're going to get. They can be any sort of cross, and so colors, patterns, and body size and shape all vary greatly. The often, but not always, have muffs, and some have feathered feet. You can't show them, and when you breed two you never really know what you're going to get. Depending on what crosses they came from, hens can lay any color of egg, although green and light blue are most common. They're very easy to find- most feed stores carry them, and you can get them at just about every online hatchery, and they're relatively cheap (~$3 per chick). Sometimes feed stores and hatcheries will label EEs as 'Americanas' or straight up 'Ameraucanas', but generally assume that unless you can be absolutely assured of their heritage, they will be a mixed breed.
Hope this helps!

 

[HealingHens]

Americaunas are my favorite. I’ve lost all but one and my feed store had them marked down so I got a bunch of week old babies they’re docile friendly and they’re eggs do range bluish green

 

[maddysmamaw]

I love my EEs! I’ve been breeding them to get bigger fatter hens and wow! The colors! They are pretty and smart. The eggs add lots of different colors to your egg basket.

 

[Acre4Me]

It's no problem- it's very confusing!
Ameraucanas are a pure breed of chicken that come in a few standard colors. They all have muffs, they all have a set body structure, and all Ameraucana hens lay blue eggs, and blue eggs only. They're breed you can show, because they're pure, and they're pretty expensive- think about $18 a chick. They're also pretty hard to find; much more common are...
Easter Eggers aren't really a breed. They're colorful mutts with some ameraucana or other blue-egg-laying heritage, but with EEs you never really know what you're going to get. They can be any sort of cross, and so colors, patterns, and body size and shape all vary greatly. The often, but not always, have muffs, and some have feathered feet. You can't show them, and when you breed two you never really know what you're going to get. Depending on what crosses they came from, hens can lay any color of egg, although green and light blue are most common. They're very easy to find- most feed stores carry them, and you can get them at just about every online hatchery, and they're relatively cheap (~$3 per chick). Sometimes feed stores and hatcheries will label EEs as 'Americanas' or straight up 'Ameraucanas', but generally assume that unless you can be absolutely assured of their heritage, they will be a mixed breed.
Hope this helps!

I figured out early on that an "i" in the spelling means that it is the "mutt" version and will lay a colored egg of some kind (or even white). Also, the lower chick cost was another indicator of "mutt" EE as you indicated. Recently purchased a few "mutts" and looking forward to seeing what egg color we get from each. They are all different colors as chicks (even one that is all blond shades), but they are very cute with their fluffy EE cheeks and overall fluffy bodies - only the black jersey giant chicks we also purchased are fluffier. Maybe one day we will seek out a true Ameraucana to get blue eggs, but till then, I can admire the pictures of them when they are posted.

 

[K813ZRA]

Around here they actually sell EE's as Ameraucanas but you are in fact getting an EE. Bring that up in the feed store and you get the stare of death! Nothing wrong with the EE's though. I got lucky in that all of mine lay blue/green(ish) eggs, are very hardy and the foragers that I have! They are smart too and never try to leave this particular parcel. My Orpingtons wonder out onto the old road...silly birds made me install a fence.

I don't know how they compare to real Ameraucanas from a practical standpoint as I do not have any Ameraucanas but I have 4 BBS chicks headed my way so I will know soon enough. Sadly that is all that I could get because they were nearly sold out! Guess I will have to hatch my own next year if everything goes well.

Anyway, from an egg laying stand point and or simply having pretty and fun chickens I think you can not go wrong either way.

 

[Chickassan]

I've got both, the EE is a much nicer hen behavior wise the ameracuna is a tad mean. The EE lays green but her color varies to a blue green or even gray while the ameracuna is always blue. Besides being able to make other mixes with the ameracuna there's really no benefit of them over EE's in my opinion.