Ameraucanas & Olive Eggers

[sgtmom52]

I have some Ameraucanas (7) and Olive Eggers (10) that are now 8 weeks old. I know the spotted ones are OEs as they are Cuckoo Maran/Ameraucana mix. I also know that the 2 splash are Ameraucana and 3 blue and 2 black however I'm not quite sure which ones are the Ameraucanas and OE. A few of them I managed to keep track of during the hatch and band but some of them got mixed up.

Is there an easy way to tell the difference. Anybody want to make some guesses on genders too? I need to get some better pictures of them ~ I just moved them into the new coop today and they were a little stirred up.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If the olive eggers were bred to a Marans, the offspring would have feathered shanks. Do any of them have feathered shanks?

And so far I see at least 4 roosters. 2 barred (1 back left in 1st photo by the door, 1 front left giving you the stink eye) 1 middle right, can really only see the comb. In the 2nd pic, in the back by the wood, can only see the head.

Compare their combs against each other. The ameraucana pullets will have a narrow comb and the cockerals will have a wider more raised comb with 3 rows visible on the comb.

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
Thanks ~ I don't think any of the OE have feathered shanks. I'm pretty sure they were bred cuckoo maran hens to Ameraucana roos.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
They would have feathered shanks if the cuckoo marans was feather-legged, not all of them are

True ameraucanas should have muffs and beards and slate legs. So if any of the ones that you are unsure of do not have all 3 of these traits, they are the OE.

 

[sgtmom52]

Thanks ~ I'm going to try to get individual pictures of them later if they cooperate! I am going to keep all of the pullets and at least one Ameraucana roo hopefully a blue. The OE roos will be rehomed in a couple of weeks.

 

[MikasGirl]

I don't mean to butt in, but what is the difference between Olive Eggers and Easter Eggers?

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Olive eggers are any blue-egg laying bird crossed to a dark brown egg layer, like a marans or welsummer. The resulting pullets should lay a light to dark olive green colored egg, instead of regular green or blue.

Basically an easter egger that lays an olive green egg

 

[MikasGirl]

Oh, okay! Thank you!

 

[De]

It would be hard to let any of them go for me they are nice....I do think both of your splash are pullets... you would have to let us see there egg later......

 

[Happy Chooks]

I agree, the splashes do look like pullets.