Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers?

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi! So, let me explain my confusion:
1. The store sold me 6 pullets labeled as EE. I asked for Ameraucana and they said it's the same thing.
2. These 6 do appear to be Ameraucana but only one them grew a beard.
3. They also look like Welsummer is mixed in, Edna in particular seems to have that pattern more.

Is it possible that Ameraucanas can be beardless? Or... what do you think the breed mix is?

Just wondering for fun! I have no real vested interest in their breed mix. But I like to know what I have because I read a lot about behaviors and egg laying, etc.

I also have one Australorp, two Wyandottes and two blonde Olive Eggers, just ignore those ones.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Oh! I should add: two people have told me now that my EE are not EE, and one of them said they're Olive Eggers. So,

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Easter eggers. Olive eggers are technically the same exact thing as an easter egger but called something different. Basically just two names for the same mix of chickens.

 

[FrostRanger]

If you got it from feed store it's probably an easter egger. None of them appear to be purebred ameraucanas anyways. Olive eggers are easter eggers so whether they're olive eggers or not they're easter eggers. If you want real ameraucanas Meyer does sell true ameraucanas in several colors. Yes, they're expensive but the real deal isn't cheap

 

[FunnyBunny89]

If you got it from feed store it's probably an easter egger. None of them appear to be purebred ameraucanas anyways. Olive eggers are easter eggers so whether they're olive eggers or not they're easter eggers. If you want real ameraucanas Meyer does sell true ameraucanas in several colors. Yes, they're expensive but the real deal isn't cheap

Awesome, thanks for the info! I don't know why people bother to differentiate as if I was sold the wrong thing. Seems silly. Maybe a couple years down the line, I'll check Meyers out. I am maxed out for now!

 

[labelo]

If you got it from feed store it's probably an easter egger. None of them appear to be purebred ameraucanas anyways. Olive eggers are easter eggers so whether they're olive eggers or not they're easter eggers. If you want real ameraucanas Meyer does sell true ameraucanas in several colors. Yes, they're expensive but the real deal isn't cheap

Yes, just to add, Easter Egger is a generic term used to describe a mixed breed chicken who lays a colorful egg. Usually that's blue or green, but due to genetics it could also be brown.

Olive Eggers are mixed chickens bred specifically for a green/olive shade of egg. They are a subset of Easter Egger created by mixing a blue layer with a dark brown layer. They won't breed true (that is, their offspring could lay blue, brown, or green).

Americana is a sneaky way of labeling Easter Eggers that plays on the recognized breed, Ameraucana (they lay blue eggs and should conform to certain standards like beards/muffs). Most hatcheries have "Americanas"/Easter Eggers, not Ameraucanas (Cackle and Meyer are exceptions). Even worse, some hatcheries/feed stores label Easter Eggers as Ameraucana--you should assume anything you see in a store labeled Ameraucana is not purebred, but an Easter Egger mix.
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TL;DR, your chickens are some sort of Easter Eggers, and could lay a variety of colors of eggs. You have a striking looking flock!

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Yes, just to add, Easter Egger is a generic term used to describe a mixed breed chicken who lays a colorful egg. Usually that's blue or green, but due to genetics it could also be brown.

Olive Eggers are mixed chickens bred specifically for a green/olive shade of egg. They are a subset of Easter Egger created by mixing a blue layer with a dark brown layer. They won't breed true (that is, their offspring could lay blue, brown, or green).

Americana is a sneaky way of labeling Easter Eggers that plays on the recognized breed, Ameraucana (they lay blue eggs and should conform to certain standards like beards/muffs). Most hatcheries have "Americanas"/Easter Eggers, not Ameraucanas (Cackle and Meyer are exceptions). Even worse, some hatcheries/feed stores label Easter Eggers as Ameraucana--you should assume anything you see in a store labeled Ameraucana is not purebred, but an Easter Egger mix.
---
TL;DR, your chickens are some sort of Easter Eggers, and could lay a variety of colors of eggs. You have a striking looking flock!

Thank you very much! so far, only one hen started laying and her eggs are blue

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

They are technically the same

 

[FrostRanger]

They are technically the same

No they aren't. Ameraucanas are purebred and easter eggers are mutts. Easter eggers don't even have to have any ameraucana blood to be an easter egger

 

[FunnyBunny89]

No they aren't. Ameraucanas are purebred and easter eggers are mutts. Easter eggers don't even have to have any ameraucana blood to be an easter egger

I think they meant OE and EE are the same.