Ameraucanas?

[Jea918]

I've read a lot of about people saying that they have ameraucanas, but they're really easter eggers. Is there a way to tell a difference?

 

[QueenMisha]

Several ways. The most obvious is color. Easter Eggers will come in all sorts of colors, none of them being real, accepted varieties. Ameraucanas will always be sold prefixed with a variety, e.g. a "Wheaten" Ameraucana or a "Blue" Ameraucana.

Ameraucanas will always have a pea comb, slate legs, a beard and ear muffs. and lay blue eggs. Easter Eggers will generally have a pea comb, slate legs, a beard and ear muffs, and lay blue or green eggs. About 20% will lack one or more of these traits.

Ameraucanas are much more expensive than Easter Eggers - Ameraucanas cost $10-$30 for chicks and $50+ for adult pullets or hens, whereas Easter Eggers will be $3-$6 as chicks and $20-$30 for adult pullets or hens.

Ameraucanas will almost always come from breeders whereas Easter Eggers will be found at common feed stores and the like.

 

[drumstick diva]

Queen Misha speaks the truth

 

[Jea918]

I have one that is a beautiful smokey grey with those traits and one that is a brown, tan, black mix with those traits. Of course at the feed store they were labeled ameraucanas, but I figured only time would tell.