Ameraucaunas vs EEs

[Lilchickherder]

I recently purchased 10 chicks from a lady that was selling them as Easter/olive eggers and purebred ameraucaunas separately. When I got there, they were all in the same box and she couldn't really tell me how to differentiate between the eggers and the ameraucauna chicks. Is there any way to really know for sure? The majority have yellow or green shanks so I'm assuming they're all EEs. There's a couple with sort of a brownish grey shank colour and 1 with slate grey. They're only about 2 weeks old now. Can shank colours change as they grow? Ie could the brown grey shanks turn to slate grey? And is there any way to tell that the one with slate grey shanks is actually an ameracauna and not another EE?

 

[Wetmorechick]

Great question! I am interested in seeing folks responses. I have always wanted to know the answer myself!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

 

[BlackIce]

Any pictures?

 

[Lilchickherder]

Any pictures?

I can definitely upload pictures. Do you mean of their legs or their bodies etc?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

she couldn't really tell me how to differentiate between the eggers and the ameraucauna chicks. Is there any way to really know for sure? The majority have yellow or green shanks so I'm assuming they're all EEs. There's a couple with sort of a brownish grey shank colour and 1 with slate grey. They're only about 2 weeks old now. Can shank colours change as they grow? Ie could the brown grey shanks turn to slate grey? And is there any way to tell that the one with slate grey shanks is actually an ameracauna and not another EE?

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Yes, I think shank color does change some throughout the early days.

The difference between any of the birds you will be looking at will be straight forward as they put some maturity on. The pure Ameraucana will be pea combed and bearded.

Ameraucana.. come in specific feather patterns/color varieties... like wheaten, black, blue, white, buff, silver, lavender, blue wheaten, brown red. See pics at the following link...
http://ameraucana.org/Ameraucana Photos
Whole body pics!

 

[Lilchickherder]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Yes, I think shank color does change some throughout the early days.

The difference between any of the birds you will be looking at will be straight forward as they put some maturity on. The pure Ameraucana will be pea combed and bearded.

Ameraucana.. come in specific feather patterns/color varieties... like wheaten, black, blue, white, buff, silver, lavender, blue wheaten, brown red. See pics at the following link...
http://ameraucana.org/Ameraucana Photos
Whole body pics!

Could the eggers not also be pea combed or bearded and come in those varieties of colours?

 

[Lilchickherder]

Any pictures?

The pictures of the feet, the first one looks more brownish to me and the second looks more like the slate colour. That's what I was referring too.

 

[sealer39]

All the blue and black chicks look just like my blue and black Ameraucanas I got last month. My guess on the rest would be EEs of some sort. EEs can be all different colors though. Cute chicks, you’ll have to post pics of them after they have feathered out.

 

[BlackIce]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/ameraucana-easter-egger-or-araucana/This article might be able to help. The Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers might only be able to be differentiated by their egg color once they start laying. Purebred Ameraucanas have slate /black legs and feet however Easter Eggers can also carry this trait so I think the only way to know for sure is the recognized Ameraucana colors once they are adults. Easter Eggers will also lay a variety of egg colors not always blue. I'm not very experienced with the breed but I know it will be easier to tell when they are older. My guess is the chicks with the darker legs and feet are more likely to be the purebreds.