I have questions over the blanket use of the term "EE" to cover any chicken with some Ameraucana ancestry. IMHO, it would be much clearer if chickens were called by the following terms-
Araucana- Araucanas as recognized by the breed standard.
Ameraucana- Ameraucanas as recognized by the breed standard.
Non-standard Ameraucana - If the birds have Ameraucana parentage and traits, differing only from pure Ameraucanas in terms of having colors not recognized by the breed standard.
Easter Egger (Insert type of cross). -A bird with one Ameraucana parent and one non-Ameraucana parent.
I feel that including the breed used to cross with to make an EE would be very helpful information to folks interested in having EEs, and obtaining EEs best suited for their interests, climate, etc. For instance, I'm interested in a number of different breeds. Ameraucanas, Orpingtons, Wyandottes and a few others are high on my list. An EE Ameraucana/Orpington cross or EE Ameraucana/Wyandotte cross would be of high interest to me, where as an EE Ameraucana/OEGB, EE Ameraucana/Jersey Giant, or EE Ameraucana/Turken would not. If I see someone advertising birds as just EE, how do I know what to expect?
Also, it seems that the Ameraucana gene could end up being diluted down the line. An EE crossed out to yet another breed would still be, by the current system, still called an EE, yet only have 1/4 Ameraucana genes. That EE could be crossed yet again, and the offspring would be only 1/8 Ameraucana, yet still called an EE. My guess is that by this time, the offspring will not have many Ameraucana traits. If I respond to an ad advertising just EE, I could end up with a bird that is 7/8 RIR, for all I know.
I have no problem with EEs. Indeed, I have seen many beautiful EEs on this forum. I just think that it would be less confusing and more precise to include the breeds being crossed, when referring to EEs. If the parentage is unknown, that is fine for folks who like surprises. These birds could be referred to as EE Unknown mix. Nothing wrong with that. It lets prospective buyers know what to expect.