Another "What am I?"

[Illia]

Quote:
Uh, interesting. "Araucana" was what I ordered -- a dozen of them. Are you saying these aren't Arcaunas? Why would a company list them as such if they aren't (remember... these are my first chicks and we've only had our half dozen barred rock hens since August - our first chickens EVER... so I apologize if the question is basic/silly).

http://windraven.smugmug.com/Family/2010/Fall-2010/dec32010-169/1117224676_vQC9M-S.jpg

http://windraven.smugmug.com/Family/2010/Fall-2010/dec32010-168/1117224232_fMdUu-S.jpg

Yep, those are Easter Eggers (mutts) not Araucanas. Hatcheries, despite their lies, do not offer or breed real Araucanas.

This is what your birds would look like if they were real Araucanas:

 

[sheila3935]

Sometimes hatcheries call EE's Americaunas. Like everyone says Araucanuas are rumpless no tail feathers and ear tufts. I have a neighbor that insist she has an Araucanua Because the lady at the feed store told her that is what they were. I have shown her pictures and she still say thats what hers is. She also has a BA that she says is a BSL because thats how they were marked.

 

[BirdNut]

Pffft, such a show-off, Illia.

Hatcheries commonly sell birds mislabeled as Araucana, or Ameraucana. Really, most of them are Easter Eggers. All three are totally different birds.

 

[crash0330]

She looks like an EE pullet

 

[Cowgirl71]

Araucanas vs. Ameraucanas vs. Easter Eggers... A major pet peeve on BYC.

If you ask me, I way prefer Easter Eggers over the other two. They're better layers and often more colorful.

Last summer I hatched out some EE x RIR chicks and one of the chicks grew up to be rumpless (I don't know how that happened

). His tail feathers curved inward, so that every time he pooped his feathers would hold it against his body. He was always a smelly mess.

Luckily he was a rooster so he was headed for the soup pot anyway. If he was a pullet I would of rehomed him (those wouldn't of been sanitary eggs, LOL).

I've heard that rumpless birds can have trouble successfully breeding too. I don't know if that's true or not...

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I ordered "Ameraucanas" from MM. I didn't read the fine print. I do have 6 beautiful EE's now

You have some lovely birds.

 

[PippyChicken]

beautiful Easter Egger's! It's basically the hatchery version of Ameracaunas.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, they are all EE's. If it's from a hatchery, it's an EE. Pure Araucana's and Ameraucana's are pretty rare (especially Araucana's), and you must get them from a breeder.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Honestly do you know this from experience?

Hatchery Easter Eggers have a varied egg laying consistency, so really, you can get good layers and bad layers. I have one who will give me about 20 eggs a year.

Araucanas are actually VERY dependable egg layers, the only thing stopping them is their broodiness.

Ameraucanas are also very good layers, and because Easter Eggers again vary in color, it depends on how good of stock of both Araucanas and Ameraucanas you get in which the egg color is better or not.

I have some VERY rich blue Ameraucana eggs and also some more subtle, light sky blue ones. . .

Also, a lot of Araucana breeders don't breed for color, so you get just as colorful eggs from them as you would Easter Eggers. (green, khaki, blue, teal)

Not meaning to jump on you, just pointing some things out. Easter Eggers are actually one of the FEW varieties from hatcheries that are not bred for egg production.

 

[draye]

Folks this argument has been going one for awhile on different threads....face it people are going to sell things as what they were purchased as, maybe it is intentional or in innosence, whatever the case. Most are letting their dander get up for nothing.

All three breeds are good, even though an Easter Egger is not consider a real breed, they all have their uses. You get some that are good layers and some that are bad layers in all breeds. It's just the roll of the dice. We all know where each originated from South America.

Take what you have and enjoy it. If you are looking for the real McCoy in Araucanas look up the Araucana Breeders or which ever breed it is that you want. Usually they have a contact on the site.

I really enjoy my Easter Eggers because of the variety of colors that they do come in. Looks like yours looking in a mixed flock sometimes never seeing the same colors or patterns constantly. But on day I would like to have some of the real Ameraucanas and Araucanas.