Aracaunas, Ameracaunas & Easter Eggers

[Dirty Dozen]

I know what a true Araucana is. But what is the difference between Amercaunas & Easter Eggers? Thanx!

 

[bnjrob]

Easter Eggers are mutts that were bred for colored eggs.

 

[Dirty Dozen]

But aren't Ameracaunas mutts to get colored eggs?

 

[bnjrob]

From what I've read about them, Ameracaunas are technically mutts bred from Aracaunas - back in the '70s I think - but the Easter Eggers are a lot "muttier" and farther removed from Aracaunas.

 

[Dirty Dozen]

"Muttier". o.k. I think that's probably what I have. I have some friends like that too. Thanx!

 

[draye]

From what I've read about them, Ameracaunas are technically mutts bred from Aracaunas - back in the '70s I think - but the Easter Eggers are a lot "muttier" and farther removed from Aracaunas.

Actually all Araucana, Ameraucana and the Easter Egger were all bred from "mutt" chickens brought in from South America. Just for the record.

 

[Pele]

Ameraucana: bred from South American birds carrying the blue egg gene, mostly purified out of Easter Egger stock (which is why hatcheries try to say their EEs are Ameraucans, they somewhat resemble each other). Features include: Slate colored legs, pea comb, lays blue or green eggs, has a muff and beard, comes in the following colors: Blue, Blue Wheaten, Black, Brown Red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, and White. CANNOT come in any other colors.

Araucana: Developed in Chile and refined in the US; not bred from EE stock. Features include: Lack of tail (rumpless, although tailed birds may be used in breeding programs, just not shown), pea comb, tufts of feathers protruding from cheeks and sweeping back (no muff or beard), variable leg color, standard size comes in black, white, black breasted red, silver duckwing, and gold duckwing.

Easter Egger: Not a true breed, and thus type is not regulated and can vary wildly. Bred by US hatcheries in an effort to sell colored eggs at higher markup, most likely bred from South American birds. Ideal EE traits: Muff and beard, pea comb, willow colored legs, blue to green eggs. Can come in any coloration. Can have only one or two of the above listed features, and still be called an EE (yes this means they could lay you a brown egg).

 

[bnjrob]

Actually all Araucana, Ameraucana and the Easter Egger were all bred from "mutt" chickens brought in from South America. Just for the record.

Some of the stuff I've read said that the Ameracauanas and the EEs were bred off of the Aracaunas - which were bred from numerous other chickens to get the colored eggs. Probably not absolute answer since there are also differing opinions on whether Javas really came from Java and just refined here or if they were bred from other Asian chickens and weren't an actual true breed for a while.