I've heard (so far) that EE's can be a much better choice as to variety and that they lay better. I'll have to give it some thought! Thanks for the link, I will definitely read it over!
Thank you! That was very helpful!!I've had all three (Ameraucanas, Araucanas, and Easter Eggers) for over 5 years, here's my take:
Araucanas: These are very rare and hard to find for a newbie to chickens, plus they're a bit different, so there's that to consider. Their lack of tails sometimes can be a problem, too short of backs can lead to issues like constant pasty butt, but otherwise a good bird has no problem. If you plan to breed them, often fertility can be an issue due to breeding not happening properly, of which some people choose to clip the feather down around their vents to solve. Again nothing serious and not always really common though. Oh and the tufts thing - Only if you decide to breed, remember that two tufted birds paired may result in a 25% chance of fatality in the developing eggs. Tufted x Non-tufted is fine though, it's what most breeders do. I shouldn't have started explaining the not-so-great stuff, but, I like realism. On the excellent note, and the reason I personally prefer Araucanas over other blue layers is that they're the smartest, most athletic (especially in flight) and most able to fend for themselves among the three, from my experience. Also the best foragers, and far more broody than the other two, which I know to a lot of people isn't a plus. I can prevent mine from getting broody by making sure the nests are consistently collected of eggs, though. But just a couple in there for a period long enough, and they'll get ideas. Oh and last but not least, I love the appearance of a rumpless tufted bird with a pea comb. I find them quite beautiful.
Ameraucanas: These are almost about the same as Easter Eggers in every way, except through my experience, a higher life expectancy (I've had a lot of EE's with egg laying troubles in a few years, and I blame historic breeding goals solely for egg production) and of course the fact that they're a true to type breed. Oh and from my experience, they're often a bit more broody, but not near as often as Araucanas are. Like Easter Eggers they're a pretty standard breed with nothing to watch out for except, well, defects if you plan to breed seriously. (clean faces I have seen in some lines, feather stubs on shanks I've seen in some lines, and weird color defects I've seen in some lines) They're excellent layers just as all three of the breeds, I personally have NEVER known Easter Eggers as a general whole to lay better than their purebred counterparts, in fact, I've known some Easter Eggers to lay very poorly and half the time give deformed eggs or develop internal laying issues as the years go (early years at that, we're talking 3 years old)
Easter Eggers: Just as great as Ameraucanas and Araucanas, really. They're the far far more common and cheaper option, plus they range in colors more freely in plumage color. (except versus Araucanas, since most Araucanas out there are not bred for color despite the breed having recognized true-to-type colorations) Easter Eggers, because they're mutts or simply non-recognized, non-showable forms of Ameraucanas, can either be super birds or just as good as an average free hen from craigslist (nothing wrong with that! just saying, who knows what you get) I've known some Easter Eggers to live past 19 years old, and I've known some to not make it past 3. Some are super broody, some have never considered laying on a nest for longer than half an hour. Some lay like any other production-bred hen, and some lay about once a week. In most cases they're pretty similar to Ameraucanas with consistent good qualities though. They're just not showable, they don't breed true, and they're more commonly found.
On egg color - Easter Eggers as anyone knows can give you an assortment of colors, even sometimes brown (or as some people call it, pink, since some do have a pink tint) The reason there is because the brown gene is what gives blue eggs a more green color, so, to get a nice good green, especially a rich olive green, you've gotta throw in brown now and then, and one of the biggest hatcheries to find Easter Eggers does indeed have brown in their genes. My first Easter Egger laid straight up brown eggs. You might ask, as most do - Who lays the BLUEST eggs? There actually is no answer to that. I've seen some super blue eggs from all three categories but yes, if you want more promise - Stick with Ameraucanas and Araucanas. Who is the better bet? Neither. I've seen some really greenish eggs from both, and I've seen some incredible blue eggs from both. The deepest richest blue I've seen in my life comes from an Ameraucana, but that doesn't mean they're the winner. Also, the most BLUE of eggs actually aren't the richest in color. The more rich you go, the more teal / greenish blue it gets.
Hope that helps for anyone reading this!
Edited to add: The difference between Ameraucanas and Araucanas goes beyond looks. They're genetically different, which yes makes them look different the same as a Plymouth Rock is genetically and visually different from a Rhode Island Red.
From what I've heard, they seem to vary a lot, but I'm liking them more and more.
She's gorgeous! Can I ask, do you keep her for sentimental reasons or does she keep the young'uns in check?This is my oldest living Ameraucana, Gypsy, who came from out of two different lines, Cree Farms and Rivergait Farms. She is 7 yrs old next month, my favorite hen of all I currently own. She does still lay, but in spurts.
