Are Easter Eggers a real breed or a "mutt"? I'm confused.

[Coop Deville]

So here's a question:

If you buy a hatchery "Ameraucana" that meets the breed standard for everything, including color, is it not an "Ameraucana" just because you bought it from a hatchery? In other words, are true "Ameraucanas" bought only from breeders?

 

[Pele]

So here's a question:

If you buy a hatchery "Ameraucana" that meets the breed standard for everything, including color, is it not an "Ameraucana" just because you bought it from a hatchery? In other words, are true "Ameraucanas" bought only from breeders?

This is a hypothetical question that isn't really ever tested. Hatcheries are producing for numbers, and thus do not heavily cull to follow standard. Now, if there is any standard out there that is exacting, demanding, picky, and intense... it's the Ameraucana standard.

If a bird that comes from a long long looong line of Ameraucana purebred stock, but it doesn't have exact standard coloration, most of the breeders for this variety will just deem the bird 'Easter Egger', and remove it from the breeding program entirely. Yikes high standards!

Because hatcheries don't give a flip about adhering to standard, your chances of getting an EE from them that could pass as an Ameraucana are probably lower than winning MegaMillions lotteries. Especially since some Ameraucanas can't pass for Ameraucanas, expecting another 'breed' to pass as one is wishing on a prayer.

Now, because hatcheries arn't even working with gorgeous purebred Ameraucanas, and are instead mixing in breeds willy nilly to enhance production and egglaying.. you can and do get EEs that won't even lay green or blue eggs. However, as much as I hate to say something nice about hatchery breeding programs... I have to admit that this is rare, and they are usually good about culling for egg color. Though I still think it's a crime that they lie to their customers on a regular basis.

I hope that this helped clear up a couple of things, it's an open issue that is stil unresolved between all the experts out there.

 

[Aschenfire]

I agree, the Ameraucana standard, or more notably, the pit bull like defense of "REAL HONEST TO GAWD" Ameraucanas is wow...scary really. I have two "Easter Eggers" which were feed store chicks. Sold as Ameracuanas. I didn't REALLY care what they were called. I wanted the pretty colored eggs. Seeing the INSTANT leaping on new people when they say they have an Ameraucana (that is a hatchery or feed store chick) is scary. I'd never want to breed the "real thing" myself, if the standard is so crazy that even blue blooded birds are rejected as "mutts" if they dare to have the wrong color feathers or legs.

I think Ameraucana breeders need to chill a bit. Really. We don't see Silkie breeders saying "That's a Fuzzy-Plumed Legfeather chicken, not a Silkie!" (when faced with a pet quality bird with maybe a red comb or four toes) or Buff Orpington breeders calling birds who might have the wrong comb or something "Blonde ChubbyChickens, not Buff Orps!"

Yes, of course, keep breeding your birds to standard, of course we all want the purebred birds to stay purebred! But give those gorgeous Easter Eggers a break! My two girls don't know they're not "real" Ameraucanas. They just want their snacks.

 

[donrae]

I agree, the Ameraucana standard, or more notably, the pit bull like defense of "REAL HONEST TO GAWD" Ameraucanas is wow...scary really. I have two "Easter Eggers" which were feed store chicks. Sold as Ameracuanas. I didn't REALLY care what they were called. I wanted the pretty colored eggs. Seeing the INSTANT leaping on new people when they say they have an Ameraucana (that is a hatchery or feed store chick) is scary. I'd never want to breed the "real thing" myself, if the standard is so crazy that even blue blooded birds are rejected as "mutts" if they dare to have the wrong color feathers or legs.

I think Ameraucana breeders need to chill a bit. Really. We don't see Silkie breeders saying "That's a Fuzzy-Plumed Legfeather chicken, not a Silkie!" (when faced with a pet quality bird with maybe a red comb or four toes) or Buff Orpington breeders calling birds who might have the wrong comb or something "Blonde ChubbyChickens, not Buff Orps!"

Yes, of course, keep breeding your birds to standard, of course we all want the purebred birds to stay purebred! But give those gorgeous Easter Eggers a break! My two girls don't know they're not "real" Ameraucanas. They just want their snacks.

NewChickHere, green or blue eggs are closely linked to pea combs. Look at your girls' combs, pea combs are *usually* green/blue layers, straight combs are brown or tinted. This is not 100%, but it's a good rule of thumb on hatchery easter eggers.

And even if a bird doesn't lay greenish eggs, sometimes you can get a funky dusty pinkish color, those are cool too!

 

[GableBabble]

I have some that I've bought from a breeder and some I got from a hatchery. The only things I can tell different about the two types is the muffs. My stock from the breeder has huge ones, my stock from the hatchery has little to none. I call mine EE's. I love both the blue eggs I get and the green eggs I get.

 

[Aschenfire]

My girlies both have cute little pea combs And huge muffs and beards. I call them my bearded ladies

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

Yeah, I was supposed to get an americana from a feed store but everyone says she is an EE. She is still the cutest little thing though (although, she is really shy). I'm really hoping for blue eggs, but I guess the fun is in the mystery.

 

[Pele]

I agree that Easter Eggers are charming and wonderful to own. Heavens know that I enjoy my bird and her hilariously pastel eggs (like she's taking the whole Easter thing seriously).

However, I can also completely understand why Ameraucana breeders are so protective. If I had dropped thousands of dollars, and years of meticulous work in maintaining an exacting breed, I would be very put out when hatcheries produce birds that are nothing like mine, and sell them willy nilly as "Ameraucanas". They deviate from the standard even more than any other breed hatcheries produce, which for someone who keeps charts and charts of genetics, is maddening.

Purebreds arn't for everyone. They cost a lot more, but on the flip side you are guarenteed that your bird will possess the features that you admire so much about the breed. I personally am madly in love with beards and docile personalities, so I went WAAAY out of my way to purchase and hatch purebred Faverolles. But I still love my silly hybrids who faithfully churn out eggs for me.

That's the best part about chickens, they have something for everyone

Quote:

I agree, the Ameraucana standard, or more notably, the pit bull like defense of "REAL HONEST TO GAWD" Ameraucanas is wow...scary really. I have two "Easter Eggers" which were feed store chicks. Sold as Ameracuanas. I didn't REALLY care what they were called. I wanted the pretty colored eggs. Seeing the INSTANT leaping on new people when they say they have an Ameraucana (that is a hatchery or feed store chick) is scary. I'd never want to breed the "real thing" myself, if the standard is so crazy that even blue blooded birds are rejected as "mutts" if they dare to have the wrong color feathers or legs.

I think Ameraucana breeders need to chill a bit. Really. We don't see Silkie breeders saying "That's a Fuzzy-Plumed Legfeather chicken, not a Silkie!" (when faced with a pet quality bird with maybe a red comb or four toes) or Buff Orpington breeders calling birds who might have the wrong comb or something "Blonde ChubbyChickens, not Buff Orps!"

Yes, of course, keep breeding your birds to standard, of course we all want the purebred birds to stay purebred! But give those gorgeous Easter Eggers a break! My two girls don't know they're not "real" Ameraucanas. They just want their snacks.