Are these normal toenails?

[LilJoe]

Color wise, is she considered blue, silver or something else?

Blue

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Looks like a true Ameraucanas. My Black Ameraucana pullets have one or two white toenails and the rest are slate.

 

[Relleoms]

Looks like a true Ameraucanas. My Black Ameraucana pullets have one or two white toenails and the rest are slate.

Well that would be cool! I ordered EE’s. Isn’t it usually the other way around (people order Ameraucana a and get EE)?!?

 

[lazy gardener]

Technically, she wouldn't be considered an Ameraucana unless she came from parents who were bred according to the SOP colors. In other words, Ameraucanas breed true to color. In her case, she would follow the BBS patterning. And she would also need to produce blue eggs.

Here's an article if you want more information. I've had both EE and Ameraucana in my flock. Love them both. IMO, the EE that I've known have been better layers than the Ams.

 

[Relleoms]

Technically, she wouldn't be considered an Ameraucana unless she came from parents who were bred according to the SOP colors. In other words, Ameraucanas breed true to color. In her case, she would follow the BBS patterning. And she would also need to produce blue eggs.

Here's an article if you want more information. I've had both EE and Ameraucana in my flock. Love them both. IMO, the EE that I've known have been better layers than the Ams.

As with all our Easter Eggers, it will be fun surprise to see what color egg she lays. Her flockmates started laying yesterday & today, so she’s got to be getting close, too! She came from Cackle, and they do sell Blue Ameraucana, so I guess it’s possible she was our bonus chick, or just a look-alike EE! Doesn’t really matter to me either way; she’s pretty and has a great personality!

 

[lazy gardener]

She could very well be a blue Am, then. I got a couple EE from Cackle last season. One of them did not lay till she was 10 mo. old. I sold the other one. However, the one I kept, her eggs are absolutely beautiful, blue, and huge.

 

[Relleoms]

@lazy gardener, can you send me that article you referenced regarding the difference between EE’s & Ameraucana’s? I’d like to read it. No hurry though, just when you get a chance! Thanks

 

[lazy gardener]

oops! I forgot to link the article. Here it is.

http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/standard.html

 

[Relleoms]

Violet laid her first egg today, a beautiful blue one!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Here's another article about the differences, with araucana thrown in.

https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/12/ameraucana-vs-araucana-vs-easter-egger.html

AMERAUCANAS


Ameraucanas are a pure breed that has been recognized by the APA (American Poultry Association) since 1984. They were most likely originally bred from South American blue egg laying breeds but were developed and standardized in the United States. They come in eight distinct colors including, Blue, Black, White and Wheaten, which all share these distinct Ameraucana traits:

Peacomb

Muffs and beard

Red earlobes

Tail

Blue legs

White foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


ARAUCANAS

Araucanas are more rare than Amerauacanas and harder to find. They are also a pure breed and have been recognized by the APA since 1976. They originated in Chile most likely and come in five colors including black, white, duckwing silver and golden. Araucanas all share these distinct Araucana traits:

Peacomb

Ear tufts (this gene is lethal to developing chicks if inherited by both parents)

Red earlobes

Rumpless (no tail)

Green or willow-colored legs

Yellow foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


EASTER EGGERS

Easter Eggers are not a recognized breed. They are mongrels or mutts - mixed breed chickens that do possess the blue egg gene, but don't fully meet the breed specifications of either Araucanas or Ameraucanas. They can come in any color or combination of colors and share these traits:

Any kind of comb

Muffs/beard/ear tufts or none

Any color earlobes

Tail or tail-less

Any color legs

Any color foot bottoms

Can lay blue but also sometimes lay green, tan, pink or even yellow

So if you want to be guaranteed blue egg layers, you will want to raise some Araucanas or Ameraucanas; otherwise Easter Eggers are always fun because you never know what color egg each will lay until she starts laying, and even identical-looking hens often lay varying shades of bluish or greenish eggs.