Do I have hens or a big problem?

[orumpoultry]

They are not accepted colors and some of your chicks have clearly yellow feet. Easter eggers. The rooster in the pic is pretty, but he is neither black nor blue nor muffed. Three lies in one add.

X3


Those are very cute Easter Eggers. Enjoy them, but it does appear you've got a few males in that batch.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

OP - it is clear that you want to invest in quality birds - as such, I would strongly recommend you invest some time into networking yourself into contact with a good, reputable breeder to source your stock from. By that I mean, not someone found on CL (not that there aren't good people and birds on CL) - perhaps you can wander on over to the breeders thread for Ameraucana (not general breed, the exhibition breeder thread) and start looking for information on possible sources you could work with either in person or by mail.

 

[WhenInRhome]

OP - it is clear that you want to invest in quality birds - as such, I would strongly recommend you invest some time into networking yourself into contact with a good, reputable breeder to source your stock from. By that I mean, not someone found on CL (not that there aren't good people and birds on CL) - perhaps you can wander on over to the breeders thread for Ameraucana (not general breed, the exhibition breeder thread) and start looking for information on possible sources you could work with either in person or by mail.

Thank you, I will do that. I really wanted some birds that my daughter could use. She really wants to join 4H and show chickens. I figured if we could get eggs from them also then it is a win-win. She wanted silkies, and while I think they are adorable, they are not good layers. Maybe I will go ahead and sign her up and see if we can find any breeders through 4H.

 

[junebuggena]

If you are serious about showing, researching breeds and standards are an important part of the process.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

*I* would suggest you speak with the county rep for your 4-H program. If your intent is to remain at the county level at least at first, you may find that they are not quite as picky about "breed" for that. It does vary by locality, but several of the counties here allow for the entry of non-breed specific poultry (Easter Eggers, Sex Links, etc). This might allow your daughter to have a first year to try the whole thing out and would provide you time to do the homework you have ahead of you as you become better familiar with the breed you wish to pursue and source the stock for moving forward.

 

[Michael OShay]

Lavender is not an accepted color for the Ameraucana standard. They would still be considered Easter Eggers.

Agreed. You can read the Ameraucana breed standard on the Ameraucana Breeders Club website at http://www.ameraucana.org/standard.html. These are the things to look for if you want true Ameraucanas.

 

[WhenInRhome]

They are a little older now and most are growing fluffy beards. Does that mean they have some Ameraucana in them?

 

[Michael OShay]

They are a little older now and most are growing fluffy beards. Does that mean they have some Ameraucana in them?

Most Easter Eggers have some Ameraucana in them. It's where the blue egg gene comes from. Ameraucanas (or sometimes Araucanas or other EEs), which are blue egg layers are crossed with brown egg layers to produce Easter Egger offspring that lay eggs in colors other than just blue (olive, green, beige, or sometimes even pale pink).

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Hello,

Please don`t make one bad happening turn you away from chickens. You need to have fun and enjoy them no matter what breed they are. As time goes on you will always wonder what color chicks you will have and that is half the fun. You never know you just might have a few blue eggs even if they are crossed. Hang in there and have fun with them.