Easter Egger questions

[WIchickMama]

I did some searching but didn't find exact answers to my questions, so I apologize if the answers are embedded in a thread somewhere.

I have chicks that hatched almost 3 weeks ago, no idea on what breed/mix of breeds they are. They were not from a hatchery, eggs came from a neighbor who has multi-generational breeding at her farm. I did post some early pictures and it was indicated that 4 were EE and 1 was a barnyard mix. My question is how is it determined that they are EE by just looking at them? Color? Pattern? Or would they all just be considered a barnyard mix? (I am not doubting that they are EEs I am just wondering how someone would determine that-besides the color egg they might have hatched from-which I don't believe I disclosed but 4 came from green/mint and 1 from brown) All 4 that have been deemed EEs are differently patterned and colored, though they all have some sort of rust/orange feather coloring coming in, one is completely dark brown/copper colored.

Second question, how accurate is this information that I found and how early (if reliable) can you determine this? I have 2 that might have 3 rows but might just have one--they are way too young I think to determine sex but again, just looking to expand my knowledge here.

Thanks for the help!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I consider EEs to be mutts that came from a colored layer. So like any EEs that came from a blue or green laying male amd/or female

 

[janiedoe]

Not all easter eggers have pea combs. Also, the males don't always have a 3 row pea comb. & Sometimes they do, and it develops very slowly.
I have a ton of backyard mixes. A lot of them lay blue or green, a few lay brown.
I generally just call them all backyard mix.
Even the ones with muffs and pea combs can lay brown. Some have no muffs, and do not have pea combs, and yet still lay green or blue. So backyard mix is the best title for mine.
I have some grow outs that are legbar mixes. They don't look like typical ee, but they may lay a blue or green egg. I'll just go with backyard mix.

 

[SilverBirds]

EEs are crosses. They do not have a standard and are often not officially recognized as a breed. They are most commonly Ameraucanas (which is where the beard and pea comb come from), Cream Legbars, and Araucanas, crossed with any other type of chicken. This means that the body type, comb, and other features will often resemble one of these breeds, but the egg color, feather color, pattern, etc. can vary widely.

Nowadays, there are enough EEs to breed together to give them more of a set look. There have been many new "breeds" such as Starlight Eggers, Prairie Bluebells, Favaucanas, and Olive Eggers, (just to name a few) that are basically glorified EEs. They still lay colored eggs, but they are just being specifically crossed to get certain outcomes.

 

[WIchickMama]

Awesome thanks. I will go with barnyard mixes and won't overthink the pea combs for now.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I did some searching but didn't find exact answers to my questions, so I apologize if the answers are embedded in a thread somewhere.

I have chicks that hatched almost 3 weeks ago, no idea on what breed/mix of breeds they are. They were not from a hatchery, eggs came from a neighbor who has multi-generational breeding at her farm. I did post some early pictures and it was indicated that 4 were EE and 1 was a barnyard mix. My question is how is it determined that they are EE by just looking at them? Color? Pattern? Or would they all just be considered a barnyard mix? (I am not doubting that they are EEs I am just wondering how someone would determine that-besides the color egg they might have hatched from-which I don't believe I disclosed but 4 came from green/mint and 1 from brown) All 4 that have been deemed EEs are differently patterned and colored, though they all have some sort of rust/orange feather coloring coming in, one is completely dark brown/copper colored.

Second question, how accurate is this information that I found and how early (if reliable) can you determine this? I have 2 that might have 3 rows but might just have one--they are way too young I think to determine sex but again, just looking to expand my knowledge here.

View attachment 3227095

Thanks for the help!

So, this us alot to explain, Easter Eggers are crosses with some blue layer genes in them. Whether that be araucana, ameraucana, true blue whitening or any other one. Not all have pea combs although alot seem to, all of mine do.
We usually say EEs instead of barnyard mix because of the presence of muffs, beards, pea combs or obviously colored eggs. EEs come in EVERY AND ALL color possible, so color is not a factor in deciding if it's a EE. The info you found...well....I've never heard that but I don't see EEs much so I'm not much help there.
I hope this made sense, if you have any questions please ask.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Add that the only way to know for sure that it's a EE not barnyard mix is waiting till they lay.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

EEs are crosses. They do not have a standard and are often not officially recognized as a breed. They are most commonly Ameraucanas (which is where the beard and pea comb come from), Cream Legbars, and Araucanas, crossed with any other type of chicken. This means that the body type, comb, and other features will often resemble one of these breeds, but the egg color, feather color, pattern, etc. can vary widely.

Nowadays, there are enough EEs to breed together to give them more of a set look. There have been many new "breeds" such as Starlight Eggers, Prairie Bluebells, Favaucanas, and Olive Eggers, (just to name a few) that are basically glorified EEs. They still lay colored eggs, but they are just being specifically crossed to get certain outcomes.

I just hate going to a feed store and seeing EEs, OEs, prairie bluebells, starlights, and a whole bunch of other random birds that are all the same thing.

 

[WIchickMama]

So, this us alot to explain, Easter Eggers are crosses with some blue layer genes in them. Whether that be araucana, ameraucana, true blue whitening or any other one. Not all have pea combs although alot seem to, all of mine do.
We usually say EEs instead of barnyard mix because of the presence of muffs, beards, pea combs or obviously colored eggs. EEs come in EVERY AND ALL color possible, so color is not a factor in deciding if it's a EE. The info you found...well....I've never heard that but I don't see EEs much so I'm not much help there.
I hope this made sense, if you have any questions please ask.

Cool, thanks! All the info I can gather helps

 

[SilverBirds]

I just hate going to a feed store and seeing EEs, OEs, prairie bluebells, starlights, and a whole bunch of other random birds that are all the same thing.

It's there "Ameraucanas" for me.