Easter Egger's and Ameraucana's = same thing

[allamerican401]

Sorry, more a novelty than a fad. I enjoy the colored egg pictures, but if we have any more economic or supply problems, it won't be a concern. I'd like to mix a small number of dual purpose to do well in my climate, personally! Some americaunas are supposed to free range well though!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I mean, lots of breeds of chickens are novelty. One doesn't seriously believe for example that silkies are anything but aesthetically appealing and personable I'd hope...

Greenfire farms makes a lot of money selling novelty and fad chickens. There's certainly nothing practical about the mops on polish - many people report they have trouble seeing from it and are less hardy against predators... So... That's been forever.

If you just enjoy colored eggs, you could look into one of the many mixed varieties out there like Super Blue Egg Layers for a better egg layer. They're fine, better layers even, they just won't breed true and might not have all the traits of an Ameraucana.

 

[allamerican401]

I agree. Silkies, polish, etc have had their original agricultural traits bred away for looks concerning adaptations. Like many show chickens. I find nothing wrong with that, just not my personal preference. .. I just wonder where this world is going with all the craziness anymore. My grandma used to tell me stories of her dad and the farmhand shooting at people trying to steal chickens & people taking the train down from Chicago, butchering cattle in the fields, and taking what they could carry! More population now.. Sorry, a little off subject.. But if things ever head south, any chicken is probably a good chicken to have! Haha!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Personally I just think it's funny. Like the OP said, people get sooo riled up about americanas over americaunas. It's education to a point, but gets snobby on Facebook. Definitely false advertising by some companies. Also a newer bred bird. I don't care either way. Just (usually) less productive birds to me. Chicken genetics fascinate me, but not egg color, personally. Seems like a "fad".

I have some good news for you- americanas and americaunas are both the same thing (Easter eggers)!

 

[Rongela]

So, yes, I may be trying to ruffle some feathers here. I'm bored, what can I say more.

So Ameraucana breeders/owners take pride in breeding to the SOP, which is a great thing. It preserves and promotes, what they are trying to accomplish. That being said, does anybody else smirk when they cant stand someone with an "easter egger" claiming to be an Ameraucana. Genetically it may be the exact same thing with some color leakage, etc. Why are people so anal about pointing out and claiming that someones bird is in fact an easter egger?

I was sold chickens at Tractor Supply (newbie) and they said I got Americana’s and black sex link. Of course I figured out now some are EE’s.

 

[illinoishiker]

I have a purebred Ameraucana roo. He's a great roo. I have many EE hens. Several are his daughters but they are still EEs. I like the variety of colors. My hens are crosses that lay well. From what I've read my EEs lay better than the purebred Ameraucana. I got them from hatcheries except the ones I've hatched with my roo, Henry. It does bother me when I see a pic of a colored chicken on CL that is being sold as an Ameraucana. I think a lot of people buy these birds thinking they are getting the purebred. One of my little EE pullets found a nest of 36 guinea eggs. She made them into a mountain and sat on them. Hatched out 30 keets from those eggs! And raised all of them.

 

[illinoishiker]

A breed is selective breeding to get to a point where the offspring conform to a standard. Then it's a breed. Like beagles, labs, poodles. A poodle-beagle 'cross' is an EE! LOL, but true. I think. Or just an accident. I think my EEs are 'better' because they are better layers. That is important to me though I appreciate pure bred breeds that conform to a standard. Like I want my EEs to be a cross of an Ameraucana and a good laying chicken. I like the blue eggs but also like variety in feather colors for the fun of it.

 

[Vicker]

Just don't sell me an EE under the name Ameraucana. That has happened to me before. I want what I'm paying for.

 

[Alissa802]

This is TOOO funny. White boy, you have a knack! Don’t want you around my kids! Lol. But I’m sooo confused. I bought my “Americaunas” from TSC. So they’re actually not Americaunas at all?! Seems like false advertising.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Very probably. The easiest way to tell is do they meet an APA color.

For example if you get a BARRED rock, it's a barred plymouth rock. A WHITE leghorn, a BUFF orpington, a BLACK australorp, etc.
If your chick came in a bin without a specific color label (Such as Blue, Black, Splash) it was probably a mixed breed/landrace chicken, not a bird that meets an APA breed standard.

Also if they have green or yellow legs and not slate or grey legs.