Easter Eggers or Ameraucana?

[MonicainAZ]

Not looking to argue but just want some clarification on what I've read. If the hen lays blue eggs doesn't that mean she carries two blue genes (blue coating over blue shell )? In order to lay a brown egg wouldn't the offspring have to carry a gene for a white egg? Since the gene for blue shells (from mom) is dominate over white (from dad) she should lay a green egg (brown coating over blue shell). Right or am I not understanding something correctly?

I'll just add one additional point of clarification - there is no "blue coating." Blue eggs are blue shell with no color coating. Green (or olive) are blue egg shell with brown coating.

 

[lomine]

I'll just add one additional point of clarification - there is no "blue coating." Blue eggs are blue shell with no color coating. Green (or olive) are blue egg shell with brown coating.

Yeah I went back and reread the genetics article I had read before. I had misread the part about the oocyanin decreasing just like the protoporphyrin. I thought it meant there was a coating but it just meant that the shade of the entire blue shell decreases. Who knew chicken eggs could be so interesting?

 

[CrazedCowgirl]

Hi everyone!

I have a question about a chick I purchased last week. I bought what was advertised as am Ameraucana but I'm starting to think she's an EE. She's only a week old so I doubt anyone can tell me what breed she is but if someone could try, I'd appreciate it!!

 

[donrae]

Hi everyone!

I have a question about a chick I purchased last week. I bought what was advertised as am Ameraucana but I'm starting to think she's an EE. She's only a week old so I doubt anyone can tell me what breed she is but if someone could try, I'd appreciate it!!

Easter egger.

 

[CrazedCowgirl]

Easter egger. 

Thanks. What are the signs that tell you she's an EE rather then an Ameraucana? I just started with chickens this past spring and I honestly can't tell and EE from an Ameraucana. Kinda bummed I spent $4 on her but at least I'll get pretty eggs right. Lol

 

[Percheron chick]

$4. You would of spend $25+ for an ameraucana pullet chick.

The easiest way is a true ameraucana will always specify what color they are. You can then compare them to the SOP to know if they're being straight with you. Her color is not standard, the chipmunk eye is a dead giveaway and her legs are green.
Don't be bummed. She'll be a better layer.

 

[donrae]

I agree with the above. True Ameraucana are still not so easy to find. Like any other breed, you'll purchase a specific color. We don't as a rule buy just a Plymouth Rock, we buy a barred Rock. Not just an Orpington, but a buff Orpington. Same with and Ameraucana, it would be a black Ameraucana, or wheaten, etc.

Price is another point. your purchase price was perfectly in line with an EE chick.

Place of purchase is another. Feed stores, etc. don't carry true Ameraucana. A few hatcheries are starting to provide them, but I due to the expense I don't see feed stores selling them any time soon. They'd have to tag them with the anti-theft devices

.

But the thing is, you didn't even really know what an Ameraucana was when you purchased this chick. You simply wanted a nice backyard bird that had a high chance of laying a colored egg. And that's what you have

. There are lots of us here who prefer the EE to the Ameraucana. They come in a wider range of colors, both in their feathers and their eggs. Friendly, cute, affordable, unique----what else can you ask for?

 

[FlyWheel]

Question: If a true Ameraucana offspring will always produce a blue egg, does that mean that all true Americaunas have two blue egg genes? IOW, if I were to breed, say an Ameraucana rooster with any other hen, regardless of breed, then would all the offspring be guaranteed to end up with at least one of those blue egg genes?

 

[junebuggena]

All true Ameraucana should be pure for the blue eggshell gene. And yes, any offspring from a true Ameraucana (male or female) will inherit at least one blue eggshell gene.

 

[donrae]

Yep. Crossing a pure Ameraucana with a brown egger should always give you a green egger. Crossing with a white egger will give you paler blue eggs in my experience. Crossing with another blue egger should give you blue eggers.