EE or Ameraucana Roo? I need YOU!

[Backyardexplorer]

Hello wise chicken people,

I am new to chickens and unfortunately my luck has run out with straight run chicks. Out of 7 chicks, I’ve ended up with THREE roosters. Yikes! I would love to try my hand at hatching eggs in the spring of 2025.

I have come to the dilemma now of having to choose which rooster to keep. I have 1 blue ameraucana and 1 Easter Egger roo.

My hens include:
- 1 splash Ameraucana
- 2 Easter Eggers
- 1 lavender Orpington

Which rooster would you choose for these hens if you planned to hatch eggs? Is it at all possible to keep both roosters? I have become very attached to the Easter Egger as he was my very first chicken. From a breeding standpoint, which do you think would be the best fit for my hens? Please note, I do not intend to breed for an income, just as a friendly hobby and may sell extra chicks along the way.

Signed,

A very confused chicken mama

*all chickens are still very young ranging in age all under 8 weeks.

 

[AinaWGSD]

It really depends on your goals. If you just want to hatch chicks for fun and flock replenishment either would work equally well. At this age I'd keep both of them until you see what kind of personality they have and then choose the one with the better temperament.

If you kept the ameraucana cockerel you could hatch blue and splash ameraucanas with your splash hen (assuming you can tell which eggs are hers, with that group there's a chance you could have difficulty telling the difference between her eggs and the Easter eggers). If you are interested in breeding for a certain color the blue cockerel would be easier to predict offspring color. Also worth noting that if you got your chicks from a hatchery (either directly or from a farm store) the ameraucana is probably functionality an easter egger.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Thanks so much for the response!

I purchased my ameracuanas from someone local. She claims they are true ameraucanas. However, how can you really know for sure? They have dark slate grey legs and the coloring seems to be correct. Is there something else I should look for?

Also, he is so young, I am only assuming he is a cockerel based on his strong comb development already appearing. There is definitely the possibility I am wrong!

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

He is also standing more upright on the photos.

I would decide based on which has the nicest character once older, whichever is best with the hens and with humans. Seems like the best move both for yourself and anyone you might sell extra chicks to.

 

[Bean1028]

Hello wise chicken people,

I am new to chickens and unfortunately my luck has run out with straight run chicks. Out of 7 chicks, I’ve ended up with THREE roosters. Yikes! I would love to try my hand at hatching eggs in the spring of 2025.

I have come to the dilemma now of having to choose which rooster to keep. I have 1 blue ameraucana and 1 Easter Egger roo.

My hens include:
- 1 splash Ameraucana
- 2 Easter Eggers
- 1 lavender Orpington

Which rooster would you choose for these hens if you planned to hatch eggs? Is it at all possible to keep both roosters? I have become very attached to the Easter Egger as he was my very first chicken. From a breeding standpoint, which do you think would be the best fit for my hens? Please note, I do not intend to breed for an income, just as a friendly hobby and may sell extra chicks along the way.

Signed,

A very confused chicken mama

*all chickens are still very young ranging in age all under 8 weeks.

I'd set up 2 runs if it's possible where you're at...put all Ams & Orp together in 1 run & all the EE's in their own run (or just Ameraucanas in one run with the EE's & Orp in another) & hatch them both...then expand your flock, sell them, whichever you want. Yes, it is possible to keep multiple roosters. We have 5 runs right now & 4 have a roo in them & our very first chickens that are still with are 15 months old...we kinda caught chicken fever here lol!

 

[SourRoses]

The Ameraucana offspring will have more value, which is less about the slight monetary difference and more about desirability... it's easier to market them. When I've listed them, I often have many potential customers vying for them, which means I get to pick the person who sounds like they're best for the birds.
Selling mixes tends to take longer, unless they are a desirable color or purpose bred, and you can end up raising them until you can offer the POL hens after having culled the cockerels.