EEs- Are they a breed?

[MissChick@dee]

My two cents worth. No, they are not a breed. They do not breed true. They have a distinctive appearance because most of them have a lot of ameraucana in them, so they show many of the same characteristics. Just like the labradoodles have a distinctive appearance, because they have a lot of poodle in them. First generation labradoodles are all over the map in appearance, those are then bred back to poodles to fix the type. In this instance, it's the curly coat that breeders are after. In the EEs, it's the blue/green eggs people want. So, the blue/green egg layers are the ones that are bred, so they are more likely to have the appearance similar to the ameraucana, as well as the egg color. Either they have been bred back to ameraucana, or they happened to have inherited a lot of those genes.
I believe, in order to be a breed, it must breed true, for multiple generations. The very name, easter egger, came from the fact that you never know what color the egg will be, right? That is not breeding true, regardless of how the bird looks. If you have a RIR then you know you will get brown eggs. If you have a leghorn, you know you will get white eggs. If you don't then you know that's not a purebred, even if it looks like one.

So true...my EE was for my husband who wanted blueish eggs. Dottie lays pink. He would never say it because he absolutely loves her but he was disappointed.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

I worded it wrong!!!

EEs are as official of a breed as mutts are- that doesn't mean they are mutts!!!

My EE was sold as an Americana, she doesn't have green legs, but she is still an EE!!!

My friend also got an Americana, but she doesn't lay blue or green eggs- she lays pinkish brown!

 

[2 many chickens]

Who cares.
EE's are cool. I have many and enjoy them. I don't care if you think they're mutts.
Maybe you're a mutt.

 

[townchicks]

Maybe you're a mutt.

I am a mutt. So's my dog. I love mutts. I just don't go around saying he's a purebred. I have 2 EEs and I love them. I'll have more someday too. Still not going to claim they're a purebred.

 

[MissChick@dee]

View attachment 1607411 View attachment 1607412

I worded it wrong!!!

EEs are as official of a breed as mutts are- that doesn't mean they are mutts!!!

My EE was sold as an Americana, she doesn't have green legs, but she is still an EE!!!

My friend also got an Americana, but she doesn't lay blue or green eggs- she lays pinkish brown!

Mine even had the
Proper leg color. Still didn’t matter...she is what she is.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I recently got 2 EE pullets. They are very sweet and chatty compared to my other birds. Mutts are the best. I also have a labradoodle and a goldendoodle. It's like the best of two breeds squished together. I love them both as well, but due to the backlash of the labradoodle hype, I just tell people I have a lab poodle mix or a golden retriever poodle mix. They shake their heads and say no more.
In all reality who of us are not "mutts"?
As well, breeds only exist because they were mixed with other breeds for specific characteristics and once those were achieved, then that is when they became a breed. The same holds true for dogs (look up before and after pics of pure bred dogs to see how they compare to today's standards).
Anywho, just my two cents. I love all of my mutts feathered and furry!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Easter eggers are a variety, but not a breed I think.

Largely because a breed has a definition, breeds true certain traits, etc. And obviously easter eggers have none of that. Some of them are first generation crosses, some of them have lines with no outcrossing going back to before Ameraucanas.

But like sexlinks, production reds, rangers, cornish crosses, etc. they have traits we recognize and can be consistent. That doesn't make them a breed, but it also doesn't make them just mutts or random mixes. They're something inbetween, able to be recognized and identified, not fully meeting the definition of a breed.

They're great birds either way.

 

[lissalischicks]

So I have not read every reply yet but here is my two cents.

There are a lot of breeds of animals that started out as cross breeds (intentional or unintentional) or mutts that have become a breed. So my theory is they now should have the honor after all these years to be considered a breed. For instance, my dogs were silky terriers. They were breed by combining a silky and an Australian terrier and now are considered a breed by the AKC. But I understand what the OP is trying to say

 

[Amer]

My two cents worth. No, they are not a breed. They do not breed true. They have a distinctive appearance because most of them have a lot of ameraucana in them, so they show many of the same characteristics. Just like the labradoodles have a distinctive appearance, because they have a lot of poodle in them. First generation labradoodles are all over the map in appearance, those are then bred back to poodles to fix the type. In this instance, it's the curly coat that breeders are after. In the EEs, it's the blue/green eggs people want. So, the blue/green egg layers are the ones that are bred, so they are more likely to have the appearance similar to the ameraucana, as well as the egg color. Either they have been bred back to ameraucana, or they happened to have inherited a lot of those genes.
I believe, in order to be a breed, it must breed true, for multiple generations. The very name, easter egger, came from the fact that you never know what color the egg will be, right? That is not breeding true, regardless of how the bird looks. If you have a RIR then you know you will get brown eggs. If you have a leghorn, you know you will get white eggs. If you don't then you know that's not a purebred, even if it looks like one.

X2
1. Breed means "breeds true"
2. Landrace means pure bred to the same breed
3. Variety means a color or one variation of a gene within a breed.
4.Cross bred bird means two breeds put together and bred
5. Mixed breed means it has more than one breed in its background
Considering all EEs fit the last two criteria, all EEs are cross breeds and mix breeds.

 

[PirateGirl]

So I am under the impression that ANY chicken of ANY breed that lays colored eggs is an Easter Egger... including Ameraucanas, Legbars, etc.

So all Ameraucanas are Easter Eggers but not all Easter Eggers are Ameraucanas