EEs not a breed!

[colby318]

I bought 26 Ameraucanas from Mt Healthy this last spring. Of course they came in all shapes, sizes and colors. I learned the hard way ( being a newbie) about EEs blended genetic background...

My question...
On a lot of posts people write that EEs should have green legs. Isn't this misleading to others who are trying to identify a mystery chick or adult?

I gave half my birds away and now have 52 GLW pullet chicks in the brooder!

Call me the EE police! LOL

 

[kinnip]

I love my EEs! There's a lot to be said for hybrid vigour. Some have very green legs, some don't.

 

[Buster]

Here is my handsome EE boy. I am hoping to get some cool chicks from him and my EE hens:

 

[halo]

I adore my EE's too. Only thing I require of them is a poofy face and laying big blue eggs (the roos are excused from the second condition). I consider them a breed.

 

[Blisschick]

Most of mine have slate legs, but a couple don't. Some have beards and muffs, some don't. One or two even have single combs and lay light brown eggs, but all are from EE stock. EE's are no more a "breed" than the common domestic dog or cat.

 

[ams3651]

one of my EE's has muffs, one has muffs and a beard and one has neither. Some have more greyish leggs and one more greenish. I think the only real requirement is the colored eggs but I may be wrong.

 

[halo]

According to the dictionary:

BREED –noun
Genetics. a relatively homogenous group of animals within a species, developed and maintained by humans.


Now I agree, of course, that they arent a recognized breed by the APA, but just because they aren't doesn't make them not a breed. Every single poultry breed (and dog and cat and whatever) began from a combination of genetics and people breeding to create a type of animal. Who knows, eventually they may become recognized with a certain type and traits. Stranger things have happened.

 

[chicken_angler]

My EE hen has black legs.

 

[Anne]

You are right, many EE's DO have green legs, but it's not that they SHOULD. They can have any color of legs. Having green legs, however, is a good indicator for telling the difference between an EE and an Ameraucana (which must have slate legs). To make things confusing, however, EE's can pop up with slate legs as well, in which case you have to look at other breed traits to tell the difference.

P.S.
I have to disagree with a post above and confirm that EE's are not a breed. They are not homogenous -- they have all sort of different traits and colors, which are impossible to predict, and do not breed true. This is why they cannot be admitted to the APA standard. Now, there ARE many standardized, true-breeding, relatively homogenous types of birds that have NOT been admitted to the Standard yet -- but EE's are not one of them.

I say, love 'em for what they are -- be proud of your unique and interesting non-breeds!

 

[chickenma]

Mine EE are very different, none look alike that's why we love them.