help identifying birds prior to purchase...

[WalkingOnSunshine]

we are in CNY and it seems like a good deal , compared to other things I've seen , they appear to be very healthy from the pic ...

If it helps, I'd charge $15 each for those birds here in Ohio, since they are right at point of lay. I'd get it, too--mostly old hens for sale this time of year, not point of lay pullets.

I'd probably ask twice that for Ameraucanas.

 

[PfeifferFeather]

Just to seem totally ignorant ...what is the difference? I'm a newbie ! can you tell? It shows , doesn't it !

 

[Kelsie2290]

Those girls would all be Easter Eggers, Ameraucana and Araucana have strict written standards, dealing with color and their physical description that the birds have to match to be considered as their respective breeds. http://www.ameraucana.org/standard.html and http://araucana.net/ are the websites for the parent clubs, they have write ups on their facts pages about the differences between them all.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Just to seem totally ignorant ...what is the difference? I'm a newbie ! can you tell? It shows , doesn't it !

Easter Eggers are mutt chickens that carry the blue egg gene. They usually have Ameraucana blood in them mixed with something else. Because they are mutts, they can have almost any coloration, although that vaguely-duckwing pattern that those birds are showing is extremely common. They are very common, and what many people order as "Ameraucanas" from hatcheries or buy from feed stores. They most commonly lay green eggs, but can also lay blue or brown (the brown is quite rare, as long as the bird has a pea comb).

True Ameraucanas are much less common, and are a purebred breed that only has a few accepted colors--none of which is that duckwing-like pattern. Unfortunately, because hatcheries sell their EEs as Ameraucanas, many people mistakenly believe that they have a rare breed when it's not true, and they then sell their EEs as Ameraucanas and perpetuate the cycle of misinformation.

However, that does not mean that these birds for sale aren't worth buying because they are mutts! I have both EEs and Ameraucanas, and my EEs lay more, prettier colored, and larger eggs. While I love the look of my Ameraucanas, I love the fact that no two EEs look the same or lay the same color egg. If the price were right, I'd buy that group in the photo. They look like nice birds.

BTW--A Newbie is just a BYCer we haven't known very long yet. It's a steep learning curve, but soon you won't feel so new any more. And you'll stop feeling so new the way most of us did--by asking questions and building your knowledge. And then you'll be able to "give back" that knowledge to next years' newbies! Welcome to BYC!

 

[PfeifferFeather]

Thank You to all ...I've learned much and appreciate all your help.

 

[donrae]

Thank You to all ...I've learned much and appreciate all your help.

Anytime! I wish more folks would do as you did this time, post pics before they come home with a bunch of roosters, or sick birds, or pay $$$ for birds that are just hatchery stock.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Anytime! I wish more folks would do as you did this time, post pics before they come home with a bunch of roosters, or sick birds, or pay $$$ for birds that are just hatchery stock.

Amen!

 

[rome24kr]

those are some pretty girls, i agree definitely easter eggers. i too have a easter egger, although she is a bantam w/a cool color scheme.

 

[PfeifferFeather]

As of yesterday afternoon they are mine, what a sweet bunch of girls, transported in a dog crate...approx. 65 miles, and one of them layed us a pretty green egg this morning! Thanks everyone for your help! Dawn

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

As of yesterday afternoon they are mine, what a sweet bunch of girls, transported in a dog crate...approx. 65 miles, and one of them layed us a pretty green egg this morning! Thanks everyone for your help! Dawn