Is My Hen An Amerucana or an Easter Egger?

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

This is him at 12 weeks.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

This is a complex breed issue I have seen discussed many times before. Basically EE and 'Amerucana' are the same and this is a kind of mixed breed anyway with no breed standard. Araucana is the other, similar breed but the breed standards are very different in the US and UK. For some reason almost everyone who asks if they have an EE or Araucana ends up having an EE.

From a US stand point, I'd have to disagree with you. Ameraucana are similar but different to EE, and primarily because most EE are Ameraucana crosses. Ameraucana have a breed standard they must adhere to, but EE do not. And Araucana (in the US) have a strict breed standard as well.
The problem is that many hatcheries over here at least, sell EEs as 'Americana' with the improper spelling or with the correct spelling. You have to be very careful with these purchases as they will leave clues in the description that its really an EE, but they'll try to pass them off. Same with the feed stores that buy their chicks from these hatcheries. Then, uneducated people buy them, believing them to be Ameraucana, and then breed them and sell them as Ameraucana.

Its a perpetual cycle, and the only way to break it is education, since the hatcheries won't change if they don't have to.


https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/12/ameraucana-vs-araucana-vs-easter-egger.html

AMERAUCANAS


Ameraucanas are a pure breed that has been recognized by the APA (American Poultry Association) since 1984. They were most likely originally bred from South American blue egg laying breeds but were developed and standardized in the United States. They come in eight distinct colors including, Blue, Black, White and Wheaten, which all share these distinct Ameraucana traits:

Peacomb

Muffs and beard

Red earlobes

Tail

Blue legs

White foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


ARAUCANAS

Araucanas are more rare than Amerauacanas and harder to find. They are also a pure breed and have been recognized by the APA since 1976. They originated in Chile most likely and come in five colors including black, white, duckwing silver and golden. Araucanas all share these distinct Araucana traits:

Peacomb

Ear tufts (this gene is lethal to developing chicks if inherited by both parents)

Red earlobes

Rumpless (no tail)

Green or willow-colored legs (Yellow on white birds)

Yellow foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


EASTER EGGERS

Easter Eggers are not a recognized breed. They are mongrels or mutts - mixed breed chickens that do possess the blue egg gene, but don't fully meet the breed specifications of either Araucanas or Ameraucanas. They can come in any color or combination of colors and share these traits:

Any kind of comb

Muffs/beard/ear tufts or none

Any color earlobes

Tail or tail-less

Any color legs

Any color foot bottoms

Can lay blue but also sometimes lay green, tan, pink or even yellow

So if you want to be guaranteed blue egg layers, you will want to raise some Araucanas or Ameraucanas; otherwise Easter Eggers are always fun because you never know what color egg each will lay until she starts laying, and even identical-looking hens often lay varying shades of bluish or greenish eggs.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Wow I did not know that. We got her from a local kahoots and I knew something was up when the chart said amerucanas and it showed blue green and pink eggs under the picture of them. But I’m fine with either breed

 

[PrettyChickens15]

From a US stand point, I'd have to disagree with you. Ameraucana are similar but different to EE, and primarily because most EE are Ameraucana crosses. Ameraucana have a breed standard they must adhere to, but EE do not. And Araucana (in the US) have a strict breed standard as well.
The problem is that many hatcheries over here at least, sell EEs as 'Americana' with the improper spelling or with the correct spelling. You have to be very careful with these purchases as they will leave clues in the description that its really an EE, but they'll try to pass them off. Same with the feed stores that buy their chicks from these hatcheries. Then, uneducated people buy them, believing them to be Ameraucana, and then breed them and sell them as Ameraucana.

Its a perpetual cycle, and the only way to break it is education, since the hatcheries won't change if they don't have to.


https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/12/ameraucana-vs-araucana-vs-easter-egger.html

AMERAUCANAS


Ameraucanas are a pure breed that has been recognized by the APA (American Poultry Association) since 1984. They were most likely originally bred from South American blue egg laying breeds but were developed and standardized in the United States. They come in eight distinct colors including, Blue, Black, White and Wheaten, which all share these distinct Ameraucana traits:

Peacomb

Muffs and beard

Red earlobes

Tail

Blue legs

White foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


ARAUCANAS

Araucanas are more rare than Amerauacanas and harder to find. They are also a pure breed and have been recognized by the APA since 1976. They originated in Chile most likely and come in five colors including black, white, duckwing silver and golden. Araucanas all share these distinct Araucana traits:

Peacomb

Ear tufts (this gene is lethal to developing chicks if inherited by both parents)

Red earlobes

Rumpless (no tail)

Green or willow-colored legs (Yellow on white birds)

Yellow foot bottoms

Always lay blue eggs


EASTER EGGERS

Easter Eggers are not a recognized breed. They are mongrels or mutts - mixed breed chickens that do possess the blue egg gene, but don't fully meet the breed specifications of either Araucanas or Ameraucanas. They can come in any color or combination of colors and share these traits:

Any kind of comb

Muffs/beard/ear tufts or none

Any color earlobes

Tail or tail-less

Any color legs

Any color foot bottoms

Can lay blue but also sometimes lay green, tan, pink or even yellow

So if you want to be guaranteed blue egg layers, you will want to raise some Araucanas or Ameraucanas; otherwise Easter Eggers are always fun because you never know what color egg each will lay until she starts laying, and even identical-looking hens often lay varying shades of bluish or greenish eggs.

I'm writing this down in my chicken jurnal

 

[Ayuki]

Aww, what a lovely little lady you have! I bet her eggs will be gorgeous!

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks! She is very beautiful and sweet!