Is Penelope an Ameracauna rooster?

[Brittanyjohnson1986]

Spurs don't come in until later, and hens can have spurs as well as roosters. So, they aren't a very accurate way to sex chickens.

That chicken is a little young to tell gender, but nothing says cockerel to me yet. Also, it's an Easter egger.

Never knew that about the spurs every Rooster I've had have had spurs and none of my hens ever had but I'm in no way experienced lol was just trying to help her out with an idea. My ameracauna rooster always had a wider comb and spurs but my hens didn't have spurs.. I guess that's why I figured she can possibly look at that but I did figure he was young for them

 

[Jessi54]

Lots of hatcheries sell the EE under different names.

To me Americana is just a fancy name for Easter Egger.

Tractor supply is rather notorious for having no idea what they are selling or what a chick of one breed looks like compared to another.
I am actually surprised you got a colored egg laying breed when that is what you asked for.

Next year I may drive down to TSC and just say surprise me. Probably ending up with all males that way lol.

They were in a tub marked pullets but lots of different breeds. One lady knew how to tell them apart! Thanks for your help!☺

 

[21hens-incharge]

That is what BYC is all about, helping and sharing experiences.

 

[lazy gardener]

Y'all thanks! I am hopeful for a pullet! This has led to another question....I am fine with them being easter eggers, but why were they sold as Ameracauna? Did Tractor Supply think they were getting Ameracaunas?

The misnomer is perpetrated by the hatcheries. TSC simply puts up the breed labels according to what the hatchery says they send. The only hatchery i've found that is honest in their labeling (EE vs. Ameraucana) is Cackle. Kudos to them. FYI:

Araucana: Rumpless chicken that lays a blue egg (not a common breed at all) The rumpless trait carries a lethal gene.

Ameraucana: Bred to a standard of perfection with only specific colors accepted to the SOP. If you buy an Ameraucana, it will most likely come from a breeder, or it will be sold as a specific colored bird. Lays a blue egg.

Easter Egger: A mixed up mutt that should but does not always carry the blue egg gene. Hopefully, the EE will have the muff and beard, but that is not always the case. She will have wildly variable feather coloring. Her egg color could be blue, green, aqua, olive, any shade of brown. She will most likely be a better egg layer than either the Am or the Ar.

 

[Jessi54]

The misnomer is perpetrated by the hatcheries. TSC simply puts up the breed labels according to what the hatchery says they send. The only hatchery i've found that is honest in their labeling (EE vs. Ameraucana) is Cackle. Kudos to them. FYI:

Araucana: Rumpless chicken that lays a blue egg (not a common breed at all) The rumpless trait carries a lethal gene.

Ameraucana: Bred to a standard of perfection with only specific colors accepted to the SOP. If you buy an Ameraucana, it will most likely come from a breeder, or it will be sold as a specific colored bird. Lays a blue egg.

Easter Egger: A mixed up mutt that should but does not always carry the blue egg gene. Hopefully, the EE will have the muff and beard, but that is not always the case. She will have wildly variable feather coloring. Her egg color could be blue, green, aqua, olive, any shade of brown. She will most likely be a better egg layer than either the Am or the Ar.

So interesting! Thank you for taking the time to explain that!

 

[Redhead Rae]

The only hatchery i've found that is honest in their labeling (EE vs. Ameraucana) is Cackle. Kudos to them.

I love Cackle! I haven't ordered from many hatcheries, but I've found that the New Hampshire chicks I got from Cackle to be much better bred and generally healthier than the Buff Orpington chicks I got from another hatchery.

 

[coach723]

Ameraucana: Bred to a standard of perfection with only specific colors accepted to the SOP. If you buy an Ameraucana, it will most likely come from a breeder, or it will be sold as a specific colored bird. Lays a blue egg.

I agree with everyone's posts here, nearly always birds sold as "Ameraucana" will be "EE"s unless from a very reputable source.
I love my EE's and am not showing birds, so not an issue for me. I have lots of 'mutts'!
Because of the small combs and they tend to feather out a bit differently than some other breeds, it can take a little longer on them sometimes to determine whether a pullet or cockerel, I think you have a pullet.
Just wanted to pass on this link with pictures of the accepted colors of birds for the Ameraucana breed for reference. http://ameraucanaalliance.org/photos.html

 

[RedDrgn]

I got some Ameracauna pullets at Tractor Supply on August 11th. Penelope's tail is very different from the others. Could she be a rooster? Also her tufts of hair on her face are much bushier than the others. Is it too early to tell?View attachment 1140489 View attachment 1140486

Easter egger pullet; looks like one we had years ago. Eggers do seem to grow out their tail feathers a bit faster than some breeds, but unless you see long, thin, glossy, and pointed saddle or hackle feathers start to come in, you've got a lady.

 

[Jessi54]

I agree with everyone's posts here, nearly always birds sold as "Ameraucana" will be "EE"s unless from a very reputable source.
I love my EE's and am not showing birds, so not an issue for me. I have lots of 'mutts'!
Because of the small combs and they tend to feather out a bit differently than some other breeds, it can take a little longer on them sometimes to determine whether a pullet or cockerel, I think you have a pullet.
Just wanted to pass on this link with pictures of the accepted colors of birds for the Ameraucana breed for reference. http://ameraucanaalliance.org/photos.html

Thank you!

 

[Jessi54]

Easter egger pullet; looks like one we had years ago. Eggers do seem to grow out their tail feathers a bit faster than some breeds, but unless you see long, thin, glossy, and pointed saddle or hackle feathers start to come in, you've got a lady.

Thank you!