Frazzemrat1
Free Ranging
there's some small differences, and some big ones... here:
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.
