Only in America-na someone explain to me the differernce!

[Brytsss]

I hear people all over use terms like purebred Ameracauna, Easter Egger, Americana. I thought EE were just mixed breed chickens that laid colored eggs. Anyone who can clearly explain with pictures would be really helpful. I feel like some breeders around me are just trying to make top dollar for a chicken that maynot be what they are saying. Also what breeds come with muffs and beards?

 

[Michael OShay]

Ameraucanas are a pure breed recognized by the American Poultry Association that conforms to defined standard. You can see the defined standards for them at http://www.ameraucana.org/standard.html. Easter Eggers are hybrids that are produced by crossing blue egg layers (often Ameraucanas) with brown eggs layers to produce offspring that lay eggs in colors other than just blue (olive, green, beige, and sometimes even pale pink). Because they are hybrids, Easter Eggers (unlike Ameraucanas do not conform to any set standards). There is a good article at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/09/ameraucana-easter-egger-or-araucana.html explaining the difference between Ameraucanas, Araucanas, and Easter Eggers. Hopefully, this will help clarify things for you. )

Thank you for all the info that clears it up for sure!

 

[Brytsss]

Thank you for all the info that clears it up for sure!

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you for all the info that clears it up for sure!

You're welcome. I made a couple of typos in my post, but I have edited it and it should make more sense now. )

 

[enola]

Americana is a word that hatcheries have made up to try to persuade buyers they are getting a "breed" of chicken that lays colored eggs. There really is no such thing as an Americana. You are either buying Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers.

 

[Michael OShay]

Americana is a word that hatcheries have made up to try to persuade buyers they are getting a "breed" of chicken that lays colored eggs. There really is no such thing as an Americana. You are either buying Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers.

Besides "Americana," another misspelled variation on "Amerauana" you will see by hatcheries is "Americauna." When you see birds sold under these misspelled variations on "Ameraucana" they are selling Easter Eggers.

 

[Brytsss]

It would be nice if they could just avoid the confusion and call them EE then!

 

[Michael OShay]

It would be nice if they could just avoid the confusion and call them EE then!

I agree. Unfortunately it's a dishonest sales tactic on their part.

 

[enola]

And it is a tactic that unknowing newbies fall for all the time. It just makes me sick everytime someone posts pictures of their hens, thinking the have raised a flock of "ameraucanas" only to find out they have Easter Eggers.