Please help with probable Easter Eggers breed/gender

indiefoxfarm

Chirping
Aug 13, 2018
42
77
79
Ohio
I am new to chickens and just acquired two from a neighbor. I'd like some input on their breed and gender. It's been suggested that they are Easter Eggers, and one has been laying blue eggs (not sure which one). They don't have names yet, so I'll just refer to them as Chicken 1 and Chicken 2 :p And sorry for the photo quality, they're still a bit skittish around us so it was tricky to get good ones. If you don't mind, please include the "why" to your answer as I'm a newbie and would like to learn more!

Chicken 1:

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Chicken 2:

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img_1173-jpg.1504873

img_1176-jpg.1504876


And here was today's egg from one of them: :ya

img_1170-jpg.1504870


Thanks in advance!
 

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Thank you!! How can you tell that the reddish one is the one that's laying?
When hens get close to laying, their combs and wattles get big and red. When they stop laying, they get pale. your reddish hen has a large, red comb. Plus, I didnt see anything red on your other one, so it was pretty obvious.
 
Oh, and I forgot to put the why for my answers! :-!
How to tell pullet/cockerel:
At 6-8 weeks (for most breeds) cockerel's combs/waddles will get bigger and redden. Pullet's will stay orangeish and small. At 12 weeks, males will develop pointy saddle and hackle feathers. Pullets feathers will be rounded.
How I know they were EEs
EEs are mixed breeds that usually have Ameraucana in them. They usually have greenish legs/feet, and are usually not a recognized color. they may or may not have a beard/muff. They may have a pea or single comb. They can lay blue, green, pink, white, or brown eggs.
Ameraucans (note the spelling. Anything other is a EE) are a real breed, are always recognized colors, have a beard /muffs, have a pea comb, have blue/gray legs, and always lay blue eggs.
Araucanas are a real breed. In the US, they are rumpless, are always recognized colors, have pea combs, have ear tufts, and lay blue eggs.

Hatcheries and stores most often get the names mixed up. Americana is a common name that is used for EEs. Sometimes they even use the real name Ameraucana, for EEs. So you have to be careful. But, if they are true Ameraucanas, the color variety will always be listed. If not, they are EEs.
 
Oh, and I forgot to put the why for my answers! :-!
How to tell pullet/cockerel:
At 6-8 weeks (for most breeds) cockerel's combs/waddles will get bigger and redden. Pullet's will stay orangeish and small. At 12 weeks, males will develop pointy saddle and hackle feathers. Pullets feathers will be rounded.
How I know they were EEs
EEs are mixed breeds that usually have Ameraucana in them. They usually have greenish legs/feet, and are usually not a recognized color. they may or may not have a beard/muff. They may have a pea or single comb. They can lay blue, green, pink, white, or brown eggs.
Ameraucans (note the spelling. Anything other is a EE) are a real breed, are always recognized colors, have a beard /muffs, have a pea comb, have blue/gray legs, and always lay blue eggs.
Araucanas are a real breed. In the US, they are rumpless, are always recognized colors, have pea combs, have ear tufts, and lay blue eggs.

Hatcheries and stores most often get the names mixed up. Americana is a common name that is used for EEs. Sometimes they even use the real name Ameraucana, for EEs. So you have to be careful. But, if they are true Ameraucanas, the color variety will always be listed. If not, they are EEs.

Thanks so much for the additional info! :wee
 
Yes, both are EEs rather than true Ameraucanas and pullets for the reasons Crazy brought up. :) Although from my understanding, true Ameraucana wasn't used in the creation of the Easter Eggers we buy from hatcheries today.

Another thing I will add is that their plumage coloration is highly female specific. :D EE cockerels usually have solid wing bars and brighter plumage than their pullet counterparts.

~Alex
 
Yes, both are EEs rather than true Ameraucanas and pullets for the reasons Crazy brought up. :) Although from my understanding, true Ameraucana wasn't used in the creation of the Easter Eggers we buy from hatcheries today.

Another thing I will add is that their plumage coloration is highly female specific. :D EE cockerels usually have solid wing bars and brighter plumage than their pullet counterparts.

~Alex

Thank you for your input! :D
 

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