First off, you are far from alone in being sold an Easter egger as an Ameraucana. Unfortunately, hatcheries and backyard breeders do this all the time. There are lots of differences although they are subtle. The main thing is that true Ameraucanas will always be sold as a color variety. If a hatchery is selling black, blue, lavender, wheaten, blue wheaten, white, buff or brown red Ameraucanas then you can be reasonably sure that they are purebred, not Easter eggers. If someone is just selling Ameraucanas without the color variety named first then they will nearly always be Easter eggers, and mixed colors. Ameraucanas also have white skin, blue legs, large beards and muffs, and pea combs. Easter eggers are variable but usually have yellow skin, green legs, and may or may not have a beard and a pea comb. Hope that helps! Remember that you get what you pay for, too. Easter eggers are cheaper than purebred Ameraucanas.
