The True Truth: How to tell an Easter Egger from an Ameraucana. Even if you think you have an Ameraucana, do check!

[Phaedra Geiermann]

Great post! Hope it helps all those folks out there who continue to confuse the two.

I had two Easter Eggers in a past life, Galaxy and Nebula who were the most gorgeous chickens and both laid pale green eggs.

Galaxy and Nebula! I love their names!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

They look like white ameraucanas so far.

Easter egger, great job rescuing her!

Hi I was wondering how you can tell she’s an EE? I really don’t know much about them but is it possible she could be a mix between a silver ameraucana and a red brown ameraucana? Or what else would she be a mix of?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Awesome thank you… even the 2 with gray/blue on their heads, chest & upper back are considered white?
I hate that their adorable little muffs aren’t visible in the pics, they are white on all

I don’t see blue feathers in the picture, just white ones.

Hi I was wondering how you can tell she’s an EE? I really don’t know much about them but is it possible she could be a mix between a silver ameraucana and a red brown ameraucana? Or what else would she be a mix of?

Red brown x silver wouldn’t produce a coloring like that. Also, she has a large pea comb, meaning she has one recessive single comb gene. A purebred ameraucana be pure for the pea comb gene. She’s an Easter egger x Easter egger mix.

 

[Bananer86]

I don’t see blue feathers in the picture, just white ones.

Red brown x silver wouldn’t produce a coloring like that. Also, she has a large pea comb, meaning she has one recessive single comb gene. A purebred ameraucana be pure for the pea comb gene. She’s an Easter egger x Easter egger mix.

With it being down would it change to white?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

With it being down would it change to white?

You’re right, they could be whites or splashes.

 

[cluckingheck]

My very, very sneaky EEs ( I think ). The only thing in my rooster is his leakage and his pea comb is a messed up, but his legs are slate, feet are white & his body shape is very nice, in my opinion.

and here’s my hen ( from the same ‘breeder’ ):

here’s her egg:

 

[TheOddOneOut]

My very, very sneaky EEs ( I think ). The only thing in my rooster is his leakage and his pea comb is a messed up, but his legs are slate, feet are white & his body shape is very nice, in my opinion. View attachment 2753782View attachment 2753779

and here’s my hen ( from the same ‘breeder’ ):
View attachment 2753794View attachment 2753797View attachment 2753798
here’s her egg:
View attachment 2753792View attachment 2753796

She’s very cute!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Here’s one of my girls. She plucked out her own beard for some reason.

 

[cakedoctor78]

Ok. I have seen too many posts with people saying "Here's my pure Americana (note the spelling) what color is it?" The pic is always of a beautiful EE.

So here goes: THESE TRAITS are what determine whether yours is the rare pure Ameraucana...or the very common EE!
(EEs are mixes that lay Blue/green and often resemble the pure breed Ameraucana, and are sold as such A LOT.)

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

#1: Colorations
Here I will show some pics of EE colors vs Ameraucana colors.
Ameraucanas come in solid colors; black, blue, silver, wheaten, and a few more. Don't be fooled by your brain going "hey, mine looks wheaten!"
Here's an EE pattern similar to wheaten vs the real color:
EE:
View attachment 2367240
Ameraucana:
View attachment 2367241
See the difference?
Here are some common EE colors. THESE ARE NOT COLORS YOU FIND IN AMERAUCANAS!

View attachment 2367243View attachment 2367851View attachment 2367853


View attachment 2367242
View attachment 2367244View attachment 2367245
NEXT: LEGS.
I'll give it to you straight: Ameraucanas never have green legs. Or yellow. Or whatever. They only have slate, with pink skin underneath. So if your "ameraucana" has purdy lil' green feet, rethink what you're calling her.

NEXT: COMB. Ameraucanas always have pea combs. None of those weird lopsided modified peas, or a single, or anything. Only a normal pea comb.
Modified pea:View attachment 2367246
NEXT: Eggs.
Ameraucanas lay blue. EEs lay blue/aqua/green/sometimes pink.
If you're getting brown green or aqua, you've got yourself an EE.
Blue, likely still an EE.

NEXT: Source. Did you buy from a feed store or hacthery? Was it under 20$ per chick? If so, EE.

Hope this helps, y'all. My two EEs are some of the best things that ever happened to me, and I hope it's the same for you.
If you read through this and still aren't sure, I can tell you if you post a pic.
Good luck!

What is this?? Laid a blue egg

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

View attachment 4185473What is this?? Laid a blue egg

Easter egger