Why don't my "Ameraucanas" have the beard and muff feathers? I bought the chicks from Southern Stat

[OliveGrace]

Sorry... Anyway! I purchased them as chicks from the Southern States at Easter. We have just moved into a home that had a chicken coop so I couldn't wait to get my first chicks. I purchased the two supposedly Ameraucanas and one barred rock who is so smart. Here are there photos. The brown and black one is Emma and the tan/grey/lavender one is Eleanore. These pullets are 4 months old. Do they develop the cheeks later?

Thanks

 

[BlackHackle]

Sorry... Anyway! I purchased them as chicks from the Southern States at Easter. We have just moved into a home that had a chicken coop so I couldn't wait to get my first chicks. I purchased the two supposedly Ameraucanas and one barred rock who is so smart. Here are there photos. The brown and black one is Emma and the tan/grey/lavender one is Eleanore. These pullets are 4 months old. Do they develop the cheeks later?

Thanks

They weren't Ameraucanas, they are Easter Eggers. Some people call those birds Ameraucanas for some unknown reason

 

[Arya28]

Yeah... the are not purebred Ameraucanas. They are Easter Eggers. Easter Eggers are bred from Ameraucanas, so they still lay colored eggs, but they are definitely not purebred. For example, one of our Easter Eggers was bred from a Rhode Island Red and an Ameraucana. She lays beautiful green eggs. She even has a beard and muffs, but she still isn't purebred. Our other Easter Egger girl lays gorgeous blue eggs. So you will probably still get some really pretty eggs from them, just don't breed them for show and then label them Ameraucana!

 

[Zinjifrah]

I'm afraid the muffs come in pretty much at hatching, at least going by this chick - Easter Egger x Cochin;

It also depends on what was used to make the Easter Egger, I think. Generally, you won't find a genuine Ameraucana anywhere but a breeder, and a few select hatcheries, and when you do they're sold by the specific color. Here's a good article on them;

https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/12/ameraucana-vs-araucana-vs-easter-egger.html

 

[FowlStuff]

Consider joining our Ameraucana Alliance to get the whole story and more. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary. Memberships start at just $10 and include a 40+ page Ameraucana Handbook to 1st time members!

 

[Hamiam]

Consider joining our Ameraucana Alliance to get the whole story and more. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary. Memberships start at just $10 and include a 40+ page Ameraucana Handbook to 1st time members!

I've got a lot of research to do still. I'm trying to decide if I will get Cream Legbar or Ameraucana to breed with my Black Copper Marans. I'm going for the dark green eggs! Do you have an opinion you can share?

 

[Arya28]

I've got a lot of research to do still. I'm trying to decide if I will get Cream Legbar or Ameraucana to breed with my Black Copper Marans. I'm going for the dark green eggs! Do you have an opinion you can share?

We bred our Blue Copper Marans hen with our Cream Legbar rooster, and their baby lays the prettiest deep olive eggs We actually just hatched eggs from her, the baby, that are fertilized by our Black Copper Marans rooster, so those should be interesting. Like really really dark green brown.

 

[Hamiam]

We bred our Blue Copper Marans hen with our Cream Legbar rooster, and their baby lays the prettiest deep olive eggs We actually just hatched eggs from her, the baby, that are fertilized by our Black Copper Marans rooster, so those should be interesting. Like really really dark green brown.

If you had to choose Cream Legbars vs Ameraucanas, which would you choose & why?

 

[OliveGrace]

They weren't Ameraucanas, they are Easter Eggers. Some people call those birds Ameraucanas for some unknown reason

Oh... I love them all the same but because I can only have a small number of chickens I am sad that I didn't get the Ameraucanas I was hoping for. Thanks

 

[OliveGrace]

Yeah... the are not purebred Ameraucanas. They are Easter Eggers. Easter Eggers are bred from Ameraucanas, so they still lay colored eggs, but they are definitely not purebred. For example, one of our Easter Eggers was bred from a Rhode Island Red and an Ameraucana. She lays beautiful green eggs. She even has a beard and muffs, but she still isn't purebred. Our other Easter Egger girl lays gorgeous blue eggs. So you will probably still get some really pretty eggs from them, just don't breed them for show and then label them Ameraucana!

Thanks so much for the info. I can't wait for the first eggs!