Winter is coming, will they keep laying??

[ronott1]

I'm not sure why so many people claim EEs aren't good layers. I have had them in my flock 4 times & they have always been prolific layers & laid through the winter etc. Just find it curious that so many have this problem.

EEs are going to be very different because some are from hatcheries and some are cull from breeders with Ameraucanas. They are very different beasts but are called the same thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not sure why so many people claim EEs aren't good layers.  I have had them in my flock 4 times & they have always been prolific layers & laid through the winter etc.  Just find it curious that so many have this problem.

Cindy it’s because the term EE doesn’t mean much other than they might have the blue egg gene. There are no standards for appearance, behavior, or productivity. It is about as descriptive as the term “mutt chicken” except there is a possibility (not a guarantee) that the hen might lay a blue or green egg.

Different hatcheries have their own EE flocks though most call them Ameraucana or Araucana. Some hatcheries, like Cackle, have had their colored egg laying flocks since before the Ameraucana was even recognized as a breed. Each individual hatchery has different people selecting which chickens get to breed so there are differences in the individual hatcheries. Some can lay really well, some not so much, depending on the criteria the person selecting breeders uses.

Then you have the EE’s that come from us. I’ve developed mine by using good egg laying breeds so mine lay really well. I need to work on egg size a bit but the number of eggs is really good. Some people use decorative breed roosters to make their EE’s. These typically don’t lay very well though there can be exceptions. Once they get an EE flock (or some EE’s in the flock) some people select for good egg layers when they select breeders, some choose their breeders for other reasons.

I see comments all the time that EE’s will have pea combs or color legs, will be small, won’t lay well, won’t go broody, all that. I’ve even seen where someone said all EE’s have some white feathers. The few she got from a hatchery all had white so she assumed all EE’s have to have at least some white. My first EE was solid red, had yellow legs, had a single comb, laid a large blue egg practically every day, and went broody and raised some chicks for me.

There are no standards for what makes an EE other than the possibility of colored eggs. It’s no wonder they can be all over the board.

 

[Blooie]

I'm not sure why so many people claim EEs aren't good layers. I have had them in my flock 4 times & they have always been prolific layers & laid through the winter etc. Just find it curious that so many have this problem.

I've found the same thing to be true with mine. I had 5. All but one laid steadily through the winter, and she would have except she kept decided she just had to be broody. I like them so much I added 4 more EEs this spring and now that they are laying they are doing just great. All hatchery birds. The only quitter I have is Daphne. I'm very happy with them.

 

[aart]

Quote: Ditto Dat^^

I like to add the light in the morning, so they can go to roost with the natural sunset.

 

[AZGurl]

I've found the same thing to be true with mine. I had 5. All but one laid steadily through the winter, and she would have except she kept decided she just had to be broody. I like them so much I added 4 more EEs this spring and now that they are laying they are doing just great. All hatchery birds. The only quitter I have is Daphne. I'm very happy with them.

I love my EE girls! They are so personable and good producers. I was originally told they were buff orpington but as they grew, it was apparent they were Americanas (sp?). Then I posted some pics and everyone said, no, they are EE's. Here's
my Thelma. She's not laying yet but very vocal. Every time I come outside in the yard, she announces my arrival!