Easter Egger vs Ameraucana: What's the Difference?
Easter Egger and Ameraucana chickens get confused constantly. Here's exactly how to tell them apart, the egg color truth, and which is right for you.
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These two breeds get confused constantly, and feed stores happily make the confusion worse. A chick sold as an "Ameraucana" at the local Tractor Supply is almost certainly an Easter Egger. A true purebred Ameraucana is rare, expensive, and only sold by serious breeders. The two birds look similar, both can lay blue eggs, and both are popular for the same reasons. But they are not the same bird.
This guide walks through the actual differences, why the mislabeling happens, and which one is the right pick for your backyard.
What You'll Learn
- •The short answer
- •What is an Easter Egger, really?
- •What is a true Ameraucana?
- •Side-by-side comparison
- •Why feed stores mislabel them
- •Egg color: the truth
- •Which should you buy?
- •FAQ
The Short Answer
Easter Egger: A mixed-breed chicken carrying the blue egg gene. Not a true breed. Comes in any color, lays blue, green, olive, or pink eggs depending on genetics, costs $4 to $8 per chick, and is sold at every feed store in spring. Great backyard bird.
Ameraucana: A true purebred recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA). Comes in 8 specific accepted color varieties, lays consistent blue eggs, costs $10 to $25 per chick, and is almost never sold at feed stores. Found through specialty breeders.
If you want blue eggs and a hardy backyard bird, an Easter Egger does the job at half the price. If you want a true purebred for show, breeding, or guaranteed consistent traits, you need a real Ameraucana.
What Is an Easter Egger, Really?
An Easter Egger is not a recognized breed. It is a mixed-breed chicken descended from any breed carrying the blue egg gene (originally from Ameraucanas and Araucanas) crossed with another breed. The result is a hardy, variable-looking bird that may or may not lay a blue egg depending on what genes she inherited.
Visual traits:
- •Highly variable. Any feather color, pattern, or comb type.
- •Often has muffs and a beard (puffy face feathers).
- •Often has slate-blue or green legs.
- •Adult weight 4 to 5 pounds.
Egg color:
- •About 80 percent lay blue, green, or olive eggs.
- •Some lay pink, cream, or even brown eggs.
- •Each individual hen lays only one color her entire life; she does not vary day to day.
Temperament: Friendly, curious, good with kids. Most Easter Eggers are easy keepers and tolerate confinement well.
Cost: $4 to $8 per chick at feed stores. The most common "blue egg layer" in US backyards.
See our full Easter Egger breed guide for more depth on temperament, egg production, and care.
What Is a True Ameraucana?
The Ameraucana is a true breed developed in the United States in the 1970s from the Araucana (a South American breed that lays blue eggs). The APA officially recognized the Ameraucana in 1984, with strict standards covering feather pattern, comb type, leg color, and egg color.
Visual traits (per APA standard):
- •Eight accepted color varieties: Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, White
- •Pea comb (small, three-row comb, not a single comb)
- •Slate-blue legs (not yellow, not green)
- •Muffs and beard (required, not optional)
- •No tail tuft (this distinguishes them from Araucanas)
- •Adult weight 5.5 to 6.5 pounds
Egg color:
- •Consistent sky-blue eggs.
- •All true Ameraucanas lay blue. If yours lays green or olive, it's an Easter Egger.
Temperament: Calm, alert, sometimes a bit standoffish compared to Easter Eggers. They tolerate cold weather well due to the pea comb (less frostbite risk).
Cost: $10 to $25 per chick from a recognized breeder, plus shipping. Some show-quality birds cost $40+. Almost never found at feed stores.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Easter Egger | Ameraucana |
|---|---|---|
| APA recognized? | No | Yes |
| True breed? | No (mixed) | Yes |
| Egg color | Blue, green, olive, pink, or cream | Sky blue only |
| Egg consistency | Variable per bird | Consistent |
| Color varieties | Any | 8 specific (per APA) |
| Comb type | Any | Pea comb only |
| Beard and muffs | Common but not required | Required |
| Leg color | Slate, green, yellow, or willow | Slate blue only |
| Adult weight | 4 to 5 lbs | 5.5 to 6.5 lbs |
| Eggs per year | 200 to 280 | 200 to 260 |
| Cold-hardy | Yes | Yes (better, pea comb) |
| Heat-tolerant | Yes | Moderate |
| Cost per chick | $4 to $8 | $10 to $25 |
| Where to buy | Feed stores, most hatcheries | Specialty breeders |
Why Feed Stores Mislabel Them
Walk into Tractor Supply in March and the chick bins are labeled "Ameraucana" or "Americana." Almost none of those chicks are actually Ameraucanas. Here's why:
- •
True Ameraucanas are hard to produce at scale. They require breeding programs that maintain APA standards. Most large hatcheries don't bother because the market for true Ameraucanas is small.
- •
"Americana" is a marketing term. Some hatcheries spell it "Americana" specifically because they know it's not a real breed name, so they can't be accused of misrepresenting the bird. It's basically a wink that says "this is an Easter Egger."
- •
Customers want blue eggs. Most buyers don't care about breed purity. They want a hardy hen that lays a blue egg. Easter Eggers do that for half the price.
- •
Easter Eggers are easier to mass-produce. Cross a blue-egg-gene carrier with any other breed and you get an Easter Egger. The genetics are simple.
The result: nearly every "Ameraucana" chick sold at a major retailer is an Easter Egger. If you bought one and you're trying to figure out which you have, check the egg color (Easter Egger varies, Ameraucana is consistent blue), leg color (Easter Egger varies, Ameraucana is slate blue), and breed standard appearance (Easter Egger is random, Ameraucana fits one of 8 specific patterns).
Egg Color: The Truth
Both breeds carry the blue egg gene, but how that plays out differs.
Easter Egger eggs: A given hen lays one color her entire life, but that color varies hen to hen. Some lay sky blue. Others lay sage green. Others lay olive. A few lay pinkish-cream. You won't know what you're getting until your hen starts laying around 18 to 24 weeks. The "rainbow basket" effect that makes Easter Eggers famous comes from having multiple hens, each laying a different color.
Ameraucana eggs: Every true Ameraucana lays sky-blue eggs. The color is consistent. If you bought your "Ameraucana" and she lays green, olive, or anything other than blue, she's an Easter Egger.
Neither breed lays "Easter eggs" in the sense of multi-colored eggs from one hen. Each hen lays one color throughout her life.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy Easter Eggers if you...
- •Want blue or colored eggs without paying a premium
- •Are starting a backyard flock for eggs and family enjoyment
- •Don't care about breed purity or show quality
- •Want hens that are easy to find at any feed store
- •Have a small flock budget
For most backyard keepers, Easter Eggers are the right answer. They look beautiful, lay colored eggs, and are widely available. Our Easter Egger breed guide covers care specifics.
Buy true Ameraucanas if you...
- •Want consistent sky-blue eggs (not variable colors)
- •Plan to show birds at APA-sanctioned poultry shows
- •Want to start a breeding program for true Ameraucanas
- •Live in a very cold climate (the pea comb resists frostbite better)
- •Want a calm, slightly larger bird with a clear breed standard
For show breeders and serious hobbyists, the price difference is worth it. For most backyard keepers, it isn't.
What about the Olive Egger?
Olive Eggers are another related option: a cross between a blue-egg layer (Ameraucana or Easter Egger) and a dark-brown-egg layer (Marans or Welsummer). The result is hens that lay olive or moss-green eggs. They are sometimes confused with Easter Eggers laying olive eggs, but Olive Eggers are bred specifically for that egg color. Worth knowing about if you want guaranteed olive eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Easter Egger the same as an Ameraucana?
No. An Easter Egger is a mixed-breed chicken that carries the blue egg gene. An Ameraucana is a specific true breed recognized by the American Poultry Association. They look similar and both can lay blue eggs, but they are different birds.
How can I tell if I have an Easter Egger or an Ameraucana?
Three checks: (1) Egg color (Easter Egger varies hen to hen, Ameraucana is always sky blue), (2) Leg color (Ameraucana is slate blue only, Easter Egger varies), (3) Where you bought her (feed store = almost certainly Easter Egger; specialty breeder = could be either). If she has yellow legs, lays green eggs, or has a single comb, she's an Easter Egger.
Do Easter Eggers always lay blue eggs?
No. About 80 percent lay blue, green, or olive eggs. Some lay pink, cream, or even brown. Each hen lays one color her whole life, so you'll know what you got once she starts laying around 18 to 24 weeks old.
Do Ameraucanas lay green eggs?
No. True Ameraucanas lay sky-blue eggs only. If your "Ameraucana" lays green eggs, she's an Easter Egger.
Is one friendlier than the other?
Generally, Easter Eggers are slightly more outgoing and Ameraucanas are slightly more reserved, but both are friendly enough for backyard families. Individual personality matters more than breed average; some Ameraucanas are lap chickens and some Easter Eggers are aloof.
How many eggs does each lay per year?
Easter Eggers: 200 to 280 eggs per year. Ameraucanas: 200 to 260 eggs per year. Both are good but not exceptional layers compared to production breeds like Leghorns or ISA Browns.
Where can I buy a real Ameraucana?
True Ameraucanas are sold by Ameraucana Breeders Club members and a handful of specialty hatcheries (Pampered Pullets, Foley's Ameraucanas, others). Expect to pay $10 to $25 per chick plus shipping. Avoid Tractor Supply and similar feed stores for true Ameraucanas; they'll be Easter Eggers despite the label.
Which is better for cold climates?
Ameraucanas have a slight edge in extreme cold because the pea comb resists frostbite better than the variable combs you see on Easter Eggers. Both are cold-hardy enough for most of the US, though. Our winter chicken care guide covers cold-weather management for either.
For most backyard keepers wanting colored eggs and a friendly flock, Easter Eggers are the practical choice. For show breeders or anyone wanting guaranteed sky-blue eggs from a true purebred, the extra cost of a real Ameraucana is justified. The most common mistake is paying Ameraucana prices for a feed-store "Americana" that is actually an Easter Egger.
For more on blue-egg breeds, see our Ameraucana breed guide and Easter Egger breed guide. For other top backyard layers, check our best egg laying breeds roundup.