I am still looking around and learning and would like to solicit your opinions. I see far more ads for \"americana\" or \"easter egger\" (or any compilation of the terms) than I do for honest-to-God Ameraucanas. Then, some of the ads I do see for Ameraucanas show multiple photos of the birds but no photos of the eggs. While I realize that standardization of the body type is essential to the breed and each variety, in my limited opinion, the egg colour, shape, size, and rate of lay should be paramount. When comparing the \"common easter egger\" to a pedigreed stock, is it possible to make generalizations on any of those qualities?
The two \"ameraucana types\" that I have (I inherited several months ago) were bought at a local feed store most likely supplied by Ideal. They are nice hens that look very much like the red-brown that I see pictured on the homepage. They lay a large size egg pretty reliably one a day. If I were to want to change anything, I would think they could be more round and less eliptical. But... here is my question: As a small time hobbyist mostly concerned with egg production, is there benefit to seeking out the purer Ameraucanas than going with the more of what I already have? Are the purebred Ameraucanas as prolific layers as the ones I have? Are certain varieties more prolific or layers of larger eggs than others? Is there any guarantee that buying from ebay or eggbid will have any purer a bird than the hatcheries? I had more or less settled on Ameraucana over the Aracauna because I thought I had learned that the Ameraucana lays more and larger eggs, is that true?
Also, in crossing, what is the eggshell colour when crossed with some of the pale brown layers (Favorelle, Sussex...??) or white eggs? Is this where some of the atypical looking birds thay lay bluish eggs come from?
I must say, that of my assortment of hand-me-down hens, the ameraucana types are some of the most interactive and trusting. Is that typical of purebreds as well?
Thanks for any input.