Chicken Breed Focus - Ameraucana

[sumi]

The Ameraucana is an American breed of chicken developed in the USA in the 1970s. It was derived from chickens brought from South America (Chile) that carried the blue egg gene and was bred to maintain the blue egg colour gene of that breed. There is also an Ameraucana bantam variety and both the LF and bantam variety were added to the APA Standard of Perfection (SOP) in 1984. Recognised varieties are: Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, White.

The Ameraucana is one of the few chicken breeds to lay blue eggs, another being the Cream Legbar, which also have an Araucana influence. The Ameraucana breed shows many similarities to the Araucana breed, such as pea combs and of course the blue egg gene. The Araucana however has earmuffs and is rumpless, whereas the Ameraucana has a tail and is muffed and bearded. Their earlobes are small and round, wattles small or absent, earlobes, comb and wattles are all red. Their shanks are slate-blue, (tending to black in the Black variety). In Australia and UK both Ameraucana and Araucana breeds are viewed as varieties of the Araucana - tailed and rumpless.
Less rare than Araucanas, Ameraucana are still considered quite rare. They are often confused with Easter Eggers (EE's are often advertised and sold as Ameraucanas), which can lay blue AND green eggs. Differences Between EEs, Ameraucanas, and Araucanas

Details:

Breed purpose: Dual Purpose
Comb Type: Pea
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: All Climates
Egg Productivity: Medium
Egg Size: Medium
Egg Colour: Blue



Rooster - Pic by @Silver Spring Farm


Hen - Pic by @Dearest


Eggs - Pic by @FLF

Breed page: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/ameraucana

Ameraucana breeders and owners, please tell us about your experiences with this breed and please show off your birds!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[Kelsie2290]

Nice introduction Sumi, gotta love those blue egg layers. Have to throw in a thumbs up to the bantam Ameraucana, nice little birds, really good egg layers for a bantam, would say they lay over 200 eggs a year, color is usually a greenish blue, they are not terrible broody and easy to discourage if they do, sweet birds, no trouble with the flock,,, only real negative I can think of is they are good flyers and have a tendency to want to roost in trees (though they are at least smart enough to go in the coop when the weather gets bad).
Little Lavender girl (lavender is not a recognized color by the breed club).

 

[Euarto Gullible]

Plavko, my Blue Ameraucana cockerel.

 

[shirleywillis]

 

[sumi]

Plavko, my Blue Ameraucana cockerel.

He's beautiful!

 

[chickwhispers]

Thanks for doing the Breed Focus! Love that I can learn about different breeds and get others input in one spot!


My Blue Splash Ameraucana.
I don't care if her color isn't perfect, she gives me almost perfectly round blue eggs!

 

[tmcc888]

I breed and raise Wheaton Ameraucanas in Southern Ontario Canada. I prefer this coulour as they have a sex linked colour gene that allows for very early sexing. As early as 5-6 days old. I invested in this breed for their tolerance to cold weather as we have some nasty winters here. Mine free range and come in at night but I never provide a heat source. They are tough birds and great layers. I dont expect them to lay a lot in winter months as I prefer them to keep their calories for keeping warm. I have had one go broody and she was a FANTASTIC mother. I typically use bantam cochins to raise the chicks tho. My breeding roo is so sweet and wonderful. He is 5 years old now and I have not ever messed with what mother nature blessed him with. Wings in tact and Huge spurs. He is gentle enough to be handled and eat out of my hand and man enough to battle raccoons and hawks (ive seen it with my own eyes) while I ran to get a broom or a pellet gun to back him up. He has never needed my assistance. I love him more than words can say. He builds nests for his girls and always feeds them the best morsels of food.

The only negative I can say is the "Other Breeders" that are so hardcore they will call your stock EE's if the colour isnt right. I breed a lot of purebred birds from good quality breeding stock. I have a brown red hen that has given me many stunning Pullets that have muffs and beards but comes out llike a brown wheaton and conforms everyway but colour and other ameraucana breeders just get plain NASTY. I have decided to not get tangled in that web and continue to keep the brown wheaton girls too. None of my customers have ever complained.


I am happy to see this is a featured breed. I put a lot of time effort and love into the chicks I raise. And am proud to be the only Wheaton Ameraucana breeder in Canada

 

[lizzychick]

I ordered a blue ameraucana from meyer hatchery. I actually would love a splash, but they only sell blue with a chance for splash or black. What I'm really waiting for is beautiful blue eggs! We have had the chicks for two days and she is everyone's favorite. Great personality already.

 

[bhaugh]

I bought wheatens this year to try something different. I ended up with two pullets but sold one. She was ill tempered. This is Joany and I think lovely.

 

[RubyPriestess]

I've really been enjoying see all the Ameraucana bird photos (and hope to see more) but could someone please post a photo of the blue eggs they are getting from these girls?

X2 Yes, please! We have to see some of those gorgeous eggs too.

Here was the first egg I received from my hen when she began laying!
In comparison to one of my Buff Orpington's egg...



From then on, my Ameraucana hen has laid very light 'Robin Egg Blue' colored eggs just about every other day or so.