Ameraucana

I have always been a fan of Ameraucanas. They come in gorgeous, vibrant colors. Their blue eggs are definitely a plus, and mine lay on a near daily basis.
The couple that I have mix well with the flock, and are fairly quiet. They are low maintenance, and as their comb is small (pea comb) they are resistant to cold winters. I would definitely recommend this as a starter chicken breed, since they are a really easy breed to own, and look beautiful.

The only "problem" I really have with the breed is that they tend to be a bit people shy. This might not be a problem for others, but as I show my birds it can be a bit challenging to prepare for shows and handling them for maintenance. It's also difficult, compared to other breeds, to find a nearby breeder that sells and shows quality birds. Many online hatcheries sell "Ameraucanas", but they're usually Easter Eggers or mutt Ameraucanas (colors crossed that create unaccepted variations). It's also not uncommon for Ameraucanas to have "leaks" in their coloration, such as red feathers found on a black Ameraucana.


If your intention is to have this breed for their eggs, then they are a great breed to invest in. However, if you're looking to show these birds it definitely requires some research in finding nice quality birds.

I dont understand the reviews on them being skittish, its called babying them! If you want a nice chicken you have to play with them and make them think youre the mother hen. I know I have, they call for me when i leave the room and just generally love being around me, I love it. Bottom line, dont listen to others saying this breed is skittish, they are very docile birds so if they say theyre skittish, its just how they raised them

I have one full Ameraucana (we named her Liberty) and she so far (two weeks) been a great bird. She was laying when we got her and despite the long hot caged car ride home (3 hours) she kept right on laying. Since we got her she lays about 3 days and then takes a day off. She lays very late in the day though. When we got her she had been the favorite among the Roo's and was missing most of the feathers on her back and back of her head. We doctored her up when we first got her as the skin was red and raw and she did fine. She doesn't like being caught...but once she is she settles down. She too (like my two EE's) isn't very concerned about treats and would rather forage. (Although everybody loves Mama's strawberry, banana, & mealworm popsicles.) She isn't aggressive to the rest of the flock, even my adolescents (she's about a year and a half old). She has established herself as the queen bee without being aggressive. She won't poop in the coop and holds it though the night until she is let out in the morning (You would think a large dog was in the run by the size of her poos). She does get pretty noisy when alarmed (which is good). She also gets loud before and after she lays! I guess she is announcing that she's gonna and then that she's done! So far I really enjoy her and being as she is the only hen that I have that is currently paying rent I'd have to rate her at the top of my flock!

I love our Ameraucana Cider. She looks after the other chicken,is a very good layer,and is pretty gentle. Although she doesn't like to be picked up,she won't struggle if I do.

Amazing birds will definitely get more

Mt Ameraucanas lay green and blue eggs which are nice non dyed Easter eggs! They lay a few times a week and are great foragers mainly eating grass, rolly polys and other bugs they find in the yard. They are great in the cold and warm seasons. They are smart and friendly and great for a small backyard flock!

We got our ameraucanas about two weeks ago and I love them! Our ameraucans, Mary, Georgie, and Caroline are all blue. Their plumage is absolutely gorgeous! And I love stroking their beards. They get along with the rest of the flock perfectly and I love going to the barn to collect eggs and finding blue ones. This is one of my favorite breeds!

Awesome birds. We've been keeping them for about six or seven years now. The one that we have left from our original batch (6-7 years old now) has since stopped laying eggs but in her younger days they all laid about 6 eggs a week in the first year. After that production slowed a little but we were still overrun with eggs from our 5 Ameraucanas and 1 Barred Rock.
They are a super gentle, friendly breed who come when they are called for a tasty treat and they will follow you around the yard if you let them. This has been my favorite breed so far (we have since gotten breeds of ducks and many other breeds of chickens) and their beautiful eggs will have all your neighbors wanting eggs. They certianly do add a splash of color to the egg basket in the morning!

our 13 ameracaunas are beautiful and good layers, never go broody, and are good foragers… one of my favorite breeds!

Beautiful chickens with easygoing dispositions. Hearty birds, we've had one that has survived 2 attacks by a hawk, fought the hawk and survived a brutal fox attack. These chickens lay all winter. Beautiful colors. Very friendly and distinct personalities. Not afraid of much. Have killed copperheads and eaten them.

Our family got three Wheaten Ameraucanas from a local hatchery. We got our birds a little late, so they were quite skittish and did not grow up with the rest of the flock (though they were introduced early enough we didn't have a problem with aggression).

Social Features: (3/5)
Our wheatens are the bottom of the pecking order and I don't believe it's necessarily their late introduction. They are smaller birds compared to Australorps and are easily pushed around; they don't seem prone to fighting back. Because of the more assertive nature of our Australorps, the wheatens did not integrate quickly with the flock, preferring to stay together and away from the other birds. They are much more likely to get along with laid back breeds, such as our Faverolles.
Whether or not they bond or want to interact with you is a coin-toss. One of our birds continues to be wary of us, while the other will literally hop on your shoulder and squawk up a storm in your ear. Neither of them peck at us and both will now feed from hand, but both are often pushed aside by the other birds.

Egg Laying Features: (3/5)
Our Ameraucanas started laying in late winter (8 or 9 months old) and initially started out as very dependable layers. They gave us an egg consistently every other day in sub-zero temperatures and snow. The eggs started of more of a seafoam green but have paled and become a bit more of a pure pastel blue over time. They are small to medium in size.
Recently, as temperatures have become more favorable (in the 60s and 70s), they have stopped laying almost all together. From the two birds we kept (one of the three was a rooster), we not get a single blue egg every 4 or 5 days. They have become our worst layers and it's rather unfortunate. Neither have shown any signs of being broody.

Climate Features: (4/5)
We live in the Salt Lake Valley area in Utah and get temperatures up in the 100s and down below freezing. It snows, it gets wet and muddy, it gets dry and hot, it blows up a storm. The wheatens have tolerated weather conditions nicely.
Clean legs mean they don't get muddied up too bad, but their muffs can get dirty from eating. They had no problems with frostbite and did not seem to mind the heat terribly.
These birds probably consume more than their fair share of food however. While they are light bodied, they have no foraging skills at all.

They lay big green/blue eggs. They tend to be lower in the pecking order. Ours really get beat up from our rooster. Our one is an egg eater. they are not all that friendly. They are my shyest birds.

Ameraucana's are very nice birds their pretty and cute. They aren't the friendliest to humans you can pet and pick them up. But you can't go right up to them and pick them up. Over all they are great birds! also great mothers!!!

I have a darling Ameraucana named Lana (after Lana Del Rey). She lays beautiful, creamy green colored eggs every day. The only problem I have with her is that she is skittish, but I'm sure this is just her and not the breed, as we got her at 4 months old and she had not had a lot of human contact. She is now 7 months old and getting friendlier every day!

I really enjoy my Ameraucanas. They are great birds and are absolutely gorgeous! I totally recommend them to everyone.

Good all around chicken. Mine lay large eggs almost every day all year long. (I live in NC and do not use additional lighting.) They are hardy and healthy, friendly and easy going. I have a mixed flock and also like Buff Orpingtons and Australthorps. These also laid a lot of eggs; however my Aussie died young I believe of heat stroke, and my Orpington died young of impaction. If I could have only one bird it would be the Ameraucana.

I have a white Ameraucana named Angel, and she is SO friendly! She follows me around and loves to be picked up and pet! She is very gentle with the little birds and is very pretty and soft. She is, however, very smart, and get get out of the coop in no time flat. I highly recommend them, and I think they are a great breed!!

I own one of these pretty birds....
if i get more hens....It would be that breed.

I have had Americana chickens before, but they died eventually. This year I will get new ones, starting as chicks. I am "eggcited" lol: haha egg pun, I couldn't help myself) about getting new chickens. It will be fun to have them again. They are great overall chickens.

I have had show Ameraucanas for a long time. Their fun personalities and hardiness never stops amazing me. I have had these hens and roosters pull out of some severe injuries very quickly and have a good recovery. These chickens are also the leaders of my flock. They lay very pretty blue eggs and are consistent good layers year around. These breeds are great for free ranging.