Ameraucana

Glad I read far enough to know you rated a mixed breed from a hatchery, not a true Ameraucana.

An Americana is a mix, an Easter egger...not the Ameraucana.

Yes, these pictures are Easter Eggers, Not Ameraucanas.

Pretty bird! I wanted an Ameraucana for the blue eggs, but I ended up with a Cream Legbar instead. She also flies well and has a bit of an attitude. Perhaps it comes with the blue-egg gene?

I think you are right. I could be wrong, but my recollection is that Cream Legbars are derived, in part, from Ameracaunas or Aracaunas--some active, flighty blue egg layer--plus two other breeds.

What is a Legbar? A cross between a leghorn and a barred rock?

Yup... Cold hardy. At least judging by the EEs and Americans I owned.
My first coop was built by sticking 2 of saplings in the ground and covered by a large poly tarp.
The rows were 10 feet apart and the saplings were spaced 4 feet for each other, bent towards then wound around each other to form a half loop. I tied(with baler twine) more saplings at 4 feet high on either side and another row at the top for support and put the tarp over the works.
I anchored the tarp with ropes thrown over top and pegged the rope into the ground(it got kinda windy in that field). The coop was 30 feet long and 7 feet high at the top of the arch.
It got kinda cold that winter as usual. -20 to -30 was the norm with a cpl of nights down to -40.
Not one frozen comb. Even their feet were fine. Roosts were also made from saplings. Wood rules.
No artificial heat either not even a light bulb. Lots of corn(high fat content).
Froze about 15-20% of the eggs though.
Tough little creatures.
Hens were easy to get along with too, as we're most of the roosters. Just 1 roo Leanard, was bossy and defensive to the point of chasing the kids. But that worked out fine because that spring he actually attacked some kinda hawk that wanted to make a lunch out of one of the hens. We kept that miserable little curse for 4 years till we moved to the city for a cpl years. Sold him with the flock. Don't recall ever finding out what finally happened to him.
All said, always wanted to but never owned pure Araucana, but if they are anything like their cousins, EE & Americana, personality wise as well as the eggs and cold hardiness and the fact this breed is on the watch list there are a host of reasons for keeping them.
With all the "problems related to raising Araucana my blessings go to any and all who chose to raise them.
I humbly say I didn't intend to write a novel. Just a bit excited is all.
Kudos to Araucana raisers

To RezChamp - So glad you had a good experience with your Ameraucanas or EEs. Just so people know the EEs are not a recognized APA breed but are cousins to the actual APA Ameraucanas. Now as for Araucanas my Ameraucana breeder also raised them. However I declined getting them because there are too many problems with them. Somehow nature doesn't like fluke or deformity breedings which is what Scots Dumpy, Araucanas, and Courtes-Pattes are. It's like breeding the severe undercut jaws of Bulldogs and Boxers - causes problems that in Mother Nature's natural breeding would never allow to survive or there are natural fertility problems to halt the continued propogation of the deformed species. I love chickens but my personal opinion is that I would rather have a hardy Olmec over a delicate Araucana in my flock. The Araucana eggs are also kind of small and not as large or prolific as the hardier Ameraucanas. Just passing on knowledge and not to offend. Smiles

For what it's worth...I don't think it's the breed. I have a Silver-Laced Wyandotte who is second hen and an Ameraucana who is top hen. My SLW is the one who bullies the younger girls and I know she does it to maintain her position in the pecking order. Both girls are fine with people and have no problems being handled but in my flock, the second hen won't hesitate to chase around the younger girls and if she gets them cornered she WILL peck at them until they run off. My younger girls are about 18 weeks old now and they've all been together for about 3 weeks. The attacks are happening with a lot less frequency now. They just needed time and hopefully your second hen has settled down a bit and is able to at least tolerate the younger girls.

Mixed breeds can have any look or disposition. It is not fair to discuss your mixed breed chickens just because they might have some Ameraucana in their background. Mine are very friendly and mix seamlessly with orps, wels, EEs and guineas. They are my favorite breed.

I've also had friendly Ameraucanas...my favorite past and present hen was an Ameraucana, I was simply saying that perhaps it's not about breed but about pecking order. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be able to share their experiences...that's the whole point of these reviews.

My comment was directed at the OP who is discussing her Easter eggers under the Ameraucana breed.

I have one Americauna and was excited to get her at first....I wanted my mix to be somewhat all the same (not sure why) but when we were catching them we caught the americauna easily and I just went with it as it was easier to get my birds together so I could get em home, The Americauna WAS the bully until the rooster fixed it....I really was thinking about getting rid of her because she was disruptive.....then a couple of the other girls had enough of her and again fixed the moody bird......now she is as sweet as can be....she just doesnt run the place now....she doesnt seem to get the same message as the rest.....when I put them back in the coop if I leave of something they all run right in and we play chase the Americauna...lol she is worth keep though. They can be odd birds I guess! thought it was just mine....she is messy and timid and at times causes a big mess compared to what should have been.

I just bought two more Ameraucana's. My first one, Edwina, is a lousy egg layer. This is the first year I got more than 6 eggs from her. Maybe someone was stealing them. I've been locking the gate this year because I got suspicious. Who knows.

We'll see how these two new girls do when they get old enough.

Wow. Amazing!

Being scared of everything is typical of all newly introduced chickens. The breed of the chicken doesn't matter and it should be expected if they are very young. As for not taking food from your hand. Its not a chicken breed thing, the chickens probably wern't raised as pets or handled much so are not sure about you.

My americauna lays green eggs, lol!

Mine has gotten a lot better at laying eggs. Now I am getting eggs every day to every other day. I've heard about introducing a rooster and older hens start to lay more? I'm not sure if this is true of not, but maybe it is worth a try if you do not have a rooster.

We have an Ameraucana, She is still Young, She is Super Friendly, I do Not get that for the Cons that they are Not Friendly, Our little Pullet She is Super Friendly not Mean to the Other Chickens! But Loves Grapes!

I love those ameraucanas their so awesome!