Ameracauna?

[ramsey590]

Hey folks, I been away for few months but while I was away I purchased some chick from Mt. Healthy Hatchery (very pleased with them!!) I ordered 3 ameracauna pullets along with 7 others pullets. One of three is obviously ameracauna with her muffs around her cheeks, the other two doesn't not. Can anyone shine a light on this situation. They are 4 months old.

 

[GitaBooks]

Beautiful birds!

Many hatcheries mislabel cross-bred Easter Egger chickens as Ameracuanas. Easter Eggers are quite variable in appearance and some may not even have muffs. However, even though they aren't technically a pure breed I still Easter Eggers!

Hope this helps.

 

[ramsey590]

Thanks! I was thinking along those lines and after a little deeper research your information is correct. Also if I understand it right, the Easter egger are ameracaunas that don't fit into breed standards

 

[GitaBooks]

They are probably made up of all sorts of pink/blue/green egg layers (Ameraucanas, Ameraucana mixes, ect), possibly different hatcheries doing it differently.

In my personal opinion they almost deserve their own breed standard. Like the Icelandic Chicken, they may be variable but you can almost always pick one out if you see a picture. That's what makes a breed, right? Being consistently different from other breeds.

 

[junebuggena]

Thanks! I was thinking along those lines and after a little deeper research your information is correct. Also if I understand it right, the Easter egger are ameracaunas that don't fit into breed standards

Most hatcheries have stock that originated from the first imports of 'blue' layers from South America. Hatcheries have bred them for egg color and for increased laying rates, crossing in production breeds.
Purebred Ameraucana were refined into a recognized breed from those same birds. The big difference is that Ameraucana have been bred to meet a specific set of traits for many generations. Easter Eggers from hatcheries have been bred without any specific goals or traits in mind other than production rate and egg color.

 

[ramsey590]

Awesome info

thanks