Ameraucana or Araucana - Which Do You Prefer?

[LilJoe]

Hello all,
I am hopefully getting Ameraucana or Araucana (maybe both ) hens soon and was wondering which breed the majority of BYC prefers and why. Pros and Cons? Differences besides appearance?

(not my images)

Thank you,
LilJoe

 

[JedJackson]

I like easter eggers best of all but Ameraucanas better than Araucanas. I think of Araucanas more as a fancier's breed. They lay less and can have difficulties with fertility due to their rumplessness. Ameraucanas can be a fancier's breed, too, but they are easier to breed and lay more eggs than Araucanas, so they make a decent utility breed as well as being pretty.

And Araucanas have a lethal gene in their make up related to the tufts (whiskers?) on the side of their heads, so some of the chicks will die in the shell. Ameraucanas don't have that.

 

[PirateGirl]

I have a blue Ameraucana pullet (11 months old) she is at the bottom of the pecking order of a small mixed flock of docile breeds. She is flighty compared to my other birds. I don't think I have been able to touch her since I brought her home at about 6 weeks old. I do not ever try to touch her anymore because I don't want to stress her out. She lays regularly. She is not particularly bothered by the cold.

I do not have experience with araucanas.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I prefer Ameraucanas. The Aruacana is nice as well, but they do have a weird gene, due to the ear tufts, that makes some of the chicks die.

 

[JedJackson]

I prefer Ameraucanas. The Aruacana is nice as well, but they do have a weird gene, due to the rumplessness, that makes some of the chicks die.

I thought it was the ear tufts that caused the lethal gene?

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I thought it was the ear tufts that caused the lethal gene?

I think you are right.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I love Araucanas and Ameraucanas and I’m actually getting 2 Araucana pullets and an Ameraucana pullet this March! I like the Araucana more than the Ameraucana because it’s such a unique breed. I plan on breeding Araucanas when I have my own property. The reason I’m getting Araucanas and an Ameraucana (I would get an Easter Egger too but my mom said no more chickens ) is so that I can learn the differences in the 3 breeds in person and educate people in my town who ask questions about my chickens. I say get an Araucana, an Ameraucana, & and an Easter Egger.

 

[DaviJones]

Just to verify by Ameraucana do you mean Easter Egger or the real deal?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I have three Ameraucanas. I sometimes call them Americanas or Easter Eggers. I didn't realize any difference. I do not have Araucanas. I've heard about the fact about they are hard to breed. I think it has a little to do with no tail, for Manx Rumpy is the same thing. My Ameraucanas are very friendly. If I set down in their yard one of them always likes to jump on my head after they played in the mud.

This picture is of my favorite hen Niesha. She lays a blue egg.

I also have some EE mixed breeds. They lay green eggs.

 

[LilJoe]

Just to verify by Ameraucana do you mean Easter Egger or the real deal?

The real, purebred Ameraucana.