Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[ChickNmamma]

Interesting. How can you tell the difference? They were sold as americaunas. Not a big deal, they are only here as pets and to put eggs in my fridge. Do the eaater eggers get the beard and muff as well? The grey one has them starting but not so much on the peach girl.

What is really obvious is the color. Ameraucanas only come in 8 recognized colors. Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Wheaten, Brown Red, Silver, White and Buff. There are a few project colors in the works, Lavender is one I know about. I think they are also working on Cuckoo.. but I don't know what else is out there. These are not recognized colors but breeders are working on perfecting them to get them accepted. The rule is that they have to breed true 50% of the time. Mixing colors means they don't breed true - so mixed colors are not accepted. They are called Easter Eggers.

The ones from the Feed stores and Hatcheries are also called Easter Eggers on this site, but those birds have probably been mixed with other breeds - most likely Leghorn - and they usually do not look like the Ameraucanas. The feed stores and hatcheries call them Americanas, Ameraucanas or Aracaunas (sp?) and unfortunately this just confuses people. They also can lay brown, tan, white or dark green eggs. The hatcheries and feed stores usually don't care about egg color, body color, body shape, etc - all they care about is volume and healthy chicks they can sell.

Yes, Easter Eggers get beards, and lay blue eggs, and are really neat chickens. Come join us over here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/12070#post_11635262 and see all the pretty colors they come in.

 

[ibreathe4u]

Quite the handsome fellow.

 

[aldarita]

I am by far not an expert! Just have been doing a TON of research. The eagle looking ones with a light head color and dark rings of feathers around the neck have been roos (as is one of mine) BUT I couldn't say for sure because I'm not good with the 3 possible colors from the wheatan chicks yet. Very well could be a color pullet I haven't come across yet.
Just a guess based on tips/pics I've seen recently, lots of info crammed in my mind from this new research lol

I have been keeping a sharp eye lol on my wheaten am that I am not sure it is a roo in hopes that it might turn out to be a pullet, however for what I have read so far, you are right when saying eagle look and dark ring of feathers on the neck means ROO.

I am not giving up though.

 

[ibreathe4u]

This is my sweet heart Hazel. She's 20 weeks today. We're on our egg countdown, she started "squatting" yesterday.

 

[unkadan]

I just started fermenting feed and my birds LOVE it! I'd been using grain that I bought from a breeder but its ground so fine that its a mess to strain! What grains do you ferment for your birds? Do you notice a difference in the color of the egg shell and quantity of eggs laid?

Egg color is genetics imo, pullets and hens lay avg 4 eggs a week here. I use a scratch mix of crimped oats, coarse cracked corn, wheat, barley, BOSS, and 5% Calf Mana, this is fed 1st thing in the morning. My birds free range all day when weather allows, late afternoon I put layer crumbles in the coops. I started FF to cut feed costs, add pro-biotics, and cut water requirements esp during the winter, seems to be working for me and the birds.

 

[Angelicisi]

So, 6 week old wheatan/blue wheatan chick. Thinking its definitely a Roo now pink comb, dark coloring...but want a few more confirmations before I send him to a new home! Also, should I wait awhile longer for them to grow a bit more before rehoming? This lil one screams bloody murder when left alone O.O lol I'm already attached, doh!

 

[kaybee123]

So, 6 week old wheatan/blue wheatan chick. Thinking its definitely a Roo now pink comb, dark coloring...but want a few more confirmations before I send him to a new home! Also, should I wait awhile longer for them to grow a bit more before rehoming? This lil one screams bloody murder when left alone O.O lol I'm already attached, doh!

Roo

 

[speckledhen]

Not a doubt. That one's male.

 

[Angelicisi]

Thanks so much

 

[NewbeeDoo]

Egg color is genetics imo, pullets and hens lay avg 4 eggs a week here. I use a scratch mix of crimped oats, coarse cracked corn, wheat, barley, BOSS, and 5% Calf Mana, this is fed 1st thing in the morning. My birds free range all day when weather allows, late afternoon I put  layer crumbles in the coops. I started FF to cut feed costs, add pro-biotics, and cut water requirements esp during the winter, seems to be working for me and the birds.

Thanks so much for the great info! So you ferment their layer food as well? Love this idea! We too free range all day...year round but still looking for ways to cost cists especially when it's more beneficial for the birds' health!