Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[MrsBachbach]

She hasn't laid ANYTHING yet, do Easter eggers lay olive sometimes? I thought that I had read somewhere that Ameracaunas can lay pink, but couldn't remember if it was a reliable source. Thanks for the info, I'm going to check the abc Ameracaunas color chart

Yes they do. Along with any other color.
What distinguishes Ameraucanas from EE's is not so much the egg color, it is the fact that Ameraucanas breed true while EE's do not. I have read that Ameraucanas were developed from EE's and white and brown egg layers. So, those egg genes are still out there and can account for the occasional off color egg from an Ameraucana.
However, your girl is an EE. She does not fit the standard description of Ameraucana and will likely not breed true.

 

[PapaChaz]

Have you seen the ABC Ameraucana egg color chart? I wouldn't call some of those colors blueish. The egg color varies widely. The one color you won't find on it is olive.

I have seen it, and I was merely quoting the APA's definition, by their definition if it doesn't lay blue eggs, it's not an ameraucana. Not my words, theirs. Then the ABC posts the color chart, and it's like yeah, huh? LOL

but those are not the same associations, right? If the APA is going to be the ones who 'set' the standards, that's what is supposed to BE the standard, right?

I've got both sites saved in my favorites and have spent a good bit of time there trying to learn about my new chickens

 

[PapaChaz]

straight off the ABC FAQ page:

What Color on the ABC Egg Color Reference Chart is the most desired?

Officially, other than "blue" egg shells, the club has not and probably won't try to define any other criteria of egg color. The ABC Egg Color Reference Chart is only a reference and can be used to reference or compare colors. It gives us a common tool to use in discussing egg color:


so when I was looking at that chart thinking they could lay a different color, I was incorrect. This says the chart is only a reference to be used for discussing egg color. So to be considered pure Ameraucana, the egg has to be blue.....that's the way I'm reading it

 

[jerryse]

The preferred egg color has always been sky blue . It is the club that wrote the standard and approved by the APA and ABA . There is variation but as with all things in the standard this is the ideal goal . The blue egg gene is part of the breed and as such it is a disqualification to not lay a blue egg. This allows for tinted, pinkish brown and olive to be disqualified in a show . Nobody raises a fuss about how blue or a slight green tint . The judge would have to see the egg laid I would think to be able to say that hen laid that egg . This has never happened to my knowledge . So do not be too obsessed with the topic . Bluish is fine . White , brown and olive are not . I hope this helps clarify the color debate .

 

[PapaChaz]

The preferred egg color has always been sky blue . It is the club that wrote the standard and approved by the APA and ABA . There is variation but as with all things in the standard this is the ideal goal . The blue egg gene is part of the breed and as such it is a disqualification to not lay a blue egg. This allows for tinted, pinkish brown and olive to be disqualified in a show . Nobody raises a fuss about how blue or a slight green tint . The judge would have to see the egg laid I would think to be able to say that hen laid that egg . This has never happened to my knowledge . So do not be too obsessed with the topic . Bluish is fine . White , brown and olive are not . I hope this helps clarify the color debate .

I really hope at least one of mine DOES lay some slightly greenish tint to some bluish eggs! I want to have an easter basket with NO dyed eggs in it, LOL

Thanks sir, I did realize all that, but was merely pointing out what 'their' definition said

 

[Sylvester017]

Pretty! I recently bought three laying hens, two Rhode Island reds and one Ameracaunas. I've had them a few days and have not yet gotten any green eggs. I have gotten brown which I assumed were from the reds. Then my friend told me her Ameracaunas lays tan/brown eggs. Is this true of any of your Ameracaunas? Or are the Brownish eggs in your pic all from other hens?

Read the www.Ameraucana.org website to see the standard for true APA Ameraucanas. Sounds like your friend's brown/tan eggshell Ameraucanas are Easter Eggers - not a bad breed - but the APA Ameraucana standard is for various shades of blue eggs and no other egg shell colors. If the eggs are other than bluish/bluish-greenish and the birds don't meet the 8 standard feather colors on the website then you have Easter Eggers. Some Lavender Ameraucanas are being perfected but not yet accepted by the APA. True Ameraucana breeders are rather specific to divide the differences between APA Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers. Many EEs lay blue/bluish-green eggs but you'll know they aren't Ameraucanas because they don't meet the feather-color SOP and have to have beards/muffs, pea combs, etc. I like EEs but I wanted guaranteed bluish eggs so I ordered APA Ameraucanas from a breeder - more costly than the EEs hatcheries try to sell as "Americana" "Araucana" "Americauna" or any other wierd spelling and not the true APA Ameraucanas. The Ameraucana.org website should clarify the standard for you. Hope this helps.

 

[PapaChaz]

Read the www.Ameraucana.org website to see the standard for true APA Ameraucanas. Sounds like your friend's brown/tan eggshell Ameraucanas are Easter Eggers - not a bad breed - but the APA Ameraucana standard is for various shades of blue eggs and no other egg shell colors. If the eggs are other than bluish/bluish-greenish and the birds don't meet the 8 standard feather colors on the website then you have Easter Eggers. Some Lavender Ameraucanas are being perfected but not yet accepted by the APA. True Ameraucana breeders are rather specific to divide the differences between APA Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers. Many EEs lay blue/bluish-green eggs but you'll know they aren't Ameraucanas because they don't meet the feather-color SOP and have to have beards/muffs, pea combs, etc. I like EEs but I wanted guaranteed bluish eggs so I ordered APA Ameraucanas from a breeder - more costly than the EEs hatcheries try to sell as "Americana" "Araucana" "Americauna" or any other wierd spelling and not the true APA Ameraucanas. The Ameraucana.org website should clarify the standard for you. Hope this helps.

the only thing I'll add to that is that Araucana is an actual pure breed that lays blue eggs. But it is a different breed from Ameraucana. Sad that a lot of people will try to pass off easter eggers as ameraucanas. For the most part, I'm just guessing, but people who buy them really just want blue eggs. I went to a breeder to buy my blues, for the blue eggs. I don't have any intention of going to any shows though......

 

[Sylvester017]

the only thing I'll add to that is that Araucana is an actual pure breed that lays blue eggs. But it is a different breed from Ameraucana. Sad that a lot of people will try to pass off easter eggers as ameraucanas. For the most part, I'm just guessing, but people who buy them really just want blue eggs. I went to a breeder to buy my blues, for the blue eggs. I don't have any intention of going to any shows though......

Some in the U.S.A. try to pass off EEs as "Araucana" which in the U.K is correct because they label their equivalent USA Ameraucanas as "Araucanas". The fact that the Brits call their Ameraucanas as "Araucanas" confused me for the longest time until I realized the difference was just in the name. Actual USA Araucanas are different from what the U.K. labels as Araucana. USA Araucana is another breed (tail-less and have tufts instead of beard/muff).

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Some in the U.S.A. try to pass off EEs as "Araucana" which in the U.K is correct because they label their equivalent USA Ameraucanas as "Araucanas".  The fact that the Brits call their Ameraucanas as "Araucanas" confused me for the longest time until I realized the difference was just in the name.  Actual USA Araucanas are different from what the U.K. labels as Araucana.  USA Araucana is another breed (tail-less and have tufts instead of beard/muff).

That is incorrect actually. The USA version of Araucanas are very different to the English Araucana. The USA as you said has tufts and are tailless but the English version is tuftless and has a tail like the photo below. For the same reasons Ameraucanas are not the equivalent of Araucanas as Araucanas do not have muffs so the difference is not just the name and they definitely can not be passed of as EEs as EEs have green legs and Araucanas have slate.

Hope that clarifies it.

 

[csr326]

That is incorrect actually. The USA version of Araucanas are very different to the English Araucana. The USA as you said has tufts and are tailless but the English version is tuftless and has a tail like the photo below. For the same reasons Ameraucanas are not the equivalent of Araucanas as Araucanas do not have muffs so the difference is not just the name and they definitely can not be passed of as EEs as EEs have green legs and Araucanas have slate.

Hope that clarifies it.
Ac

Actually Araucanas are suppose to have yellow skin/legs and Blue/Black Araucanas are suppose to have willow/green legs. Thats according to the standard.