Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[junebuggena]

I think some places try crossing Ameraucana to Ameraucana but they end up with EE because they don't follow genetics. If roo is Wheaten Ameraucana and hen is Buff Ameraucana, the cross results in Easter Eggers. Am I right @junebuggena ?

That is absolutely correct. In order for a bird to be called Ameraucana (or any other breed, for that matter), it must meet the breed standard. You can't cross a Wheaten Ameraucana with a Buff Ameraucana and still expect to get chicks that meet the breed standard. The chicks won't be Wheatens, and they won't be Buff either. They will, most likely, be something in between, or something else entirely. And they won't breed true, either. Breeding true is defined by breeding 'like' birds, with 'like' birds and consistently getting birds that are 'like' their parents.

Chickens aren't like mammals. Breed is not solely defined by lineage or pedigree. It's about whether or not a given bird, when bred with another, similar bird, will produce more similar looking birds.

It gets even more confusing with Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers because so many hatcheries are selling their Easter Eggers as Ameraucana. The feed stores stock them and resell them thinking they are truly Ameraucanas. And then people buy those chicks and breed them, and sell those chicks as Ameraucana as well. It's to the point where Easter Eggers are more commonly considered Ameraucana, and the true Ameraucana are confused for Easter Eggers. If the hatcheries would just be honest about their birds, and stop perpetuating this misinformation, it would be really help to end all of the confusion.

 

[tiffani day]

I've got three - not sure what the color patterns are called.  Very sweet birds, big greenish eggs.

I know this was an old post but I've trying to iditify my 16 week old girl and looks like I found her mama lol

 

[tiffani day]

Boy or girl,was told girl when I got in July also told was 5 months old then but still not egg 1 and my roo is mean to her

I was also told these 3 were EE but I've gotten an egg from the first to confirm that she has given me 2 green eggs this week, yay!

 

[ravenswalk1]

That is absolutely correct. In order for a bird to be called Ameraucana (or any other breed, for that matter), it must meet the breed standard. You can't cross a Wheaten Ameraucana with a Buff Ameraucana and still expect to get chicks that meet the breed standard. The chicks won't be Wheatens, and they won't be Buff either. They will, most likely, be something in between, or something else entirely. And they won't breed true, either. Breeding true is defined by breeding 'like' birds, with 'like' birds and consistently getting birds that are 'like'  their parents.

Chickens aren't like mammals. Breed is not solely defined by lineage or pedigree. It's about whether or not a given bird, when bred with another, similar bird, will produce more similar looking birds.

It gets even more confusing with Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers because so many hatcheries are selling their Easter Eggers as Ameraucana. The feed stores stock them and resell them thinking they are truly Ameraucanas. And then people buy those chicks and breed them, and sell those chicks as Ameraucana as well. It's to the point where Easter Eggers are more commonly considered Ameraucana, and the true Ameraucana are confused for Easter Eggers. If the hatcheries would just be honest about their birds, and stop perpetuating this misinformation, it would be really help to end all of the confusion. 

Well that's even more confusing. Goldie lays only blue eggs. Well I love her to pieces so I don't care what she is. Thank you everyone.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Boy or girl,was told girl when I got in July also told was 5 months old then but still not egg 1 and my roo is mean to her



I was also told these 3 were EE but I've gotten an egg from the first to confirm that she has given me 2 green eggs this week, yay!

They are EE's, so you were told correct. When the comb on that one gets more red she will be very close to lay.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

I'M SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I will officially be an Ameraucana owner tomorrow!!! I have a Welsummer pullet who is the only surviving member of my old flock (serious predator issues) and I just got the coop fortified, so I'm getting one more youngster to keep my Wellie company until I can get more babies cheap in the Spring. I've wanted Ameraucanas FOREVER, and I'm so stinkin happy that I'm FINALLY gonna have one!!! Was told the guy has b/b/s, and he said I could pick the one I want. I really hope I can find a blue with the darker trim on her hackles/tail. He said they're 8 weeks old, so I should be able to get a pretty good idea of what they'll look like as adults. Yay!!! And before anyone asks, yes, I did make sure he had ACTUAL Ameraucanas....he said he doesn't like the EEs because he just wants the blue eggs, so it seemed to me that he actually knew what he was talking about. I also saw that he is NPIP certified....hoping that means that not only are they healthy, but they're also pure breds. Guess we'll see. Anyway, I'll post pics of my new baby tomorrow when I get her home. Can't wait to meet her and show her off to all you fine folks! Wish me luck in my chicky selecting!!!

Lindsey

 

[chicapee]

I'M SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I will officially be an Ameraucana owner tomorrow!!! I have a Welsummer pullet who is the only surviving member of my old flock (serious predator issues) and I just got the coop fortified, so I'm getting one more youngster to keep my Wellie company until I can get more babies cheap in the Spring. I've wanted Ameraucanas FOREVER, and I'm so stinkin happy that I'm FINALLY gonna have one!!! Was told the guy has b/b/s, and he said I could pick the one I want. I really hope I can find a blue with the darker trim on her hackles/tail. He said they're 8 weeks old, so I should be able to get a pretty good idea of what they'll look like as adults. Yay!!! And before anyone asks, yes, I did make sure he had ACTUAL Ameraucanas....he said he doesn't like the EEs because he just wants the blue eggs, so it seemed to me that he actually knew what he was talking about. I also saw that he is NPIP certified....hoping that means that not only are they healthy, but they're also pure breds. Guess we'll see. Anyway, I'll post pics of my new baby tomorrow when I get her home. Can't wait to meet her and show her off to all you fine folks! Wish me luck in my chicky selecting!!!

Lindsey

Congratulations, looking forward to seeing pics. I am wondering if you will walk away with more than one.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Congratulations, looking forward to seeing pics. I am wondering if you will walk away with more than one.

x2

 

[MrsBachbach]

I'M SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I will officially be an Ameraucana owner tomorrow!!! I have a Welsummer pullet who is the only surviving member of my old flock (serious predator issues) and I just got the coop fortified, so I'm getting one more youngster to keep my Wellie company until I can get more babies cheap in the Spring. I've wanted Ameraucanas FOREVER, and I'm so stinkin happy that I'm FINALLY gonna have one!!! Was told the guy has b/b/s, and he said I could pick the one I want. I really hope I can find a blue with the darker trim on her hackles/tail. He said they're 8 weeks old, so I should be able to get a pretty good idea of what they'll look like as adults. Yay!!! And before anyone asks, yes, I did make sure he had ACTUAL Ameraucanas....he said he doesn't like the EEs because he just wants the blue eggs, so it seemed to me that he actually knew what he was talking about. I also saw that he is NPIP certified....hoping that means that not only are they healthy, but they're also pure breds. Guess we'll see. Anyway, I'll post pics of my new baby tomorrow when I get her home. Can't wait to meet her and show her off to all you fine folks! Wish me luck in my chicky selecting!!!

Lindsey

Eight weeks huh? Are you expert enough to pick out the pullets as opposed to cockerels at that age?

 

[chickmeme]

how do you tell if you have ameraucanas or EEs? I have some that are suppose to be ameraucana. one is white with black speckles. one has golden feathers edged in black. one is light gold edged in black. they have fat cheeks and one is getting a small flat comb. they are about 10 weeks old. two of them will fly up to my arm and sit on it to eat. they seam better fliers than most of my other chicks at that age.