Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[jtbass2756]

Careful some folks here are wound awfully tight. If you bought a chick from a feed store that was labeled "Ameraucana" it is most likely what are referred to as EE (Easter egger, which is a not breeding or show quality Americauna cross, which usually lay some variety of green egg, not blue) and a lot of folks get tired of the non-pedigreed birds being here. I usually lurk here, because of the hostility. There is an EE Thread here on BYC, they're super nice. There is also a whole section called "what breed or sex is this," and lots of nice folks will help you with them. And, yes, some of those do look like what are commonly sold as Ameraucanas, but are most likely actually EE. Do ENJOY YOUR BIRDS!

Thanks Lavlady, I understand that there is an undertone of the difference. I am a backyard keeper....not into breeding and I know that there's a difference, but I've never had chicks. I don't mind "mutt" chicks but kind of wanted to know just what I was sold... LOL...Not even planning to breed or resale.. just wanted to know for my own info since I'm a newbie. Figured since they had been sold as "Ameracaunas" the experts on here could tell me the truth.
AND.........that little yellow one which has the same faint markings, is so different.....LOL........would he possibly be the same as the other.

 

[celestialdreamer]

Can someone suggest a reputable place to order nice quality hatching eggs for Wheaten or Blue Wheatens? I'm hoping to start a very small breeding project and hatch some nice stock to start out. I'm not looking for necessarily super expensive show birds, but I would really like to get some that are true to the breed. I'm proficient enough with our incubator that I am willing to try out some fancy eggs now. Thanks for any help!

 

[LavLady]

Thanks Lavlady, I understand that there is an undertone of the difference. I am a backyard keeper....not into breeding and I know that there's a difference, but I've never had chicks. I don't mind "mutt" chicks but kind of wanted to know just what I was sold... LOL...Not even planning to breed or resale.. just wanted to know for my own info since I'm a newbie. Figured since they had been sold as "Ameracaunas" the experts on here could tell me the truth. 
AND.........that little yellow one which has the same faint markings, is so different.....LOL........would he possibly be the same as the other.

Be careful, the "one thats different" is often a roo!

Here's a great EE thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/13900_100#post_13182025

IMHO backyard keepers are vital to chicken husbandry, but not everyone feels the same. I am getting a purebred flock set up, but I refuse to part with my blind in one eye 4 year old EE. It's easy to tell her brown-green eggs from the purebred I'd keep her even if she wasn't an egg a day layer (which she is, when she's not setting.) There is nothing wrong with breeding EE, but there is everything wrong with selling them as Ameraucanas. I hatch nearly every egg that one beloved hen sets, but when selling eggs or offspring make it clear that they are EE. There is room in the vast chicken world for mutts too, and she keeps my handsome purebred busy while his future harem comes of age.

And I digress. Check out the EE thread, quick before both of us get run outa here!

 

[quailtrail]

This will probably end up being obvious, but what is HAL or what does it stand for? The Easter hatch along ?

yes Easter Hatch a long.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Be careful, the "one thats different" is often a roo!

Here's a great EE thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/13900_100#post_13182025

IMHO backyard keepers are vital to chicken husbandry, but not everyone feels the same. I am getting a purebred flock set up, but I refuse to part with my blind in one eye 4 year old EE. It's easy to tell her brown-green eggs from the purebred I'd keep her even if she wasn't an egg a day layer (which she is, when she's not setting.) There is nothing wrong with breeding EE, but there is everything wrong with selling them as Ameraucanas. I hatch nearly every egg that one beloved hen sets, but when selling eggs or offspring make it clear that they are EE. There is room in the vast chicken world for mutts too, and she keeps my handsome purebred busy while his future harem comes of age.

And I digress. Check out the EE thread, quick before both of us get run outa here!

I'm sorry you feel as you do. I don't think that anyone on this thread thinks that backyard keepers with their mixed-breed stock are any less important than chicken keepers who only keep purebreds. I don't think that the serious Ameraucana breeder thinks that Easter Eggers are of less value as a egg layer than an Ameraucana.

I think it just really ticks them off when people insist that their Easter Eggers are Ameraucanas even when they are shown the evidence that they aren't purebred. I know it really ticks me off when a very nice, intelligent lady on a BYC thread I frequent has "Ameraucanas" listed under her name. I know they aren't Ameraucanas. Privately I've forwarded her the links and explained why they aren't Ameraucanas, to which she simply didn't respond except to add "Ameraucanas" to the list of breeds she has. That really ticks me off. Breeders--and I'm not one of them--put a lot of effort, time and money to try to breed an Ameraucana to conform to the SOP, only to have basically mutts of who knows what parentage and really, who knows what color egg they'll lay, sold as purebred. I sometimes feel as if, why bother trying to breed them if no one even recognizes the breed.

 

[Alaskan]

I think the hatcheries lying about what they are selling is quite anger inducing

 

[lualshannon]

Can someone suggest a reputable place to order nice quality hatching eggs for Wheaten or Blue Wheatens? I'm hoping to start a very small breeding project and hatch some nice stock to start out. I'm not looking for necessarily super expensive show birds, but I would really like to get some that are true to the breed. I'm proficient enough with our incubator that I am willing to try out some fancy eggs now. Thanks for any help!

Hi Celestialdreamer,

Chickee, is an experienced breeder of Wheaton, and Blue Wheaton Ameraucana. Her birds are beautiful! I purchased chicks from her and they are simply breath taking. Chickee, is on this thread as well, and can find her posts if you go back couple of pages. Also, she is a delightful and lovely lady to deal with.

Lual

 

[jajeanpierre]

I think the hatcheries lying about what they are selling is quite anger inducing

That too.

 

[heirloomorps]

I think the hatcheries lying about what they are selling is quite anger inducing

I'm surprised that no one has filed a lawsuit against them saying they had been mis-sold Ameraucanas.

 

[jtbass2756]

Be careful, the "one thats different" is often a roo!

Here's a great EE thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/13900_100#post_13182025

IMHO backyard keepers are vital to chicken husbandry, but not everyone feels the same. I am getting a purebred flock set up, but I refuse to part with my blind in one eye 4 year old EE. It's easy to tell her brown-green eggs from the purebred I'd keep her even if she wasn't an egg a day layer (which she is, when she's not setting.) There is nothing wrong with breeding EE, but there is everything wrong with selling them as Ameraucanas. I hatch nearly every egg that one beloved hen sets, but when selling eggs or offspring make it clear that they are EE. There is room in the vast chicken world for mutts too, and she keeps my handsome purebred busy while his future harem comes of age.

And I digress. Check out the EE thread, quick before both of us get run outa here!

LOLOL......I'm not in the business for breeding! In fact, someone gave a sizzle roo and although he's a cutie....I'm probably going to give him away because I don't want to deal with chicks unless I order them or the hens I have are too old to lay....Nope, I couldn't do the "processing" either! Too soft hearted....just would need have new layers in line....no matter what color the eggs... I give them to the custodians at church and with more layers, I will be able to help more neighbors with at least that one thing...