Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[rainbowchick]

Ok I will ask. I just don't understand why they wouldn't just sell them as "Easter Eggers"... People seem to like them and that would be so much less confusing!

I asked a local hatchery once what color varieties of Ameraucana they had, and they said "oh, well we've got some white chicks, and some brownish ones, pretty much any color you want!" I was like, yeahhhhhh.... No.
If they don't tell you what the ADULTS turn out to be, they're likely EEs. Also, my guess is, since there was someone on this forum who said they got theirs from the same hatchery, I bet yours will be the same... I doubt hatcheries up and switch the purebred out of nowhere. Unless they start charging crazy prices. Like the one that charges $17 per chick for BBS Ameraucanas....
Anyway, I'm sure they'll still be beautiful birds and lay nice non-white non-brown eggs for you!

 

[Mama Bay]

I asked a local hatchery once what color varieties of Ameraucana they had, and they said "oh, well we've got some white chicks, and some brownish ones, pretty much any color you want!" I was like, yeahhhhhh.... No.
If they don't tell you what the ADULTS turn out to be, they're likely EEs. Also, my guess is, since there was someone on this forum who said they got theirs from the same hatchery, I bet yours will be the same... I doubt hatcheries up and switch the purebred out of nowhere. Unless they start charging crazy prices. Like the one that charges $17 per chick for BBS Ameraucanas....
Anyway, I'm sure they'll still be beautiful birds and lay nice non-white non-brown eggs for you!

True and they have the cutest puffy cheeks. I can't stay mad for long lol.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Sorry to keep adding fuel to the fire... but the Breed Standard as listed on the ABC website, *does* list blue egg shells. Hence, my attempt to explain that the egg SHELLS are still blue even if the exterior color is greenish... Anyway, I'll keep quiet now...

Yes, I know of that. However, I have been told by breeders that the bird is not judged on egg color as it is not part of the standard. May be APA standard they are refering to.
For those that have a problem with how the club describes egg color, I ask why they are not upset that their blue chicken is really gray? As the egg color chart shows, there are very many shades of blue and green. Personally, I think a better description would be bluegreen. That should satisfy everyone. It's what I prefer to use when describing eggs. But then people think I must have EE's since I don't say blue when in fact I do have real Ameraucanas. I've even had people emailing me for the birds that lay the "real" blue eggs. Now, I don't know what they are expecting when asking a question such as that. Best I can do is send them pictures of my eggs. I really think some people are looking for deep blue eggs. I gathered alot of Ameraucana eggs over the years and received alot of Ameraucana eggs and I've yet to see an A1.

 

[Shana23]

Here is my girl! Her name is Lady( for the Bearded Lady). She is only 22 weeks and is the only one of my small flock that hasn't started laying yet, but I know it's early yet... She is the only Ameraucana I have and I love her!

 

[HugHess]

Ok.

I e-mailed the ABC and this is the response I got.

Hello Meg

Yes, the Standard does call for blue egg color and it is one of the reasons the Ameraucanas are becoming so popular. However, because each of the varieties were bred up from different combinations of other breeds (you might enjoy reading the History of the Ameraucanas on our website), that blue color can vary quite a bit from one variety to the next. Additionally, some breeders are focused more on other traits, such as the slate legs, proper eye color, correct plumage color, full beards and muffs, and egg color - while it may be one of the final deciding factors - is not the most important one in considering which birds to keep as breeding stock from year to year.

Since diet, genetics, even age at time of lay, and how far into the laying season a hen may be when an egg is laid, can all impact egg color, it would be impossible to dictate a specific official color blue for the Ameraucana egg color.

I agree, there are way too many EEs diluting the gene pool. I wrote an article about that in our recent Quarterly Bulletin. I'm attaching a copy here.

I hope this answers your questions. Good luck in your search for Ameraucanas!

Susan Mouw
Secretary/Treasurer

Now I will try to remain quiet(?)

 

[rainbowchick]

Ok.

I e-mailed the ABC and this is the response I got.

Hello Meg

Yes, the Standard does call for blue egg color and it is one of the reasons the Ameraucanas are becoming so popular. However, because each of the varieties were bred up from different combinations of other breeds (you might enjoy reading the History of the Ameraucanas on our website), that blue color can vary quite a bit from one variety to the next. Additionally, some breeders are focused more on other traits, such as the slate legs, proper eye color, correct plumage color, full beards and muffs, and egg color - while it may be one of the final deciding factors - is not the most important one in considering which birds to keep as breeding stock from year to year.

Since diet, genetics, even age at time of lay, and how far into the laying season a hen may be when an egg is laid, can all impact egg color, it would be impossible to dictate a specific official color blue for the Ameraucana egg color.

I agree, there are way too many EEs diluting the gene pool. I wrote an article about that in our recent Quarterly Bulletin. I'm attaching a copy here.

I hope this answers your questions. Good luck in your search for Ameraucanas!

Susan Mouw
Secretary/Treasurer

Now I will try to remain quiet(?)

Susan is so good at quick responses! Glad she wrote this to you, as I think it sums up what we've all been saying: while most people think of the A7 color when envisioning Ameraucanas, it just is not what you'll get from most specimens. "It is impossible to dictate an official color." Purebred Ameraucanas can, and will, lay a huge span of hues, and that's okay.

 

[dstokely]

Here is my girl! Her name is Lady( for the Bearded Lady). She is only 22 weeks and is the only one of my small flock that hasn't started laying yet, but I know it's early yet... She is the only Ameraucana I have and I love her!

The splash are my favorites. I have blue, black, splash, blue wheaten and lavender. I have two splash hens that will soon be a year old, and I am hoping to have some babies at the end of May or early June.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Quote:
I love the splash color!

 

[dstokely]

Hi! So my two Wheatens are just shy of two weeks now and I wanted to ask for opinions on their sex. Thanks for your ideas!

Chick 1




Chick 2

If that is little tail feathers I am seeing, I think two girls. Let me know later on what they are.

 

[THeelChickinKY]

@dstokely
Thanks for your reply! I'm really hoping that's the case. Yes, they've both got established tails already, one even more so than the other. This isn't a great picture, but they happened to be sitting down beside each other in the brooder in such a way as to give a great profile shot. They will be 2 weeks old Monday.