Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[speckledhen]

Only six weeks old, with that much comb pinking up, cockerel all the way.

Agreed.

 

[bruceha2000]

I would like to know recommendations for where to buy a 'pure' Ameraucana. I was told that if I order them from a local feed store chick days that they are really likely EE's and not true Ameraucana's. I heard through the grapevine or reading somewhere that also some hatchery ones aren't pure. So where would my best bet to be to get one that is 'true' or how do I know that I am getting that and not an EE?

If you get it at a feed store, TSC, whatever - GUARANTEED it is an EE, not an APA Ameraucana. VERY FEW hatcheries sell APA Ameraucana. If they do, they will be sold as a SPECIFIC color. NO big hatchery, to my knowledge, sells APA Araucanas.

Many of the big hatcheries sell EEs under the name Ameraucana, Araucana (both are APA breeds and look totally different) or Americana (in an effort to mislead given the spelling is so close). There are some honest big hatcheries that sell these birds as Easter Eggers. It isn't a breed, you have no idea what color and pattern they will have when they are adults.

EEs are great birds, I have 4.

 

[samouw]

@wabbit1964

There are, currently, two Ameraucana breeders club - The Ameraucana Breeders Club and the Ameraucana Alliance. Both have reputable breeders, but as with anything, do your research before you buy.

The link for the Ameraucana Breeders Club breeder's directory is in my signature line and I'm sure someone will post the Ameraucana Alliance one, as well.

 

[marchick]

If you get it at a feed store, TSC, whatever - GUARANTEED it is an EE, not an APA Ameraucana. VERY FEW hatcheries sell APA Ameraucana. If they do, they will be sold as a SPECIFIC color. NO big hatchery, to my knowledge, sells APA Araucanas.

Many of the big hatcheries sell EEs under the name Ameraucana, Araucana (both are APA breeds and look totally different) or Americana (in an effort to mislead given the spelling is so close). There are some honest big hatcheries that sell these birds as Easter Eggers. It isn't a breed, you have no idea what color and pattern they will have when they are adults.

EEs are great birds, I have 4.

Our feed store even spells it Ameraucana! Which makes me mad!!!! They where easter eggers! One year they called them Araucanas and was telling everyone they where tailless! Charged a pretty penny! I told a girl that had some in a box! They look like they have tails! She just looked at me funny! I bought a couple to grow out and see what they where. They where 100% good old easter eggers!

 

[LaPoulet]

@wabbit1964

There are, currently, two Ameraucana breeders club - The Ameraucana Breeders Club and the Ameraucana Alliance. Both have reputable breeders, but as with anything, do your research before you buy.

The link for the Ameraucana Breeders Club breeder's directory is in my signature line and I'm sure someone will post the Ameraucana Alliance one, as well.

Here is the link for the other site mentioned. www.ameraucanaalliance.org

 

[samouw]

Cross-posted from the "Real Ameraucana Group" on Facebook...

While I'm thinking about it , let's talk about another question that comes up frequently and is equally difficult to answer.

"Is this bird an Ameraucana?"

Sometimes, it is easy to tell and a quick answer will often follow. However, I have to remind myself that there are two major criteria to a pure bred..anything - chicken, dog, horse, lizard, etc. Does it look like whatever it should be look like AND Will it breed true?

In other words, looking at a picture of a bird is not sufficient information to tell if it is a true Ameraucana. Without knowing what it's parentage was, or what it has already produced - the answer can only be based on appearances. And, we all know that appearances can be deceiving.

A couple of years ago - and a few still last year - I was all into purposefully creating Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers. By the time I decided to focus strictly on my real Ameraucanas, I had some second and third generation EEs and OEs. If I had been so inclined, I could have sold some of those OE pullets as pure brown red Ameraucanas to the unsuspecting! Their appearance, especially to those less versed in the Ameraucana SOP, was very close to what a nice brown red pullet should look like.

Of course, they would never have bred true - too much garbage in their ancestry that would come out sooner or later.

But if I had posted a picture of one of them here and asked, "is this a true Ameraucana?", there are many, based on appearance alone, that would have said yes.

Again, I don't want to stop the questions, I just want us all to think about our answers. Including me, I've been guilty of it myself.

In order to give a qualified answer, there needs to be more information - where did the bird come from? What is it's parentage? Has it produced and what were the results?

From the responses to those questions, someone can start to give a responsible answer. First of all, if it came from a hatchery - even those that say they are selling "Ameraucanas" - you probably have an EE...or a very poor specimen of Ameraucana, in a few very rare cases. If the person selling the bird says it is an "AmerIcana", then it is an EE. If the person selling the bird says it is an Ameraucana, but can't specify which variety - chances are it is an EE.

 

[wabbit1964]

Cross-posted from the "Real Ameraucana Group" on Facebook...

While I'm thinking about it , let's talk about another question that comes up frequently and is equally difficult to answer.

"Is this bird an Ameraucana?"

Sometimes, it is easy to tell and a quick answer will often follow. However, I have to remind myself that there are two major criteria to a pure bred..anything - chicken, dog, horse, lizard, etc. Does it look like whatever it should be look like AND Will it breed true?

In other words, looking at a picture of a bird is not sufficient information to tell if it is a true Ameraucana. Without knowing what it's parentage was, or what it has already produced - the answer can only be based on appearances. And, we all know that appearances can be deceiving.

A couple of years ago - and a few still last year - I was all into purposefully creating Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers. By the time I decided to focus strictly on my real Ameraucanas, I had some second and third generation EEs and OEs. If I had been so inclined, I could have sold some of those OE pullets as pure brown red Ameraucanas to the unsuspecting! Their appearance, especially to those less versed in the Ameraucana SOP, was very close to what a nice brown red pullet should look like.

Of course, they would never have bred true - too much garbage in their ancestry that would come out sooner or later.

But if I had posted a picture of one of them here and asked, "is this a true Ameraucana?", there are many, based on appearance alone, that would have said yes.

Again, I don't want to stop the questions, I just want us all to think about our answers. Including me, I've been guilty of it myself.

In order to give a qualified answer, there needs to be more information - where did the bird come from? What is it's parentage? Has it produced and what were the results?

From the responses to those questions, someone can start to give a responsible answer. First of all, if it came from a hatchery - even those that say they are selling "Ameraucanas" - you probably have an EE...or a very poor specimen of Ameraucana, in a few very rare cases. If the person selling the bird says it is an "AmerIcana", then it is an EE. If the person selling the bird says it is an Ameraucana, but can't specify which variety - chances are it is an EE.
Very good insights. I have been an unsuspecting buyer when I first ventured into chicken keeping and have owned what turned out to be EE's. I hope to add some true Ameraucanas to my flock. I am glad I read this thread because it will help me to know what to keep an eye out for when I am ready to make my purchase.

 

[dstokely]

Very good insights. I have been an unsuspecting buyer when I first ventured into chicken keeping and have owned what turned out to be EE's. I hope to add some true Ameraucanas to my flock. I am glad I read this thread because it will help me to know what to keep an eye out for when I am ready to make my purchase.

That is what I did. Bought my "Americanas" from a hatchery, then started reading this blog. Did not take me long to figure out I had EEs. I went back and read from the beginning and the following year, I knew where I could get the real thing and also had some idea about the breed. Unfortunately, chicken math takes over and I want one of every variety....well almost anyway. So, it looks like I will have BBS, Lavs, BWs and now I have a white. Maybe I will get some more. Uh OH. I need another pen.

 

[wabbit1964]

That is what I did. Bought my "Americanas" from a hatchery, then started reading this blog. Did not take me long to figure out I had EEs. I went back and read from the beginning and the following year, I knew where I could get the real thing and also had some idea about the breed. Unfortunately, chicken math takes over and I want one of every variety....well almost anyway. So, it looks like I will have BBS, Lavs, BWs and now I have a white. Maybe I will get some more. Uh OH. I need another pen.

chicken math oh boy do I know about that, I am a wanting one of each kind of chicken addict but some breeds just won't do well in our long Maine winters.

 

[lakones]

Mine are hatching today

5 so far and many more in the works. Got to get started in my new pen too.