Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Indiana Ima]

Beautiful birds! I am a complete newbie here, trying to decide whether to buy 5 (the maximum allowed in my town) Black Australorps, 5 Silver Laced Wyandottes, or maybe 5 Ameracaunas. I want beautiful hens with a high egg laying capability, acceptable as an eating/meat bird when they are done laying, social and friendly and easy to keep.

In the reading I've done I keep seeing that Ameracaunas are great chickens, hardy, good layers, and really pretty. I can admit that I am very excited about getting those blue-green eggs, too. Are there other reasons you think I should go with Ameracaunas as my final choice? This looks like the right place to discuss the qualities and negatives of that breed!

Thank you,
Indiana Ima

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Beautiful birds! I am a complete newbie here, trying to decide whether to buy 5 (the maximum allowed in my town) Black Australorps, 5 Silver Laced Wyandottes, or maybe 5 Ameracaunas. I want beautiful hens with a high egg laying capability, acceptable as an eating/meat bird when they are done laying, social and friendly and easy to keep.

In the reading I've done I keep seeing that Ameracaunas are great chickens, hardy, good layers, and really pretty. I can admit that I am very excited about getting those blue-green eggs, too. Are there other reasons you think I should go with Ameracaunas as my final choice? This looks like the right place to discuss the qualities and negatives of that breed!

Thank you,
Indiana Ima

Ameraucana fan checking in here and yes, I am very biased.
You want Wheaten Ameraucana because they

• breed true
• are lovely
• sweet natured
• have a pea comb which is good for our midwestern winters
• are fluffy enough for our midwestern winters without added heat in a good coop
• lay beautiful and good sized eggs
• are reliable layers

Just this breeder's very biased opnion
by the way

 

[Phage]

My wheaten ameraucana pullets have started to lay!!!!!

Had to share!

wheaten + lav ameraucanas, wheaten marans, OE, exchequer leghorn, barbanter and silkie

 

[dak]

My wheaten ameraucana pullets have started to lay!!!!!

Had to share!

wheaten + lav ameraucanas, wheaten marans, OE, exchequer leghorn, barbanter and silkie

Beautiful eggs from spoiled hens!

 

[Goose and Fig]

Beautiful birds! I am a complete newbie here, trying to decide whether to buy 5 (the maximum allowed in my town) Black Australorps, 5 Silver Laced Wyandottes, or maybe 5 Ameracaunas. I want beautiful hens with a high egg laying capability, acceptable as an eating/meat bird when they are done laying, social and friendly and easy to keep.

In the reading I've done I keep seeing that Ameracaunas are great chickens, hardy, good layers, and really pretty. I can admit that I am very excited about getting those blue-green eggs, too. Are there other reasons you think I should go with Ameracaunas as my final choice? This looks like the right place to discuss the qualities and negatives of that breed!

Thank you,
Indiana Ima

I would recommend heritage Delawares. Ameraucanas aren't the best dual purpose bodied, and they aren't the greatest layers either. I consider mine more of an "ornamental" chicken.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:

Gorgeous!

Love those olive ones, especially!

 

[flower]

I would recommend heritage Delawares. Ameraucanas aren't the best dual purpose bodied, and they aren't the greatest layers either. I consider mine more of an "ornamental" chicken.

I agree with HappyMtn. ON the other hand I have found that easter eggers are more productive, docile,very colorful and can be quite large depending on the origin. Of course they are not a breed but a mix of breeds. Go to their thread to research them.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Right- EEs lay WAY better. And if you can't have roosters, you can get EEs form a hatchery and just order girls.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

I agree with HappyMtn. ON the other hand I have found that easter eggers are more productive, docile,very colorful and can be quite large depending on the origin. Of course they are not a breed but a mix of breeds. Go to their thread to research them.

OK true.
The breast meat is lacking in abundance.
Gee you two! Talk about taking the wind out of my sail

I still love 'em though

 

[Indiana Ima]

I am thinking I should maybe be a lot more specific about what I think I want and need:
I want good layers but they don't have to be the best layers ever. They have to be good at laying, VERY good with children, good with me, and a decent dinner* someday when they're done laying! I want a breed that isn't picky, so I can get rid of table and cooking scraps. I want a breed that doesn't blink (or completely stop laying) at a south-central Indiana winter. And if I can have all of that and still have a choice, I want a pretty chicken that lays a large, pretty egg.

*decent dinner means I don't expect to turn them all into big roast chickens on a fancy platter. Casseroles, soup, soup stock, pot pies, it's all good. I just don't want to look at the carcass and wonder what's the point of even trying!