Ameraucana

[Ojwilli18]

Has anyone had experience with Ameraucana’s? We got 4 chickens from Tractor Supply that were supposed to all be hens. They are about 13 weeks now and my Ameraucana has me convinced she is a rooster. It’s much larger than the rest and a lot more aggressive, but I’m unsure if that is just in their nature. It doesn’t crow or try to crow and I don’t see any spurs. The picture attached is from the internet but it’s exactly what she looks like. I’d hate to have to get rid of it if it is a rooster so I’m hopeful it’s just an aggressive hen.

 

[DobieLover]

Has anyone had experience with Ameraucana’s? We got 4 chickens from Tractor Supply that were supposed to all be hens. They are about 13 weeks now and my Ameraucana has me convinced she is a rooster. It’s much larger than the rest and a lot more aggressive, but I’m unsure if that is just in their nature. It doesn’t crow or try to crow and I don’t see any spurs. The picture attached is from the internet but it’s exactly what she looks like. I’d hate to have to get rid of it if it is a rooster so I’m hopeful it’s just an aggressive hen.

If the photo you found on the internet looks exactly like the bird you have then you have an Easter Egger cockerel.
Spurs do not develop until they are much older. Pullets and hens can also develop spurs so that is not an indicator of gender.
TSC does not sell Ameraucanas. They sell Easter Eggers which are hybrids.
Are you not allowed roosters where you are?

 

[DobieLover]

Oh, the woman at the store told us it was an Ameraucana and the sign on the brooder with the chicks said it as well. And no, we are not allowed a rooster where we are and we only wanted hens.

The people who work at TSC rarely know much about chickens in general and breeds in particular. And the hatchery from which the store gets their chicks plays dishonest games by misspelling Ameracauna.
You can post your cockerel on CL or FB and see if someone wants him. I was pleasantly surprised to rehome two mutt cockerels so people who just wanted a rooster for their flocks. Neither of the boys were human aggressive and that helps a lot.

 

[Ojwilli18]

The people who work at TSC rarely no much about chickens in general and breeds in particular. And the hatchery from which the store gets their chicks plays dishonest games by misspelling Ameracauna.
You can post your cockerel on CL or FB and see if someone wants him. I was pleasantly surprised to rehome two mutt cockerels so people who just wanted a rooster for their flocks. Neither of the boys were human aggressive and that helps a lot.

How disappointing. It is human aggressive though for some reason. It bites me hard any time I put my hands near it and it was holding down one of the hens by the neck for a moment this morning. It’s the only one of the flock who pecks me so hard like it’s really trying to hurt me. But I suppose I will need to post it in some places to try and re-home it. Thank you.

 

[Folly's place]

It may help to post photos of your EE cockerel at feed stores, and consider craigslist maybe.
There's a learning curve involved in managing cockerels, and your first year with chickens may be the wrong time to start with one. @Beekissed has a very good article here on this subject, please look it up!
If you rehome him, do it with full disclosure too.
Mary

 

[aart]

To be fair, the misnaming of Ameraucana is the hatcheries fault.

 

[featherhead007]

They are beautiful birds, but they still are roosters! Mine was very aggressive to everyone, except me. I was sad to have to re-home him.

 

[featherhead007]

How lovely! Yes it is unfortunate but in those situations it is the right thing to do, and I bet he is happy in his new home too!

He's happy, but I'm not! I did love that crazy boy!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Has anyone had experience with Ameraucana’s?

I agree with info already given... that is indeed a (handsome) EE cockerel... some of my biggest Stew Pidasso's and one of my least favorite breeds of rooster. Yet one of my favorites in hen!

Many hatcheries sell them with the correct spelling and note they maintain their line as "representation" to "show the wide variety of colors one breed can come in". Which basically means they are not bred to the standard of perfection to maintain pure color varieties for showing... EVEN if they were originally all of Ameraucana decent. I don't consider it complete dishonesty but it is a widespread miscommunication and frustrating to those of who work hard to maintain our lines.

Us BYCer's especially those that breed are a bit more particular and uhm... obsessive about our birds... and our word. You should have seen me trying to educate my LFS owner about the EE she was selling... can't remember if Ameraucana was spelled accurately or with an I. Really, non chicken people JUST don't get it.

My true Ameraucana boys have not displayed the human aggression seen in my EE boys. The EE are not bred or selected for demeanor by me the way my Ameraucana and other flock are heavily culled for any undesirable trait. My Ameraucana and others also come from breeders who presumably select much differently than hatcheries.

Good luck finding him a home. No shame in letting him go to feed someone's family.

Craigslist farm and garden section has been a good resource for me.

Best wishes!

 

[Folly's place]

As we've guessed from your description, it's an EE cockerel.
Mary