Araucana laying brown eggs???

[ZORRO3061]

Araucana, according to the breed standard approved and accepted by the American Poultry Association, have yellow skin. They must be rumpless and tufted to meet the breed standard. I am not referring to the landrace types in South America, but the recognized breed in the U.S.
The Ameraucana has muffs (different from tufts), tails, and only have white skin with a 'blue' wash on the legs.
Americana, Americauna, and other misspellings are the result of hatcheries trying to dupe uneducated buyers into thinking they are getting a rare breed. They are, in reality, Easter Eggers.
In the U.S., the Araucana breed and the Ameraucana breed were derived from the birds most consider Easter Eggers.
When these birds were first imported into the U.S., they were all called Araucana and nicknamed 'Easter Eggers.' A group of breeders began breeding for a specific set of traits and got those birds recognized and accepted as the Araucana breed. The birds that didn't meet the breed standard for the recognized Araucana, became known as Ameraucana.
Another group of breeders began breeding their birds towards a common set of standards and their birds were recognized as the Ameraucana breed we have today. The hatcheries never bothered to update their breeding practices or their marketing to reflect this change. They continued to sell their birds as Ameraucana, even though they do not conform to the breed's standard.
When you buy hatchery Ameraucana in the U.S., you are buying the unrefined descendants of the originally imported birds.

When I say Araucana, I'm referring to the recognized breed in the U.S. I am not referencing the obscure landrace breeds of South America.

Thanks ! Great Information.

 

[LaurenRae]

Did you figure out who is laying those medium dark brown eggs? I'm in a panic thinking my "Araucana" is laying brown eggs. The only other breeds I have are Buff Orph, Australorp, and Barred Rocks, none of which lay the rich medium brown. I know for sure she is not pure Araucana, she is not rumpless and only has small tufts. Her coloring is very similar to a Barnevelder. I'm so sad thinking I might not get the blue eggs I was so excited for ='( This is the first week of any of my 7 chickens laying.

 

[junebuggena]

Did you figure out who is laying those medium dark brown eggs? I'm in a panic thinking my "Araucana" is laying brown eggs. The only other breeds I have are Buff Orph, Australorp, and Barred Rocks, none of which lay the rich medium brown. I know for sure she is not pure Araucana, she is not rumpless and only has small tufts. Her coloring is very similar to a Barnevelder. I'm so sad thinking I might not get the blue eggs I was so excited for ='( This is the first week of any of my 7 chickens laying.

You have an Easter Egger. Any color egg is possible. Also, the Rocks may be laying the darker brown eggs.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

Did you figure out who is laying those medium dark brown eggs? I'm in a panic thinking my "Araucana" is laying brown eggs. The only other breeds I have are Buff Orph, Australorp, and Barred Rocks, none of which lay the rich medium brown. I know for sure she is not pure Araucana, she is not rumpless and only has small tufts. Her coloring is very similar to a Barnevelder. I'm so sad thinking I might not get the blue eggs I was so excited for ='( This is the first week of any of my 7 chickens laying.

I don't think the girl in the picture is laying yet. I bet it is your Plymouth Rocks that are laying that brown eggs. The girl in the picture has a beard and a pea comb which are traits of the blue egg gene, she will more than likely lay you a blue/green egg.

 

[junebuggena]

I don't think the girl in the picture is laying yet. I bet it is your Plymouth Rocks that are laying that brown eggs. The girl in the picture has a beard and a pea comb which are traits of the blue egg gene, she will more than likely lay you a blue/green egg.

Just FYI, the beard and muffs has no correlation to the blue shell gene.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

Just FYI, the beard and muffs has no correlation to the blue shell gene.

Pea combs are a part of the blue egg gene though. You're right that the beard tends to be irrelevant haha. Every EE I have gotten from a hatchery has layer a blue/green egg, never any brown or tinted layers in the bunches I have raised.

 

[englishcockers]

There is a very strong tendency (like 95%) for the pea comb and blue egg genes to be inherited together because they ar very close on the same chromosome. But once in a while it crosses over. There are of course, breeds with single combs that lay blue eggs and many pea comb breeds that don't, likewise crosses. That said, I agree, it's probably not your EE which is laying brown eggs.

 

[Kev]

this is her she's super cute regardless of egg color. I have yet to witness a egg literally being laid in front of me but I made a guess. Hoping she's the one laying those random eggs when I get 6 a day instead of 5.

Old post, but didnt see any one mention it- she has a walnut comb. Genetically a combination of pea and rose comb. Glad she gives you blue eggs.

 

[Kev]

Did you figure out who is laying those medium dark brown eggs? I'm in a panic thinking my "Araucana" is laying brown eggs. The only other breeds I have are Buff Orph, Australorp, and Barred Rocks, none of which lay the rich medium brown. I know for sure she is not pure Araucana, she is not rumpless and only has small tufts. Her coloring is very similar to a Barnevelder. I'm so sad thinking I might not get the blue eggs I was so excited for ='( This is the first week of any of my 7 chickens laying.

She is beautiful!

EE are often said to start laying later than many other breeds. I agree on waiting a bit longer and to expect green rather than blue but hopefully you will be surprised with nice blues though!

 

[LaurenRae]

Thanks Kev! She is my beautiful friendly girl.

The only one out of my flock to actively seek out being held. She's never seemed interested in the nesting box like the others have, doesn't sing the egg song, and doesn't submissive squat (almost all my others do). I'm not home during the day so I really don't know for sure, but I'm hoping you guys are right! I would LOVE some green eggs. Either blue or green would be amazing.