Araucana thread anyone?

[Illia]

I would assume pretty long. My Araucanas aren't very old because, well, they just aren't. But I've seen users on here with cocks that have some CREEPY spurs that definitely show the boys' ages. I mean spurs that curl back into the thighs, practically. . .

I'd have to put down the bad news that if you have a local who sells Ameraucana or Araucana eggs/chicks, the only chance they're true is that the seller KNOWS what Easter Eggers are, what the difference is, and, well, shows you their parent stock in proof.

For those curious, the difference in Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers is in the standard. Here are some important things with Ameraucanas that if not met by a bird, it means the bird isn't an Ameraucana.

Accepted color. That means it is exactly the following colors and not just "looks sort of like it" --- Buff, Blue, Black, White, Brown-Red, Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Silver. - Splash and Lavender are also accepted as an Ameraucana, but splash is not APA accepted and Lavender has not been accepted to the breed yet.

Muffs and Beard.

Lays blue eggs. (no green, no pink/brown, no white)

Has slate or black legs. (no green, no yellow, no pink/white)

The sad part is, there are even breeders out here in my state who post ads for "rare colored Ameraucanas for sale" - And the pics clearly show Easter Eggers. Then, the ad continues with a listing of the rare colors (Buff, Silver, White, and Brown-Red) but the birds are clearly NOT those colors. Then, if you contact the person, they will swear to their grandmas that their birds are true, purebred, and have even been in shows.

 

[puredelite]

A little late on this thread but just wanted to add my "two cent's worth". For the newcomer's to the blue egg layer breeds there is some confusion about the difference in the breeds due partially to the commercial hatcheries. When I first was aware of chickens that layed blue eggs, back in the '70's, they were all labeled Araucanas. No matter the body type, facial embellishments or color. These were chicks from a few different hatcheries. Then from some breeder I aquired a trio of solid black chickens with no tails at all and with a little research discovered that I had indeed found the real Araucana. Unfortunatlly I don't recall keeping them very long. The birds that eventually became labeled as Easter Egger's increased in popularity and somewhere along the way someone selected a few body colors and the blue egg color and developed the Ameraucana. My flock of EE's have been bred over the years to be fairly consistant in body color( mostly two different colors) and lay only blue eggs. All have beards and muffs. So, this raises the question what is the difference in my EE's and Ameraucanas other than the acceptable colors? Guess until I found BYC I wasn't aware that EE's were still being "fabricated" by crossing two different breeds to attain the beards and muffs and colored eggs. Guess that is why some hatcheries advertize them as "Rainbow egg layers" as to the variety of colors of eggs that one might get. So... just where and what was the Ameraucana bred from? Had to be from either the Araucana or EE or a combo of both. Any input on this?

 

[smoothmule]

Just an observation..........Colors (and other characteristics), even in purebreds, can get screwed up from crossing the colors trying to get mutated colors etc so it's not entirely true that an Ameraucana that isn't the correct color can't be a purebred. That said, there are endless breedings between breeds to create those new colors then generations of breeding to get them back to standard. You can't forget that chickens are chickens and all these breeds were created. From what I've read and been told "quietly" is that if a chicken is correct for the standard and can breed true, then it is considered that breed. Anyone who begins with a native bird also knows the way that bird was created was through natural selection, not usually human intervention, but there can hardly be any difference if a particular type is created and it breeds true.

 

[cackleberrycoop]

This link to the Ameraucana history page is most helpful in understanding both the Araucana and the Ameraucana breeds of today. It really is astonishing how much work has gone into the development these birds. http://www.ameraucana.org/history.html

 

[zekii]

Quote:
A very good observation concerning colors ... Colors for a newcomer could be very confusing since there are so many variations, so
has long as a breed conforms to the correct shape, size, and type...has or is missing the correct parts I would be pleased.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Got two girls going to Lanae this afternoon! Wishing safe travels for them!

 

[cackleberrycoop]

Quote:
Oooohhh, Lanae, whatch'a getting?


Hi Ann

I am so often grateful for the tough, hearty nature of chickens! It's just amazing to me that we can put them in boxes and ship them across country. Go girls, go!!

 

[cackleberrycoop]

I was updating the photos on my website and was so excited to find that my absolute favorite rooster, who I had thought to be clean faced, has what I believe are teensy tufts on his face. Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?

 

[cashdl]

Hi Megan,

I am getting to silver duckwings from Ann. Yeah ME!!! Thank You Ann.

I don't see tufts in that pic but if they are tiny they wouldn't show up in a pic. I have a pullet with tiny tufts. What she has is what looks like a hair about 1" longer than her ear feathers sticking up on either side. When you feel it it is fairly stiff. They don't show up in pics no matter how much I try.

He is pretty. I have quite a few boys that look like him and everyone has the yellow legs also. One of my boys legs actually look red orange which goes really well with the red. Fortunately their is no correct leg color for the blue reds, so it can be what ever you want it to be. My boys came out of a blue and BBR pen. All the pullets were Gingers and the boys were blue reds. The girls were all tufted, but none of the boys were.

Lanae

 

[Illia]

Nope, don't see tufts. He's still worth a shot at trying though - Beautiful coloration!! A very nice blue breasted red.