Arucana, Americauna, EE

[bald egg]

I saw "Rainbow Layers" at the feed store, what are these. What color of egg could one expect from a Rainbow Layer hen?

 

[Alabama ee]

You may want to ask your feed store. They might mean EE's, or they might mean a collection of different birds that lay different colors. MCMurray has something like the last:

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/rainbow_layers.html

 

[russ_t]

Something to think about is that there is always a pecking order in every flock. A bird that is always being picked on has a reason to be flighty, EE's are docile birds who will more likely than not be at the bottom of the order with a mixed flock. I'd suggest that you go with ALL EE's if you want green eggs. Since they are EEs you can expect mixed egg colors for variety. You can also get a wide variety of bird colors with ee's to give the feel of a mixed flock.

If you are set on having a mixed flock, check out "http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html". The list talks about behavior and temperament of a large number of breeds. Try to mix your flock with breeds of similar temperament. If you are also keeping roosters be careful if you have roo's of different breeds together. A dominate breed roo can tear up a docile rooster.

 

[nancy1zak]

That is a great resourse website for everything about the breeds. Our EE does not fit the description. EE's are a roll of the dice.

 

[Hockeychick]

That's a good website Russ. Thanks.

Maybe in the future I would consider having a flock that was 50-75% EE. Now, I only have 5 out of 42, so they are seriously outnumbered. They are still pretty young at 14 weeks old. The super timid bird, Nutmeg, ate out of my hand last night! I think she is figuring out that she is safe around me. I really shouldnt say that everyone pecks her, usually just the Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. Another EE now follows me around and lets me pick her up with no trouble. I hope they continue to mellow as they mature. In a few weeks I will be giving about 20 birds (not the EE's) to a neighbor, so maybe 'thinning' the flock will change the dynmics a bit. I am dreading giving any away - I have gotten so attached to the chickens.

 

[BayChicks]

One problem is that she is the only ee out of your flock. She needs friends!
We love our ee's and our Ams. The ee's are sweet girls, mind their own business, but I don't find them to be flighty. My son actually handles them quite a bit as they are his absolute favorites. The Ams definitely have stronger personalities - they're bigger birds as well. No one picks on the Am girls here. The only "picky" chickens I have are a few white leghorn chicks and I kicked them out of the brooder when they were 4 weeks old because they wouldn't leave the other chicks alone. They moved right in with the big chickens, roost with them at night and no one bothers them either. Now, they're flighty chickens!! You have to be fast to get your hands on one of them!

 

[Daidohead]

28 of 31 of my birds are purebred EE's and I wouldn't trade um for anything. I think of them as being the cats of the chicken world, intelligent and independent. My egg colors range from dark blue, olive, green, brown, pink, to almost white. They get along with all of my other animals, rarely fight, they are always healthy, and consistently lay eggs year round. Who could ask for more ??

 

[wintercluckers]

We have 2 Ameracaunas, 2 Brown Leghorns and 2 Stars. They are all only about 4 months old and are so funny to watch! The Ams do seem to be a little more 'chicken' than the others and take a bit to catch on! They still haven't quite figured out how to get up to the higher perch with their other sisters and instead just cuddle together on the coop floor during the night. They are also a little harder to catch and put up quite the noise when held for more than a few seconds! But I do love my little 'bearded ladies'!

Still waiting to see what color eggs we'll get from them!

 

[Illia]

Quote:
I must really hate to say this, but did you even read this thread? You've got Easter Eggers if you're "waiting to see what egg color they have"

That's what this thread was about. The fact that very few people have real Ameraucanas, and even less have Araucanas.

Not meaning to be rude, just pointing that out.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

FWIW...I have 3 EE's, I knew when I bought them at the feed store that they were not Ameraucana as advertised because I had been reading on BYC.

My 3 are sweet girls. One is lowest on the pecking order/very shy and quiet but she has become more sure of herself...Opal is my buddy...loves to talk sit on the arm of my chair and talk to me. My chipmunk, Ladyhawk is flighty...they keep her back picked of feathers...I'm ordering a saddle tomorrow for her but she is a great bird...she is not as low on the pecking order as Opal. The 3rd one, Sweet Cheeks is not flighty and is not as low in the pecking order--in fact she is above most of the SLW's. Even as a baby she was very friendly wanting attention each time the door to the brooder was open. I spent a lot of time holding and talking with her.

I want a whole flock of them.