How much is too much for Ameraucanas?

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm seeing $7.90/B. Ameraucana at Cackle Hatchery. I know not to get hatchery birds for what I want to do but I AM a noob. If $50 is what the group thinks is right, I'm on board. I know it's considered uncouth at best to haggle with the sellers on poultry prices so I consult the hive mind haha!

Those 8 dollar birds are actually EEs. It's rather confusing, but if they're cheaply priced, it's not a pure Ameraucana

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I'm seeing $7.90/B. Ameraucana at Cackle Hatchery. I know not to get hatchery birds for what I want to do but I AM a noob. If $50 is what the group thinks is right, I'm on board. I know it's considered uncouth at best to haggle with the sellers on poultry prices so I consult the hive mind haha!

Sandhill Preservation has Black Ameraucanas. They say on the site they're from show lines.

 

[Amer]

30-50 dollars is the reasonable range for show quality, adult females IMO.
But I’ve always seen birds sold for less than their worth.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Those 8 dollar birds are actually EEs. It's rather confusing, but if they're cheaply priced, it's not a pure Ameraucana

Ehhhhh...that's not entirely accurate, but it's probably true most of the time.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ehhhhh...that's not entirely accurate, but it's probably true most of the time.

That's true. I mostly just meant for the commercial hatcheries like Cackle or Murray McMurray

 

[SwampFlock]

Those 8 dollar birds are actually EEs. It's rather confusing, but if they're cheaply priced, it's not a pure Ameraucana

I always look to see if they spell it with an "I" but these are the correct spellings at Cackle. Again, not interested in them personally but isn't that unethical or something to say you sell X only to switch it with a Y?

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I always look to see if they spell it with an "I" but these are the correct spellings at Cackle. Again, not interested in them personally but isn't that unethical or something to say you sell X only to switch it with a Y?

I think part of the problem is that EEs were derived from Ameraucanas, so people think they can get away with calling them that, even if they aren't full. The biggest clue in my experience is if the hatchery sells them as mixed color only--if they're real Ameraucanas, they'll have them available based on their plumage color.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I always look to see if they spell it with an "I" but these are the correct spellings at Cackle. Again, not interested in them personally but isn't that unethical or something to say you sell X only to switch it with a Y?

I wouldn't know. I just don't do it personally. But so many people do it nowadays that some don't even know that Amaraucanas are different than EEs

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I think $50 is reasonable to pay for quality birds. Age would be a factor. Closer to laying age, higher the price. If this is the breed and color you want and you trust the breeder, then it is not too much IMO.

 

[Percheron chick]

Cackle Hatchery's black and lavender Ameraucanas are actually John Blehm's birds. They have had plenty of time to breed away from the SOP but the seed stock was decent birds. Most small breeders will play up the birds they have that are from good or very good breeding programs but how far back are those people and have they brutally culled breeders even at a financial loss?
I expect to pay $10 for a straight run home grown Ameraucanas day olds. I think I paid $6 straight run lavenders from JB maybe 6 years ago but I don't think he sells chicks anymore. $50/bird to build a breeding program around is nothing.