Purebred Ameraucana Egg laying

[junebuggena]

True Ameraucana are typically poor layers, and they are slow to develop. It's pretty normal for them to take 6 to 8 month sto start laying.

 

[PirateGirl]

Put a light in her Coop extends the light hours

Thanks, but we're going au natural. She'll lay when she's ready.

 

[Folly's place]

The eggs my Ameraucanas did produce were a nice aqua blue color. Just not very many of them! The EEs (hatcheries call them Ameraucanas) will lay eggs that vary in color, mostly green. But much better production, at least here.
I have Cackle bantam EEs, and love them! Aqua eggs, bantam/ small, and very good production.
We all have favorite breeds! I love my white Chanteclers, and also Speckled Sussex hens, Plymouth Rocks (buffs are nice!), EEs, French Marans. Australorps are good.
I like Salmon Favorelles a lot, but they are too gentle to manage in many mixed breed flock.
I don't like hatchery RIRs; basically production reds, or sex-links, because of their more difficult temperments. Nasty feather picking little beasts, IMO.
My one batch of hatchery Orphingtons were not smart and died young. Many people love them though; they can't be wrong.
I'd recommend that you order a nice mix of birds and see how they do, and how you like them. It's all about your preferences, and it's fun!
Mary

 

[Ravynscroft]

Odd... mine and the breeders I know typically get 6 eggs a week from them...

 

[Folly's place]

Sounds great, and I wish mine had done that well!
Mary

 

[JedJackson]

We decided to get some purebred, proper coloured ameraucanas last year... We have about 24 blue and black, and a few Wheatons.

Is it true that when trying to maintain a color, egg laying is not always focused on when breeding?

This is the longest I've EVER had to wait for an egg! I've changed nothing and I always choose the feed with a little more protein.

They were hatched mid-May... could it be normal for winter laying pullets? Or could it be the color trait was focused on instead of egg laying?

I've had a few and they were decent egg layers. I suppose it depends on who you got them from because different stains have different levels of production. None are as good layers as easter eggers, though. For the average owner just desiring eggs they are a much better choice than the thoroughbreds.

 

[chickens really]

We plan on getting another batch of 25 chickens from the hatchery in the early spring... Here are my choices:

Black Austrlorp
Ameraucana (hatchery type, not like the ones I have now)
Buff Orpington
Rohde Island Red
Barred Rock

What would you recommend?

Orpington are fantastic...

 

[jeepgrrl]

We plan on getting another batch of 25 chickens from the hatchery in the early spring... Here are my choices:

Black Austrlorp
Ameraucana (hatchery type, not like the ones I have now)
Buff Orpington
Rohde Island Red
Barred Rock

What would you recommend?

I concur with imnukensc - my BR is very sweet and a good producer but she is on a break for now due to her molting. From your list I would suggest the Black Austrolorp. My girl is 8-1/2 months old and is a solid producer, 4 eggs/wk on average. She has beautiful black feathers with the typical green glossy sheen and is friendly and inquisitive, although she can be quite boisterous and demanding when she wants treats!

 

[Squishychicken]

I had three Amerucanas at one point...two got tken by hawks still have one of them. she is three but dosent lay anymore she started at roughly 8 months and layer every day...

 

[Squishychicken]

she was a pure Amerucana too