When should Ameraucana develop muff and beard

[hinkjc]

Ameraucana should never display the rumpless gene. It is not a trait of the breed. The birds pictured above are not araucana or ameraucana, they are easter eggers which is what hatcheries sell. Very pretty girls and the first one has a wonderful beard!

Jody

 

[Wynette]

Here's an 8-weeker:

 

[BeardedChick]

hinkjc, Why are you saying "not ameraucana"? Because of the physical traits? I am just curious. Either way, I like those two, especially the second one. She's really friendly.

So would the neighbors rumpless chickens also be easter eggers? I am sure they are not purebred anything, but they are layers of colored eggs. She crosses them with leghorns.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Check out the Ameraucana Breeders Club (ABC) on the net. It's a small group but they will have all the information you need to be an informed Ameraucan owner..Good luck..

Ameraucana are supposed to lay blue eggs, have tails, pea comb, muffs and beards, slate legs, red ear lobes. But as in any breeding program, there are 'throw backs' to other fowl that has been used in their breeding programs. Having 'off' colors, no muffs/beards, single comb, green eggs.. And the hatcheries that are selling EE are a whole nother problem for those uninformed breeders.. Dixie

 

[BeardedChick]

I did read that website before I posted my question, actually.

But I'd still like to know what Hinkjc sees that excludes my pullets. Are mine off colored? I didn't see anything exactly the same color.

Not arguing, just want to be mo' educated.

 

[herechickchick]

Yours are not an APA (American Poultry Association) recognized color. True Ameraucana colors are White, Buff, Silver, Brown Red, Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Blue, Black. Easter Eggers are cross breeds sold by commercial hatcheries as Ameraucana. Easter Eggers may or may not lay a blue egg and have no standard to be bred to and they can not be shown. Easter Eggers are great for the back yard and make wonderful pets. They are like mutt dogs or cats, they can not be shown but they are wonderful to have.

ETA: Yes your neighbors rumpless bird is probably an Easter Egger if they are not working on pure Araucana which are pretty rare.

 

[amazondoc]

Here are some good sites with info about telling the difference between araucanas, ameraucanas, and easter eggers:

http://www.ameraucana.org/faq.html
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-3/John_W_Blehm.html
http://www.araucana.net/

And actually, I'd like to know something similar to the question you originally asked. I have a young Ameraucana/EE cockerel. He does have muffs, but they are wispy and thin. I'm wondering if muffs and beards can get thicker with maturity?

 

[herechickchick]

Quote:
Sometimes but not always. Some of my Brown Red chicks did not have beards or muffs and some got pathetic beards a little later. You should see the beards and muffs pretty early on to get an idea of how good they are.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thank you, HereChickChick!

 

[amazondoc]

Thanks Adam!

This guy -- who was supposed to be a gal, but that's a different issue

-- has had muffs ever since I got him. But they are definitely thin and wispy. I'm hoping they improve with time.

Incidentally, I think he's gonna be a brown red, or something similar. Maybe it runs in the variety?