| Lets cover the basic differences... 1. "Easter Egg Layers or Rainbow Layers"... are by far the most common "blue egg layer" sold by mosy commercial hatcheries, local feed mills, farm supply stores and backyard breeders. This type of chicken is commonly referred to as an "Araucana" but that fact is there are neither a purbreed "Araucana" or an "Ameraucana" but they are a mixed-breed/mongrel variety. Some hatcheries are starting to refer to them as "Easter Egg Layers" or "Rainbow Layers" but many people and hatcheries still erroneously call them "Americanas" (often seen mis-spelling of Ameraucana), "Auraucanas" or "Ameraucanas". Easter Egg Layers typically lay an olive or khaki green egg or a pale beige egg sometimes reffered to as "pink", but some lay blue eggs as well but this dose not mean that they are an Ameraucana. Although they come in countless different color patterns they often resemble Ameraucanas with similar color patterns. Some, but not all Easter Egg Layers sport muffs and/or beards but there is usually no consistency in type or coloring sience they are a mixed breed and do not breed true to type. They often have a variety of comb styles and wattles. They may also have yellow beaks and yellow or "willow" (greenish-yellow) shanks and feet and this along with the green shell color may indicate they carry a brown egg breed genetics. These chickens are very popular and make a nice backyard layer but they are definitely not an A.P.A recognized breed nor do they breed true. |
| To contact us: |
| Much miss-information surrounds these 3 different varieties of poultry: Araucana Ameraucana Easter Egg Layers Many people, even experienced poultry fanciers do not always realize the differences between them. These are 3 separate types of poultry. Pictures are below. |
| Email: mcntrygrl@yahoo.com |
| Info by Vicky Thompson "Ameraucana Myths & Facts" from ABC sharing place. I encourage you to visit, full of facts daily! Photos from www.feathersite.com |
| Silver Pullet Easter Egg Layer |
| Photo c/o www.feathersite.com |
| Champion White Araucana Rooster |
| Photo c/o Claude McAllister |
| c/o www.feathersite.com |
| Blue Wheaten Ameraucana Cockerel |
| Photo c/o Pete Akers |
| c/o www.feathersite.com |
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| 2. "Araucana"... actually aren't that common in the United States. While the A.P.A claims some Araucanas originated in South America, those described in the A.P.A standard originated in the US. They are a blue egg laying, "rumpless" (no tail) bird that sports ear tufts, clumps of feathers growing at or near their ear openings and no muff or beard. Despite their somewhat small numbers in the US it is their name that is most frequently and erroneously used in refrence to the Easter Egg Layers and Ameraucanas. You can see pictures of Araucanas on the Feathersite. go to : http://www.feathersite.com/poultry/BRKPoultry.html |
| 3. "Ameraucana"...originated in the United States and have been recognized by the American Poultry Association since 1984. Currently, they only come in these 8 specific colors: -Black -Blue -Buff -White -Silver -Brown-Red -Wheaten -Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas have a pea-comb, a lack of prominant wattles, "bay" colored eyes (reddish brown), red ear lobes and "slate" (blue colored) shanks. (blacks can have black colored shanks and feet) and feet and the bottoms of their feet are white. They have "horn" (neutral and not yellow) colored beaks. They lay vairous shaded of pastel blue to blue-green eggs. With their pea combs and lack of wattles they are very cold hardy. They are mostly non-agressive and easy to handle birds. Thay come in Standard (large fowl) and bantam size. You can see photographs of Ameraucanas here in our members photo album section click on "Pictures" and then on our "Color" pages and on the Feathersite or on the Ameraucana Breeders Club website. http://www.ameraucana.org/index.html |
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| Here are some photos to show an idea of what each breed looks like. These pictures are listed in the feathersite and are being used under the Feathersite's photo sharing policy. |
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| Ameraucana Myths & Facts by Vicky Thompson |
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