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To contact us: |
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1. "Easter Egg Layers"...are
by far the most common blue-green colored egg layer sold by most
commercial hatcheries and backyard breeders. This type of chicken
is commonly referred to as an "Araucana" but the fact is these
chickens are neither an Araucana or an Ameraucana but are a
mixed-breed/mongrel variety. They typically lay a drab olive green egg
or a pale beige egg sometimes referred to as
"pink". Although
they come in countless different colors and patterns they
often resemble Ameraucanas with similar color patterns. Some, but
not all Easter Egg Layers, sport muffs and/or beards but there is no
consistency in type or coloring since 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 egg shell color may indicate they carry brown egg layer breed
genetics. These chickens are very popular and make nice
backyard layers but they are definitely not a recognized breed that
breeds true. 2. "Araucana"...actually aren't
that common in the United States. While the A.P.A. claims some
Araucana originated in South America those described in the A.P.A.
standard originated in the US. They are a blue egg laying, "rumples"
(no tail) bird that sport 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 reference to Easter Egg
Layers and Ameraucanas. 3. "Ameraucana"...originated
in the United States and have been recognized by the American Poultry
Association since 1984. They come in 8 specific colors: Black, blue, buff, white, silver, brown-red, wheaten, and blue
wheaten. Ameraucanas have a pea-combs,
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) colored beaks. They
lay various shades of blue to blue-green eggs. With their pea combs and
lack of wattles they are very cold hardy. They are mostly
non-aggressive and easy to handle birds. They come in standard (large
fowl) and bantam size. |
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These names are commonly
mixed up! Here are the FACTS! |
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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 these are 3
separate types of poultry. Pictures are below. |
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Email:
mcntrygrl@yahoo.com |
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Info from
Vicky Thompson “Ameraucana Myths & Facts” from
ABC sharing place. Check it out! - Photos from
www.feathersite.com |
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Silver Pullet Easter
Egg Layer Photo c/o
www.feathersite.com |
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Champion White Araucana Rooster Photo c/o Claude McAllister c/o
www.feathersite.com |
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Wheaten Ameraucana Cockerel Photo c/o
Pete Akers c/o
www.feathersite.com |
