Breed Focus: Araucana/Ameraucana/Easter Egger: The Facts

I’m going to start doing a breed focus every week (I hope!) here on the blog. My primary focus at first will be chickens and ducks and then we’ll move on to other poultry from there. Sometimes it’s just nice to know the facts before we go ahead and purchase our future flock members and today I’m kicking off this new venture with a commonly confused/mistaken/misinformed breed {trio} of which I feel quite passionately about.
 
Let’s take a look at the Araucana, Ameraucana, and Easter Egger and how to define them.
 
Araucana

{Araucana cockerel, posted with permission from Fallen Oak Poultry and More}

 
The Araucana is a rare breed that is defined by some clear breed standard characteristics:
  • -they lay blue eggs of varying shades
  • -have a pea comb
  • -red earlobes
  • -rumpless (no tail)
  • -tufted (feathers growing outward just below the ears)
  • -no presence of a muff on the face
  • -are of the 5 recognized color varieties: black, black breasted red, golden duckwing, silver duckwing, and white {see HERE for breed color examples}
  • -unfortunately, Araucanas are “genetically impure”, which means they will not always breed true to their characteristics, producing un-tufted offpsring. Additionally, that tufted gene results in a large percentage of chicks dying before even hatching.
 
 Ameraucana

{Ameraucana pullet}

The Ameraucana is similar to the Araucana, which makes them easily confused if you do not know the facts. Here is how you determine a true Ameraucana:
  • -they lay blue eggs of varying shades
  • -have a pea comb
  • -red earlobes
  • -have a tail
  • -have a muff and beard on and around the face 
  • -are of the 8 recognized color varieties: black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, silver, wheaten, & white
  • {See HERE for breed color examples}
  • -are “genetically pure”, meaning their muff/beard and tail characteristics will breed true
 
Easter Eggers
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Easter Eggers are- put simply- everything that falls into the “other” category. If they do not meet the breed requirements for either the Araucana or the Ameraucana, but still produce the blue egg gene, they are known as an Easter Egger or Rainbow Layer, and are not a “true” breed recongized by the APA or ABA.
  • -lay eggs in a variety of shades, including: blues, greens, pinks, creams, etc.
  • -come in a variety of colors/patterns
  • -can be clean-faced or have muff/beard
Sadly, many of the big hatcheries sell their Easter Eggers as “Araucanas” or “Ameraucanas” or even change the spelling to “Americanas”- all of which are incorrect according to breed standards. If you are looking to purchase a true Araucana or Ameraucana, you will likely have to seek out a private breeder.
 
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{Our bantam Easter Egger hen “Sahara” and 2012 chicks. Notice her “clean face”.}

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{Our Easter Egger pullet “Dazzle” at 9 weeks of age, already showing a full muff and beard.}

This is not to say that Easter Eggers aren’t great chickens- they are! We currently have 7 of them in our flock and we enjoy the variety of colors- from their feathers to their eggs.

 

{4 of our Easter Egger pullets, age 9 weeks}

What you have in mind as far as your poultry-raising plans go is what really comes into play when deciding which of the three strains of this breed to choose. If you are wanting to raise and breed true Araucanas, you will find yourself investing hundreds of dollars. Ameraucanas are a bit more spendy than your average breed as well. But if you simply want some colorful birds and the enjoyment of pulling a blue/green egg from the nest box- you can acquire an Easter Egger for the same cost as most other breeds.

Whatever you decide, I hope I’ve helped you learn the facts so that you can make an informed decision. Regardless of what you choose, enjoy these beautiful, unique birds. They truly are a joy!

Sources:

http://www.ameraucana.org/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameraucana

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About yellowbirchhobbyfarm

Hi! I'm Erin, a 19th-century homesteader at heart. Here at Yellow Birch Hobby Farm we practice self-sustainable living by way of organic gardening, canning & preserving, raising a variety of livestock, hunting, foraging, and cooking from scratch. And here at our blog, we share it all with you! So glad you've found us.

3 comments on “Breed Focus: Araucana/Ameraucana/Easter Egger: The Facts

  1. Well Hello Erin, so nice to meet you and happy to have you aboard. Enjoyed your blog, love the pictures of the fine feathered friends….I am your new follower, Blessings Francine.

  2. Wonderful explanation of these breeds! I am always confused by them but you made it easy to understand. I’ve had several Easter Eggers and love them and their eggs! They always seem to be a bit more eccentric and slightly weird compared to my other hens haha.

    That photo of Sahara and her chicks is just too cute! Nothing like seeing a mama with her baby chicks 🙂

    PS – So glad you stopped by my blog! Thanks for the sweet comment. I really enjoyed my visit here!

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