People are willing to see blue egg chickens!
We conduct surveys periodically to gauge people’s wants and expectations for chickens, as well as other topics.
The same thing happened in our recent survey; many people asked keepers where the blue egg layer is.
If you must listen to blue eggs, maybe you will see it. You don’t wonder which breed it is? Yes! Ameraucana chickens lay blue eggs.
Stay with me, we will discuss this breed all the way. So, we talk about what happens to me in a gathering.
People were so crazy about the breed that lay blue eggs, dual-purpose chickens, and the best part is they can lay a lot of eggs, which means a good amount of eggs.
Let’s discuss this breed.
How Do You Pronounce Ameraucana?
It’s simple, you can call it “Am-uh-RAW-kuh-nuh” or you can pronounce “Am-uh-RAH-kuh-nuh”. I learnt after 4-5 attempts that it’s not difficult.
Why are Ameraucana so Popular?
They are known among poultry keepers due to their beautiful blue eggs, which stand out among other brown and white egg-laying chickens.
Also, they are a cold-hardy breed, and they can survive in every type of climate.
They are friendly in nature and become a good pet for you, which makes them the eye-star of chicken keepers.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Good for Beginners?
Yes, if you are a beginner or starting, but you don’t know how to choose the right type of chicken. These blue egg layers are best for you.
As they are a friendly, cold-hardy, docile breed, they have no specific requirements or any health issues.
A beginner can keep them easily, so it’s a great option. Poultry enthusiasts call them beginner-friendly chickens.
What is the History and Origin of Ameraucana Chickens?
Araucana Chickens, which are naturally blue egg layers, were imported to the US in the 1970s. They have many issues, like genetic problems (like lethal genes linked to ear tufts).
The breeder wants blue egg layers that don’t have these types of issues. So, they develop new blue egg layers called Ameraucana, which is done by the blue egg gene.
APA (American Poultry Association) recognized this breed in 1984 and accepted it with different variations.
Also, ABA 1989 accepted them as a Bantam breed.
What Types of Ameraucana Chickens Exist? (Varieties and Standards)
Ameracana chickens look like they come after visiting different paint buckets, you might think.
The APA officially recognizes nine stunning color varieties for large fowl and eight for bantams, making them nature’s art collection.
Mostly they come in 8 standard colour varieties.
- Black
- Blue
- Blue Wheaten
- Brown Red
- Buff
- Silver
- Wheaten
- White
Lavender Ameraucana Chickens – The Most Popular Variety
Lavender Ameraucana chickens are the newest kids on the block, officially recognized by the APA in 2020.
These self-blue beauties are actually valued for premium prices because true lavender genetics are tricky – many “purple” birds are actually diluted blues masquerading as the real deal!
Breeders charge double for authentic lavender Ameraucanas since achieving that perfect silvery-purple shade takes serious genetic know-how. The payoff? A chicken that looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale.
Blue Wheaten and Other Recognized Ameraucana Colors
Blue wheaten Ameraucanas express them from golden necks with steel-blue bodies – think sunrise meeting storm clouds.
Brown red varieties impact copper hackles over darker bodies, while classic wheatens glow like autumn wheat fields.
Color genetics get wild here: breeding blue to blue gives you blues, blacks, and splash patterns in a 1:2:1 ratio.
That’s why experienced breeders keep detailed charts – one wrong pairing and your flock turns into a genetic surprise party!
Bantam Ameraucana Chickens vs Standard Size
Bantam Ameraucana hens weigh just 1.63 pounds while roosters hit 1.88 pounds – compare that to standard hens at 5.5 pounds!
They lay small blue eggs and need half of the coop space.
Perfect for urban backyards where space is tight but blue egg dreams are big.
Just remember: smaller chicken, smaller eggs, but the same big personality!
What Do Ameraucana Chickens Look Like? (Visual Characteristics Guide)
Walk into any flock and you’ll spot an Ameraucana instantly – they’re the ones with fuzzy “sideburns” and what looks like a tiny goatee.
Those fluffy cheek feathers (called muffs) and throat beards make them look perpetually wise, almost professorial among regular chickens.
The color game is where things get exciting. Eight official shades range from coal-black beauties to soft lavender birds that look almost purple in certain light.
My personal favorite? The wheaten variety has golden-bronze feathers that catch sunlight like burnished copper.
Here’s the dead giveaway for true Ameraucanas: those slate-blue legs and neat little pea combs sitting low on their heads.
No bright red wattles dangling around, no feathered feet to collect mud – just clean, practical birds that happen to lay the most Instagram-worthy blue eggs you’ve ever cracked.
How Big Do Ameraucana Chickens Get?
Size-wise, they hit that sweet spot most backyard keepers love.
Hens clock in around 5.5 pounds, roosters about 6.5 – big enough for decent eggs and meat, but not so hefty they’ll bulldoze your garden beds or intimidate smaller breeds.
Male vs Female Ameraucana Chickens – How to Tell the Difference
Males:
Larger pea combs, pointed neck feathers, curved tail plumes, and a protective stance.
Females:
Smaller combs, rounded neck feathers, straight tails, docile behavior around nests.
Do Ameraucana Chickens Lay Blue Eggs?
Many other breeds like Araucana, Cream Legbar, Easter Egger lay blue eggs, but this one breed also lays blue eggs.
You can see the colour of eggs is blue-green, but it’s blue. Sometimes, it happens. Some people say these dual-purpose breeds lay blue-green eggs, but I say this is blue.
You want blue eggs!
Ah! I know, let’s bring this one into your coop and see the beauty in your bucket of eggs.
I bet you wonder the first time you see the blue eggs in your backyard coop.
I was also wondering! Like a miracle happens in my flock. Like chicken from another world added to my backyard flock.
How Many Eggs Do Ameraucana Chickens Lay Per Year?
These blue egg layers can give 200-250 eggs per year, which means 4-5 per week.
I tested them for years to find out the frequency of laying eggs.
This is a good frequency from a layperson’s point of view. That’s why we add them to the list of breeds that are reliable for egg laying.
When Do Ameraucana Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
Ameraucana start laying when they are 5-7 months old. It depends on the chick; many factors happen around them.
Some chicks can start laying at the start of the 5th month, and some can last to the 7th month. It depends on genetics and also on health.
Are Blue Eggs from Ameraucana Chickens Healthier?
Yes, they are blue in colour, but they are not healthier than other types of chicken eggs.
They lack the structure of shells; no matter that they are not beautiful, they are pretty, but their shells are not heavy and healthy.
It depends on diet, the freshness of chickens (chickens might be lazy and are not able to lay healthy eggs), and farming practices.
By taking an expert guide and following them, you can control them, but after all, it’s by nature. Meanwhile, you can improve.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Friendly?
By nature! They are friendly. Yeah! They can be good for the backyard if you see the friendly breeds.
Somewhere, they are not as friendly as other breeds (Silkies, Orpington, Barred Rock, Easter Egger, Wyandotte).
Keepers did not think of them as cuddly, but still, they are good-natured or have a friendly nature.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Good with Kids and Other Chickens?
When the time comes to keep, obviously, we want some chicks who are good with kids.
If you see the same breed, then this one can meet your expectations somewhere.
But they are not too friendly like Silkies, so you can consider them for kids who love chicks.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Aggressive or Docile?
Males protect their females, you know it’s by nature. Like Roosters are slightly, but hens are calm in nature, and behave politely.
They are docile but alert to predators.
Your concern about Rooster? In my journey of keeping chickens for years, I think sometimes like you now, but with time, I understand nature never changes.
Every time, males are aggressive towards their females. They are not willing to compromise for her.
Like Roosters can behave aggressively, but are rarely aggressive because they want to protect their hens.
What’s the Difference Between Ameraucana, Araucana, and Easter Egger Chickens?
Here’s something we change chicken keepers’ brains more than any calculus problem: telling these three blue-egg layers apart.
The Real Deal About Easter Eggers vs True Ameraucanas
Easter Eggers aren’t actually a breed – they’re American hybrid chickens. Obviously, they carry the blue gene, but it doesn’t mean they always lay blue eggs.
Real Ameraucana chickens are recognized as true 50% of the time according to Alliance standards.
Ah! I see you are to catch the actual difference between Ameraucana and Easter Egger.
They always lay blue eggs and meet specific breed standards, while Easter Eggers are derived mutts that might surprise you with green or brown eggs.
Watch out for hatcheries using sneaky “Americana” spelling tricks – that’s your red flag for Easter Eggers masquerading as the real deal.
Why Ameraucanas Beat Araucanas Every Time?
These beautiful egg layers have fluffy ear tufts called peduncles and no tail, but here’s the kicker: that tufted gene is absolutely evil. It causes high mortality in embryos, making survival rates devastatingly low for chicks.
They were bred by smart Americans who wanted to retain those blue-egg skills without the deadly gene.
You see, they always have tails, sport beards and muffs rather than dangerous tufts, and look like chipmunks crossed with hawks – sounds weirder than it looks!
The name Ameraucana is literally an amalgamation of America and Araucana, showing how various American breeds were mixed with blue-egg-laying chickens.
While tufted Araucanas remain rare in America due to genetically impure breeding that luckily helps chicks survive, the UK and Australia accept both as the same breed.
I wonder, firstly, why this stuff confuses everyone!
Are Ameraucana Chickens Cold Hardy? (Care and Management)
You’ll thank their pea combs and dense feathers when you keep them.
These heritage breeds can tolerate cold climates.
But your duty is to make sure you have deep bedding and adequate ventilation to prevent frostbite.
Also, provide them with proper water (not frozen) and balanced feed.
How Long Do Ameraucana Chickens Live?
Keepers say they can live for 6-8 years.
My opinion is that it depends on the care, health of chicks, and other factors.
Obviously, they cannot live more than 8 years; maybe some will cross this number, but on average, it’s not.
Some with proper care can live for this number, less care and health can damage them, and they cannot live more than 5-6 years.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Good for Free Range?
Yeah! They are active, alert, and good forager and can reduce feed cost by finding their own food.
So, they are excellent free-range chicks.
Do Ameraucana Chickens Go Broody?
Usually, they are not broody by nature. But some heritage and bantam who are hatching eggs show sometimes broodiness behaviour.
It’s uncommon to be broody; this behaviour makes them reliable blue egg-laying birds.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Dual Purpose?
Yes! They are a purpose-bred breed that can lay eggs as well as give a good amount of meat. So, they are good for those keepers who are willing to keep a purpose-bred.
Let’s clear your expectations. You need chicken, which gives you a good amount of meat and also provides egg laying.
Ameraucana can meet your expectations somewhere. They can give an amount of meat to you, but they are not primarily considered for meat production.
They are popular for their blue eggs, and they can produce a good amount of eggs.
Can You Eat Ameraucana Chickens for Meat?
It’s a practical option to eat their meat. They usually weighed from 5.5 to 6.5 lbs. Obviously, they are less than Cornish Cross, but their meat is tasty and lean.
Many chicken keepers raise them, and get as much benefit from this breed as possible, which means they enjoy eggs as well as meat. So, they are a dual-purpose breed.
You’ll be the next one to enjoy this breed.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Good Egg Layers Compared to Other Breeds?
They are pointed in the middle of other types of chickens.
So, you can say they are giving an average or above-average amount of eggs.
How to Care for Ameraucana Chickens? (Complete Care Guide)
My friend Sarah swears raising Ameraucana chickens is easier than raising her teenagers – and honestly, she’s not wrong! These blue-egg beauties are pretty low-maintenance once you nail the basics.
Ameraucana Chicken Feed and Nutrition Requirements
Start chicks on 20% protein starter until 16 weeks, then switch to regular layer feed – same stuff I give my other birds. I toss oyster shells in a separate dish for stronger eggshells, though honestly, my Ameraucanas lay rock-solid blue eggs without much fuss.
Common Health Issues in Ameraucana Chickens
Here’s the best part about Ameraucanas – they’re tough as nails! Unlike their Araucana cousins with those deadly ear tufts, these girls rarely get sick. I’ve had mine for three years, and the only “emergency” was Henrietta getting her head stuck in the fence again.
Housing Requirements for Ameraucana Chickens
Give each bird 4 square feet inside the coop and 10 in the run – same as any chicken, really. Mine love roosting about 18 inches high, and I use standard nesting boxes since their eggs are regular-sized despite that gorgeous blue color.
Are Ameraucana Chickens Loud or Quiet?
I consider them quieter than other types of chicken, but they can make a little bit of noise as they are living things.
Hens are less noisy than roosters; they crow with a hard voice.
Can Ameraucana Chickens Fly?
Yeah! They can fly. But they can fly from tree to tree, which are heighted from 4-5 feet, not more than that.
They are medium-sized chickens; for that reason, they can fly from the roots to the tree.
