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Frequently Asked Questions What are the major differences between Ameraucana and Araucana
chickens? Where can I get a list of Ameraucana breeders to try to obtain
hatching eggs and/or birds? How can I get an Ameraucana Egg Color Reference Chart? Aren't Araucanas the "original" breed of colored-egg
chicken? Are Ameraucanas just mongrels produced by crossing Araucanas with
other breeds of domestic chickens? Who decided which attributes the Ameraucana breed would consist
of? Are blue eggs, from Ameraucanas and Araucanas, lower in
cholesterol than white and brown eggs? What are the major differences between Ameraucana and Araucana
chickens? Both breeds lay eggs with shells colored various
shades of blue, have pea combs, and should have red earlobes. Beyond that few
similarities exist in specimens meeting the requirements of recognized
poultry standards. Perhaps 99 percent of chickens sold as Araucanas (or
Ameraucanas) by commercial hatcheries are actually mongrels (aka Easter Egg
chickens), meeting the requirements of neither breed. According to the American Poultry Association
(APA), the Araucana breed must be rumpless (no tail) and have ear tufts. Ear
tufts are clumps of feathers growing from small tabs of skin usually found at
or near the region of the ear openings. This feature is unique in the The Ameraucana breed, on the other hand, has a tail
and sports muffs and beard in the facial area. These characteristics are
true-breeding. Other requirements of both breeds may be found in the APA's
Standard of Perfection and in the American Bantam Association's ( The Ameraucana Breeders Club defines an Easter Egg
Chicken or Easter Egger as any chicken that possesses the blue egg gene, but
doesn’t fully meet any breed description as defined in the APA and/or Where can I get a list of Ameraucana breeders to try to obtain
hatching eggs, and/or birds? Check the ABC Breeders Directory. It can also be accessed through our Downloads page and
is also available, in print, from the
club Secretary for $2 to club members and $5 to non-members. This website
also features the ABC Forum. It is
designed to provide a place to buy and sell Ameraucana chickens, eggs and
related items. How can I get an Ameraucana Egg Color
Reference Chart? Ameraucana Egg Color Reference
Charts are available from the club Secretary for $3 each or 2 for $5,
including postage. Make check payable to Ameraucana
Breeders Club and send to: Michael Muenks, 33878 Hwy 87,
Aren't Araucanas the "original" breed of colored-egg
chicken? Although the APA Standard claims some Araucanas
came from South America, the Historical evidence does not support the notion
that only one type of chicken laid colored eggs in their native Ameraucanas were recognized as a separate and
distinct breed in the early 1980's by the APA and by the Are Ameraucanas just mongrels produced by crossing Araucanas with
other breeds of domestic chickens? As far as can be determined no tufted-rumpless fowl
were used to create any of the eight recognized varieties of
Ameraucanas. Ameraucana bantams and
Ameraucana large fowl are standard breeds.
They have specific requirements with regard to shape, weights,
coloring, comb, earlobes, and so on. While it is true that commercial
hatcheries continue to cash in on crossbred mongrels by advertising them as
Araucanas or Ameraucanas, it takes much more than eggshell color to make a
true breed. Who decided which attributes the
Ameraucana breed would consist of? Because general agreement among fanciers could not
be reached, certain American Poultry Association officials created an
Araucana standard and imposed it on the public in 1976 without benefit of the
normally required qualifying process. Quite obviously this standard was
originally a goal to be strived for, but birds were subsequently developed
meeting it’s' requirements. In contrast, Ameraucana bantams were bred first
to conform to a proposed standard, then achieved standard recognition through the normal qualifying processes. The small group
of breeders who developed Ameraucanas selected its' traits via majority vote.
Eight varieties have been recognized by both
organizations since 1984. They are: Black, Blue, Blue wheaten, Brown red,
Buff, Silver, Wheaten, and White. These same eight specific color patterns
are recognized in both large fowl and bantams (miniatures). Are blue eggs, from Ameraucanas and Araucanas, lower in
cholesterol than white and brown eggs? No. This is a very common question because years
ago some hatcheries claimed that these eggs were reported to be lower in
cholesterol and higher in nutritional value than other chicken eggs. William
O. Cawley, Extension Poultry Specialist at Texas A&M University, wrote a
paper, POULTRYDOM'S MYSTERY CHICKEN - THE ARAUCANA, 10/79, that sets the
record straight. |
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