Ameraucana

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A Buff Ameracuna hen sits on her eggs.
A Buff Ameracuna hen sits on her eggs.

The Ameraucana is a breed of chicken developed in the United States. The name is a portmanteau term of American and Araucana (a related breed). Ameraucanas come in both a large and bantam variety. Eight colors are officially recognized for poultry shows by the American Poultry Association: Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten and White.

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[edit] Characteristics

Ameraucanas are similar to Araucana chickens because both have pea combs and lay blue shelled eggs, but they have many differences and are completely different breeds. Some other Ameraucana traits include full tails, muffs and slate or black legs depending on the variety. Bantam cocks weigh 30 ounces and bantam hens weigh 26 ounces while large fowl cocks weigh 6 1/2 pounds and large fowl hens weigh 5 1/2 pounds.

[edit] Confusion with Easter Egg chickens

this hen shows all the characteristics of Ameraucanas, such as a muff, pea comb, and red earlobes, but is an unrecognized color
this hen shows all the characteristics of Ameraucanas, such as a muff, pea comb, and red earlobes, but is an unrecognized color

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 standards. Further, even if a bird (that possesses the blue egg gene) meets an APA standard breed description, but doesn’t meet a variety description or breed true at least 50% of the time it is considered an Easter Egg chicken. The American Poultry Association's American Standard of Perfection contains breed and variety descriptions of all recognized standard bred poultry in North America.

[edit] History

Although all chickens are related to all chickens, Ameraucanas weren't bred from Araucanas and Araucanas weren't bred from Ameraucanas. Both breeds were bred or developed from the non-standard Easter Eggers mated to other chickens. The APA officially accepted Ameraucana as standard breeds in 1984.

[edit] References