Ameraucana facts for kids
A Blue Ameraucana cock
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| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Standard | APA (abridged) |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Egg color | Blue in various shades |
| Comb type | Pea |
| Classification | |
| APA | All other standard breeds |
| ABA | All other comb clean legged |
| EE | yes |
| PCGB | not listed |
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The Ameraucana is a special kind of chicken breed from the United States. It was created in the 1970s from chickens called Araucanas, which originally came from Chile. Ameraucana chickens are famous because they lay eggs that are blue! Breeders worked to make sure these chickens kept the blue-egg gene but didn't have some of the less healthy traits of their Araucana ancestors. You can find Ameraucanas in both regular sizes and smaller "bantam" versions.
How the Ameraucana Chicken Began
The Ameraucana chicken was developed in the United States during the 1970s. It came from Araucana chickens that were brought over from Chile.
The main goal was to keep the Araucana's unique ability to lay blue eggs. However, breeders also wanted to remove some traits that caused health problems in the parent breed.
In 1984, the Ameraucana was officially added to the American Standard of Perfection. This is a special book that lists all the recognized chicken breeds in the United States. The name "Ameraucana" comes from combining "America" and "Araucana."
In the United States, the Ameraucana is seen as its own separate breed from the Araucana. But in some other countries, like Australia and the United Kingdom, both types of Araucana (with or without tails) are considered the same breed.
What Makes Ameraucana Chickens Special?
The Ameraucana is one of the few chicken breeds that lays blue eggs. It shares many features with the Araucana. For example, both have a pea comb, which is a small, flat comb on top of their head. Both also carry the gene for blue eggs.
However, there are some clear differences. Ameraucanas have tails, and they have "muffs" (feathers under their eyes) and "beards" (feathers under their chin). In contrast, Araucanas in the United States usually have ear tufts (feathers sticking out near their ears) and no tails.
Ameraucana chickens have small, round earlobes. Their wattles, which are fleshy growths under their chin, are also small or sometimes missing. Their earlobes, comb, and wattles are all red. Their legs, called shanks, are usually slate-blue. They can even be black in chickens with black feathers.
The American Standard of Perfection recognizes eight different feather colors for Ameraucana chickens. These colors include black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, silver, wheaten, and white.
