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The Ameraucana volaille is a popular and widely bed chicken breed for several reason . Their puffy and comical cheeks match with profane ball make for quite the crew pleaser . Many mass arouse them for their personality as well , as they are very bright and odd chick with pollyannaish spirits .
Ameraucanas are a well - labialize stock with traits that make them versatile birds that adjust to many surroundings .
About the Ameraucana Chicken
Ameraucanas were deduce from another blue egg level called the Araucana , a breed that originally came from Chile . Ameraucanas were develop in America in the 1970s with the destination of polish off the lethal factor that Araucanas carry .
The lethal cistron in Araucanas occurs in their ear tufts . When two copies of the gene are passed there is a high-pitched death charge per unit . Often these birds do n’t hatch so your hatching rates would be importantly lower when breeding Araucanas .
Ameraucanas make a nice option for those not interested in dealing with this genetic error . They still possess benefit regain in Araucanas such as color varieties , ballock gloss , and general temperament .
This finish was encounter and Ameraucanas are now recognized by theAmerican Poultry Associationas of 1984 . TheAmerican Standard of Perfectionrecognizes 8 dissimilar vividness diverseness of the Ameraucanas , black , down in the mouth , blue wheaten , dark-brown , red , silver grey , wholemeal , and clean .
Ameraucana Characteristics
1. Size and weight
The typical weight of a standard male person Ameraucana rove between 5.5 and 6.6 pounds while the weight unit of a standard distaff Ameraucana array between 4.5 and 5.5 pounds .
These sure enough are n’t huge birds by any means and would n’t make a very good twofold design breed . However , they are rather efficient on provender , so bigger is n’t always better . They ’re large enough to hold their own in a big flock though .
2. Temperament
Ameraucanas are in the main rather docile and unagitated birds . While they are n’t the most cuddly of all breeds , they are n’t very spooky . Roosters are not aggressive and are often rather polite .
It is not out of the reach of possibilities for an Ameraucana biddy to go ruminative , but they are not to a fault broody . When a hen does go contemplative they often make for protective and nurture mothers .
3. Production
Ameraucana Chickens are not breed to dwell an ball every day When you do get an egg you may await a beautiful grim egg to make for a adorable pop of color in your egg carton . Typical output of a hen in her meridian laying years is about 3 - 4 ballock per week . yearly product will average out between 170 - 200 eggs .
4. Ideal Climate
clime requisite is not a vast business organisation to the Ameraucanas . These birds sport a pea plant comb which cause them repellent against frostbite , an splendid choice for cold climates . Ameraucanas do fairly well in hot climates too , however , keep in mind where they do not have as enceinte of a coxcomb they can sometimes have a hard metre letting off supernumerary heat . Unless you live in a very hot and humid mood this should not pose as too much of a concern for you .
Caring for your Ameraucana
Ameraucanas are fairly blue maintenance birds that do not require much exceptional care and should immix right in with your peck with ease .
1. Feeding and Nutritional Needs
feed Ameraucanas should be no dissimilar than the rest of your batch . During laying season course them steady set mash and make indisputable to increase their protein during a molt .
A note about H2O : Due to the size of the beard on some Ameraucanas , they can often get them wet trying to drink body of water . This is n’t usually a grownup way out , but make trusted that during wintertime you have waterers that understate the amount of water supply they can shed on themselves . Having a beard icicle is n’t very pleasant , I think !
2. Housing
Housing necessitate for Ameraucanas are very standardised to any other breed . I would recommend a minimum of 3.5 straight feet per bird in thechicken coopand about 10 straight feet in the run . This strain also does middling wellfree ranging . Ameraucanas are not very territorial so there should not be territory battles break in out in your mess .
Remain aware of the fact that since they have rather high muffs , they have slightly decreased visibility when it comes to looking for ground predator . This should not be cause for much business organization , in all my class of raising Ameraucanas I have not recede a single bird to predatory cause .
3. Breeding
Breeding Ameraucanas is much easier than it was with their original lineage and parent stock . You no longer have to vex about lethal gene inheritance . I have bred these shuttle extensively in the past times and they have prove to be a joy to cover . Nothing beats seeing the beautiful , intumescent - cheeked chicks come out out of a blue egg .
Alternatives to Ameraucanas
Although the Ameraucanas are an adorable crybaby breed with their remarkable blue eggs , you might not be sure they are the right volaille breed for you . Fortunately , there are a few alternatives :
1. Easter Eggers
Easter Eggers would make a nice choice to Ameraucanas because they are a very standardised breed with near the same physical lineament . They are slightly easier to find though and at a cheaper price . You ’ll still get those colored eggs !
2. Legbars
While slightly harder to assume than Ameraucanas , this wimp stock is a slap-up alternative for those living in hotter clime . Legbars sport a single comb that allows for quicker chilling on hotter daytime , and in exchange for tumid cheeks , you get crested head feathers ! Legbars still lay a beautiful blue testicle like an Ameraucana .
3. Salmon Faverolles
If you ’re take care for a stock with similar physical feature as the Ameraucana but do n’t want blue ballock , consider these cuties ! Salmon Faverolles sport beautiful fumble and beard , as well as feathered stage . It is a very sweet and calm strain , lay a glossy cream - color egg .
Did you know?
Ameraucanas , Araucanas , and Easter Eggers are often collocate into one family and it is a common misconception that all three of these breeds are the same breed . Ameraucanas and Araucanas are purebred chicken , each with their own curing of trait and appearances laying only blue eggs . Easter Eggers are no specific strain with no specific touchstone for their breed and can place eggs of any colour from pink to green to blue !
Ameraucanas come in a mini version too ! If you ’re concerned in a small reading of these charming dame you may find bantam Ameraucanas through some hatchery and breeders .
I think this strain is a pop selection because who would n’t need some beautiful blue-blooded eggs in their egg basket ? This strain is certainly a pleasure to raise and I would recommend them 10/10 to any chicken custodian . Nothing drum some whiskered chicken racing around the chicken run and leaving ‘ easter orchis ’ in the nest boxes . I hope you ’ll think adding these resilient birds into your flock and until then , happy chickening !
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