Where can I find accurate information about Ameraucana chickens?

Aren't Ameraucana, Araucana and Easter Egg chickens the same?

How do I know I'm really getting Ameraucana chickens?

What breeds and varieties of day-old chicks do you offer?

Are your chickens standard-bred?

What is a “standard” chicken?

What about the egg color?

Do you sell hatching eggs?

Do you sell locally?

Where can I find accurate information about Ameraucana chickens?

Go to the Ameraucana Breeders Club website and the ABC Forum.

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Aren't Ameraucana, Araucana and Easter Egg chickens the same?

No.  Ameraucana (often misspelled "Americana") and Araucana chickens are both relatively new breeds and both lay blue eggs.  They are different breeds with different characteristics that are defined in the APA and ABA standards. Easter Egg Chickens or Easter Eggers are not a "Standard" breed (they really aren’t even a “breed” of chicken).  They are mixed breeds (aka mutts or mongrels) that happen to possess the gene for blue eggs.  Just like a mixed breed dog may make a great pet but be disqualified if entered into an AKC sanctioned dog show, mixed breed poultry may be great for the backyard/barnyard but they are not “Standard” bred for exhibition and would be disqualified if entered in an APA sanctioned poultry show.  Only standard breeds are meant for exhibition.

§         Wyandotte, Ameraucana, Plymouth Rock, Chantecler, Leghorn & Cornish are just a few examples of (standard) breeds of chickens.  There are also some breeds, such as Braggs Mountain Buff, that are not recognized by the APA but because they breed true they are breeds by definition.

§         Red Stars, ISA Brown & Cornish-Rock cross are a few examples of hybrid or crossbred chickens.  They are the result of crossing two breeds to produce offspring that are either superior layers or meat birds.  These are not breeds (as the parent birds were) and they do not breed true.  Breeding a Cornish-Rock cross to a Cornish-Rock cross does not produce Cornish-Rock cross chicks.

§         Easter Eggers & many “Heinz 57” variety barnyard chickens are examples of mixed-breed chickens.  These are not breeds since they don’t breed true or meet the standard (APA) requirements and they are not hybrids because they are not the product of a cross between two breeds.

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How do I know I'm really getting Ameraucana chickens?

If they are advertised as Americana, Americauna, Araucana/Ameraucana or Easter Egg Chickens, you can be sure they are NOT the real thing.  If they can't get the name right, they don't know what they have.  Also beware of the fine print that says their chickens "are recommended for egg laying color and ability and not for exhibition" or “Our flock is multi-colored with a wide variety of colors and feather patterns” or “** Breeds marked this way are production strains and Should Not be used for 4-H”.  Those disclaimers and similar ones mean they are selling mongrel chickens (mixed breeds), not Ameraucanas.  Many hatcheries, both big and small, will sell anything that doesn't lay a white or brown egg as an Ameraucana or Araucana.  Educate yourself about Ameraucanas before you buy.   Ameraucana chicks, especially bantams, from Chick Hatchery are great for 4-H, FFA and other youth poultry projects such as showmanship competition.

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What breeds and varieties of day-old chicks do you offer?

Chick Hatchery specializes in docile, dual-purpose, non-hybrid, standard breeds of chickens that due to their physical characteristics are especially well-suited for cold climates.  Although these breeds are relatively new, as compared to some others, they can be considered as “Heritage” breeds, due to the history of their development, their unique genetic traits, their ability to reproduce without artificial insemination and the fact that they are not only bred to a “standard” but also do well in the barnyard or backyard.  Some talk of “Heirloom” breeds of chickens, but heirloom refers to plants not animals.  “Standard” bred poultry may be exhibited at APA sanctioned poultry shows, plus “dual-purpose” breeds are utilized for both their meat and eggs.  They mature more slowly (naturally) than the commercial hybrid chickens that are bred solely for meat or eggs.  If your main concern is eggs or meat please consider buying hybrid layers or meat birds from one of the many commercial hatcheries that offer them.  The hybrid meat and egg birds are great for what they are intended for.  If you want a “standard” breed of chickens always buy from an experienced breeder/hatchery…never from a “big commercial hatchery” (FYI, Chick Hatchery is not a BIG commercial hatchery).

Chick Hatchery uses “compensation mating”, critical selection and other breeding practices to achieve a goal of continuous improvement.  Please check out the Order Form, under "Chicks" for the most up-to-date list of breeds and varieties offered and note that the list is always subject to change. 

·      Bantam and large fowl (LF) Ameraucana:  Chick Hatchery is well known for quality day-old Ameraucana chicks.  Several varieties of both bantam and large fowl Ameraucana are bred and several varieties were originally developed here, including LF buff, lavender & black.  Ameraucanas lay blue eggs and were admitted to the APA in 1984.  These are some of the best available anywhere!

·      Large fowl Chantecler:  Chick Hatchery breeds partridge, buff and white varieties.  The buff variety is not yet recognized by the APA.  Stock was obtained from several sources for these varieties and improvements are being seen with each new generation.  Chanteclers lay brown eggs and the breed was admitted to the APA in 1921.  The breed originated in Canada.

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Are your chickens standard-bred?

Yes.  The breeds and varieties of chickens are bred to represent the "standards" as outlined by the APA and ABA in their books describing the standards for recognized poultry.  There is no guarantee that standard-bred poultry will produce day-old chicks that will mature into “show quality” (exhibition) birds.  All the chicks sold are hatched at Chick Hatchery and the eggs come from our own birds, although there are times when additional hatching eggs are purchased from other personally known top breeders. 

Below is a chart rating several characteristics of the different breeds and varieties being bred.   Numbers have been assigned representing the status of those characteristics. 

1 = needs much improvement…3 = average…5 = very good.  rev. 1/15/2012

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What is a “standard” chicken? 

Did anyone ever ask you if you have “standard” chickens, when they really want to know if you have “large fowl”?  This is not just a problem with new-comers to the fancy, but many old timers, breed clubs and show clubs refer to large fowl as standards.  It is true that if the bird looks like what the American Poultry Association’s (APA) written “standard” says it should it is a standard.  But, so is any bantam chicken that looks like what the “standard” says it should.  If your birds are not mongrels they are standard chickens, regardless of their size, or any other traits.  My bantam chickens are standards, because they are bred to meet the standard.  I have standard bantams and standard large fowl.  Some will say they mean a standard “size” bird.  But there again my bantams are standard size when they meet the weights described in the standard.  They could call a large fowl a regular sized chicken as opposed to a banty, or miniature chicken, and that is fine when using colloquial terms.  Once someone understands what the word “standard” means relative to breeding they should begin to use the proper terminology.

Also note that Breeds, Varieties and Strains are different things.  Plymouth Rock is a breed.  Barred is a variety and Joe’s barred Plymouth Rocks could be a stain of that breed and variety bred by some guy named Joe. 

These are just some observations about some poultry terminology and you could probably add to the list.  It is not a list to pick on anyone, but rather to get us all on the same page and not promote a bilingual fancy.  When in doubt about the proper jargon, in the poultry world, check the APA “standard”

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What about egg color?

Ameraucana chickens should lay eggs with light pastel blue shells.  Many varieties and strains still carry modifying genes that cause their eggs to appear greenish.  This is a fault that breeders are trying to correct thru selective breeding programs.  You will know the blue egg shell color is the proper blue when the inside and outside egg shell colors are the same. 

The breeding flocks of Chantecler chickens at Chick Hatchery lay light to medium brown eggs.

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Do you sell hatching eggs?

Normally not, but if and when I do a link to an order form will be posted here.

For other sources check the ABC Breeders Directory, available thru the FAQ page on the Ameraucana website and ABC members may post want ads for Ameraucana eggs and chickens on the ABC Forum.

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Do you sell locally? (Birch Run, Michigan)

Yes.  I often have extra chicks to sell each week from February thru May and I generally post them on CraigsList (Saginaw-Midland-BayCity) on Tuesday evenings.  Most of these chicks are culls* and some are just leftovers, after filling orders for specific varieties.  This may be a great option for those in the mid-Michigan area that want as few as 10 chicks for their backyard flock.  The prices vary, but are much lower than the prices for our top of the line chicks that are ordered in advance. 

You can buy a small chick transporting box here for $3 or $5 for a large one.

Please note - Chick Hatchery is not open to the public and any birds sold here are by appointment only.  First come – first serve. 

*Culls are my seconds or “rejects” due to improper chick color or other physical characteristics.  These are straight run and may be bantams and/or large fowl.  They are sold as “backyard” chickens, not Ameraucana or Chantecler.