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 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 are mixed breeds (aka mutts or barnyard / backyard chickens) that happen to possess the gene for blue eggs.

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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 from ChickHatchery.com are ideal for 4-H, FFA and other youth poultry projects.

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

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.  Some of these chickens are considered “Heritage” breeds, due to the history of their development, their unique genetic traits and the fact that they are well-suited as “barnyard” chickens as opposed to the commercially bred meat and egg producing chickens.

·        Bantam and large fowl Ameraucana:  ChickHatchery.com is well known for quality day-old Ameraucana chicks.  Several varieties of both bantam and large fowl Ameraucana are bred.  These are some of the best!

·        Large fowl partridge Chantecler:  Chicks were obtained from a hatchery in Texas and another in Iowa.  Using only the best cockerel from one hatchery and the best two pullets from the other a strain was developed.  A bantam partridge Chantecler was introduced in 2008 to improve the partridge color/pattern.  The best cockerels from this cross were kept for breeding.  Each year the strain is improving, but they are still not as good as they should be and not ready for competition.  The Chantecler is a great dual purpose (eggs & meat) breed that was bred for the colder climates in North American.

·        Bantam Vorwerk:  The late Wilmar Vorwerk, of Minnesota, developed the bantam Vorwerk in the States using Lakenvelders, and various varieties of Wyandottes and Rosecombs.  The Vorwerk flock, at ChickHatchery.com is descended from Wilmar’s.  Rose comb Nankins have since been used to make improvements and to develop Vorwerks with rose combs for the colder climates. 

·        Bantam Lakenvelder: A bantam Lakenvelder male was obtained from a breeder in Oregon and crossed over Vorwerk females to develop this strain.  The cockerels from the F1 generation carry the Vorwerk’s “gold” gene even though they may look “silver”.  Lakenvelders with rose combs are also being developed.  Bantam Lakenvelders are very rare.

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Are your chickens standard-bred?

Yes.  Breeding programs at ChickHatchery.com are focused on continuous improvement and the various strains of chickens are bred to represent the "standards" as outlined by the APA and ABA in their books describing the standards for recognized breeds and varieties of poultry.  There is no guarantee that standard-bred breeds and varieties will produce day-old chicks that will mature into “show quality” birds.  These are non-hybrid breeds of chickens and some are considered heritage breeds of poultry.  

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.

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What about egg color?

Ameraucana chickens should lay eggs with light pastel blue shells.  Many varieties and strains, especially of large fowl, carry modifying genes that cause their eggs to be green.  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.  An Ameraucana Egg Reference Chart is available from the Secretary of the Ameraucana Breeders Club.

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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  you 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.  By appointment only.  From late March thru late May I generally have extra chicks that hatch, each week, and sell them locally as culls (my “rejects”) at discounted rates if customers take them as they come from the brooder.  They could be bantams and/or large fowl of any breed and variety that I have plus mixed breeds from my experimental matings.  If a customer wants to pick and choose from what is available the cost per chick is a bit higher.  There is a 10 chick minimum - just to make it worth while financially.  You’ll need a small box for transporting the chicks, so please bring one or you can buy a box here. 

Go to the “About” page and contact me via email to see what is available.

Also, I sometimes sell my “rejects” and extra birds at one of the swap meets sponsored by the Michigan Bird and Game Breeders Association in the mid-Michigan area.