Ameraucana

Ameraucana

A Blue Ameraucana cock
Country of origin	United States
Standard	APA (abridged)
Traits
Weight	Male: Standard: 5.5–6.5 lb (2.5–2.9 kg)[1] Bantam: 26–30 oz (740–850 g)[1] Female: Standard: 4.5–5.5 lb (2.0–2.5 kg)[1] Bantam: 24–26 oz (680–740 g)[1]
Egg color	Blue in various shades
Comb type	Pea
Classification
APA	All other standard breeds[2]
ABA	All other comb clean legged[2]
EE	yes[3]
PCGB	not listed[4][5]
Chicken Gallus gallus domesticus

The Ameraucana is an American breed of domestic chicken. It was developed in the United States in the 1970s, and derives from Araucana chickens brought from Chile. It was bred to retain the blue-egg gene but eliminate the lethal alleles of the parent breed. There are both standard-sized and bantam versions.^[2]

History

The Ameraucana was developed in the United States in the 1970s from Araucana chickens brought from Chile.^{[6]: 37 [7]: 11} It was bred to retain the unusual blue-egg gene of the Araucana, but eliminate the tufted and rumpless lethal alleles of the parent breed.^[6]: 37 It was added to the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1984.^[2] The name derives from "America" and "Araucana".^[6]: 37

The Ameraucana is recognized in the United States as a separate breed from the Araucana. In some other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, both the tailed and rumpless variants of the Araucana are considered a single breed.^[7]: 11

Characteristics

The Ameraucana is one of the few chicken breeds to lay blue eggs.^[7]: 11 It shows many similarities to the Araucana, including the pea comb and the blue egg gene. It is tailed, muffed and bearded, whereas the Araucana in the United States has ear tufts and is rumpless.^[8] The earlobes are small and round, the wattles small or absent; earlobes, comb and wattles are all red. The shanks are slate-blue, tending to black in the black plumage variant.^[6]: 37

Nine color variants are recognized in the American Standard of Perfection: black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, silver, wheaten, white, and blue.^[2]

References

1. Ameraucana Breed Standard. Ameraucana Breeders Club. Archived 26 July 2019.
2. APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2020. American Poultry Association. Archived 25 August 2023.
3. Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
4. Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
5. Victoria Roberts (2008). British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.
6. Carol Ekarius (2007). Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781580176675. p. 38–39.
7. Gail Damerow (2012). The Chicken Encyclopedia: An Illustrated Reference. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 9781603427760.
8. John W. Blehm (2007). Ameraucanas. Backyard Poultry June/July 2007. Archived 19 August 2014.