Adorable Ameraucana Chickens: Bringing Home Fluffy Blue Egg Layers

Introducing the Ameraucana Chicken Breed

The Ameraucana is a relatively new chicken breed that originated in America in the 1970s. They were bred specifically to lay beautiful blue or green shelled eggs while retaining good egg production qualities. Over the years, Ameraucanas have gained popularity among small flock owners and backyard chicken enthusiasts thanks to their lovely egg colors and friendly, docile personalities.

Appearance of Ameraucanas

These chickens typically have a pea comb, white skin, and slate blue legs. Their most distinctive features are their adorable muffs and beards which give them an especially cute appearance. Ameraucanas come in a variety of color patterns such as blue, black, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, silver, wheaten, and white. Their feathers can feature attractive peach and lavender hues. Chicks start out with fuzzy, striped down covering them which transitions to feathers as they grow older.

Temperament of Ameraucanas

The Ameraucana has an exceptionally calm, non-aggressive disposition. They tend to be quite docile and can be easily handled even by children. These birds are well-suited for both small and large flocks. They get along well with most other breeds of chickens and thrive when they have access to a good free-range area.

Egg Laying Ability

While the main appeal of Ameraucanas lies in their colorful eggs, they also happen to be very productive egg layers. On average, you can expect 200-250 light blue to pastel green eggs per year from every Ameraucana hen. The color intensity may vary between individual chickens. Some hens lay more olive or sage colored eggs rather than a bright greenish-blue. The shell strength is also not quite as sturdy as a commercial brown egg layer, so their eggs are a bit more prone to cracking.

Acquiring Day Old Ameraucana Chicks

One of the best parts of raising chickens is those adorable fuzzy chicks! Many chicken keepers start out by purchasing day old baby chicks from hatcheries that ship nationwide right to your door. Here's what you need to know about bringing home tiny baby Ameraucana chicks.

Ordering from Chicken Hatcheries

The two most common ways to buy specific chicken breeds are through mail order hatcheries or local farm and feed stores. Hatcheries offer the widest selection of rare breeds like Ameraucanas that may be hard to find locally. Keep in mind that popular hatching egg colors sell out extremely fast, so get your orders in early! Most will require a minimum order of around 15-25 chicks. Once you place your order, the hatchery will ship out your fluffy peeping box within a day of when they hatch.

Preparing for the New Arrivals

Before those adorable chicks come in the mail, you need to have their brooder area fully prepped. Think of this as their own little nursery! It should be draft-free, with easy access to food and water. You'll need special equipment like a heat lamp, pine bedding, a waterer, feeders, and thermometers. Maintaining an appropriate temperature and humidity level is crucial for little chicks in their first few weeks. Be sure to keep a close eye on all these elements as chicks are very fragile at this young age.

Caring for Day Old Chicks

Newly hatched chicks need round-the-clock care and attention for their first few days of life. Gently dip their beaks in the water to encourage them to take their first sips and teach them where the feed is located. Provide them with chick starter feed which contains all the nutrients they require. You may need to show them the food a few times too. Also, watch to make sure none of your new babies are getting picked on by their brooder-mates which can happen occasionally.

Let Them Grow

If all goes well, you'll be rewarded by watching your little fuzzballs thrive, grow, and develop their pretty feathered coats. By around 5-6 weeks, your juvenile Ameraucanas will resemble miniature versions of mature chickens. Once they have grown in most of their feathers and the overnight low temperatures are mild enough, you can begin letting them free range outdoors during the day under supervision.

Joining the Chicken Community

Raising chickens is such a fun and rewarding backyard hobby. Ameraucanas make fabulous pet chickens thanks to their friendly personalities, prolific blue egg laying skills, and absolute cuteness. Connect with other chicken enthusiasts online and locally to share advice.

FAQs

What are some common health issues to watch for in baby chicks?

Some common health issues in newly hatched chicks include pasty butt, dehydration, spraddle leg, and failure to thrive. Monitor each chick closely and contact a vet if you notice any signs of illness right away.

How can you sex day old Ameraucana chicks?

Sexing day old chicks is extremely difficult to impossible in most breeds. Experienced chicken sexers at hatcheries do it through a process called vent sexing. Otherwise, you'll need to wait until around 16-20 weeks when gender becomes apparent based on feathering, comb growth etc.

What predators should I watch out for?

Chicks and juvenile chickens can fall prey to cats, dogs, foxes, raccoons, opossums, hawks, snakes and a wide array of other predators. Proper housing, confinement in tractor coops, supervision, and deterrents are key to protecting your flock.

Can I add new Ameraucana chicks to my existing flock?

Yes, you can absolutely integrate new Ameraucana chicks once your current chickens are fully grown. Just be sure to quarantine the new arrivals for at least 30 days before introducing them slowly to avoid spreading any illnesses between flocks.