This Article Has Been Revised: Visit HERE for Updated Version
Definition: Standard breeds of chickens as defined by the American Poultry Association that are naturally mating, long-lived, and slow growing. The Livestock Conservancy now lists over three-dozen breeds of chickens in danger of extinction. Extinction of a breed would mean the irrevocable loss of the genetic resources and options it embodies. Where to Find Heritage Chickens Note: The Livestock Conservancy encourages contacting the hatchery directly to determine the breeds of birds available and to determine whether these are in fact Heritage Chickens. The Livestock Conservancy also maintains a list of Heritage Chicken breeders in its Breeders Directory. This is a compilation of images taken of a variety of heritage breeds that were photographed by Conservancy staff at several poultry shows.
The Ameraucana is a distinct, recognized breed that must adhere to strict American Poultry Association (APA) guidelines to earn its title. These birds are unmistakable with muffs and beards, paired with a distinct pea comb. To be considered a true Ameraucana, a bird must have slate blue or black legs, a U-shaped body, and a tail set at a 45-degree angle. They are also limited to eight recognized color varieties, and they are strictly blue egg layers. Because the pigment, called oocyanin, permeates the entire shell. Now here’s the scoop on the Easter Egger, which you may be surprised to learn, isn’t a specific breed at all, but a hybrid! These birds are typically the result of crossing a blue egg layer with another breed, such as a Rhode Island Red or Marans. Because they’re crossbreeds, their appearance can be wildly unpredictable, while some may inherit the beard and muffs of their parents, others may not. Unlike the slate legs of the Ameraucana, you’ll often see Easter Eggers with green or willow colored legs. However, what is interesting about Easter Eggers, is the egg colors they may produce. While an individual hen will lay the same color egg her entire life, a flock of Easter Eggers can produce many different colors, including aqua, sage green, olive, tan, or even rose. This variety occurs because of the tinted factor, when a brown pigment is layered over a blue shell during production, the result ends up being a nice little surprise!
While many hatcheries claim to sell Ameraucanas, nearly none of them do. Most sell mutt Easter Eggers. Ameraucanas come in both a large and bantam variety. Standard Weight for Bantams Cock: 30 oz. Cockerel: 26 oz. Hen: 26 oz. Pullet: 24 oz. Standard Weight for Large Fowl Cock: 6 1/2 lbs. Cockerel: 5 1/2 lbs. Hen: 5 1/2 lbs. Pullet: 4 1/2 lbs.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 