The Ameraucana is the true blue-egg breed - APA-recognized, distinct from Easter Eggers. Pea comb, muffs and beard, slate-blue legs, lays beautiful sky-blue eggs. Friendly, hardy, an excellent backyard layer. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Ameraucana as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and breeder pairs and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | United States - developed 1970s, APA-recognized 1984 |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1984 |
| Conservation status | Watch (true breed) / Common (Easter Egger crosses misnamed Ameraucana) |
| Adult weight | Roosters 6.5 lb, Hens 5.5 lb |
| Size class | Standard |
| Eggs per year | ~180 |
| Egg color | Blue |
| Egg size | Medium |
| Broodiness | Low |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Quiet |
| Flight tendency | Light flight |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
The Ameraucana was developed in the United States in the 1970s by breeders working from the South American Araucana stock (which lays blue eggs but carries a lethal tuft gene). The goal: blue eggs without the tuft-gene problems. The result was APA-recognized in 1984 with 8 color varieties. The key distinction: Ameraucanas lay BLUE eggs, have muffs + beard, slate legs, pea comb. 'Easter Eggers' are crosses that may lay blue/green/brown - they are NOT Ameraucanas, despite being sold as such by major hatcheries.
Best for: blue eggs, beginner, mixed flocks
True breed lays sky-blue; Easter Egger crosses lay anywhere from blue to green to pink.
| Indoor coop space | 4 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 10 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 8 in per bird |
Space: Active and good foragers. Tolerate confinement but happier with a run.
Feeding: Standard 16% layer feed. Pea comb gives excellent cold protection; no special winter rules.
Health: Hardy. Beard/muffs can trap mites - inspect monthly during summer.
Climate: Zones 3-10. Pea comb + small size = exceptional cold hardiness.
You can request Ameraucana through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 4 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and breeder pairs, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Ameraucana are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Ameraucana hen lays roughly 180 eggs a year, and the eggs are medium and blue. True breed lays sky-blue; Easter Egger crosses lay anywhere from blue to green to pink. Broodiness is rated low. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Ameraucana is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: friendly, active, docile, tolerant; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: good; noise level: quiet. It is best for blue eggs, beginner, and mixed flocks. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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