Hi,
I just got some new chicks (they're soooo cute). I have some auraconas that are normal size and some that are bantams. At least I think so, that is what they were labeled as. The regular sized ones have brown and bronze and red and black colored feathers, while the bantams are a creamy yelow-white. Are both of these really auraconas? Or did I get something different with the bantams?
Chrissie

My son just got his Aurucana chicks, too, to raise as his 4-H project, and we were similarly confused. It seems that Auracanas come in both flavours you describe. The main thing that makes them Aurucanas, apparently (and other more knowledgeable people please correct me if I'm wrong), is their cheek and 'beard' feathers. This is not that obvious on the chicks, but is on adults. A friend of ours has adult Aurucanas and they look quite distinctive, with feathers hanging down instead of the usual red wattle, and feathers puffing out of their cheeks. The creamy-coloured ones have really beautiful feathers when you look closely - cream-coloured with fine streaks of chocolate-brown through (reminds me of a Siamese cat), and the darker brown ones you describe look almost like what we 'Canajuns' call 'Red Rocks' (I have a feeling the name is different in the States). Any other Aurucana lovers out there? We'd love to hear from you!
P.S. enjoy your chicks, Chrissie...we are!

What you both have sound like either AMERaucanas or "Easter Egg Chickens" not true araucanas. Here's the breed description page at Feathersite to explain the differences:

http://www.cyborganic.net/People/feathersite/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html#Chickens

Whichever you got, you'll get a kick out of those colored eggs. Enjoy!

I'm afraid that you both might have been jipped. Many hatcheries list americanas as araucanas. Those are most likely what you have as Chuck said. Feed stores also often falsely advertise ameraucanas as araucanas. They are very pretty birds (I used to own a few myself) but they are not as rare as the "true" araucanas. The real birds also do not have feathers puffing out of their cheeks as Brad & Trudy mentioned but feathers protruding oddly from their heads (I can't describe it) and they are rumpless.
Even if you only have americanas their eggs are great tools if you want to play a big April Fools joke. Just sneak a few over to your friends house and replace a few of their commercial white eggs with your green or blue ones. They usually get a kick out of this. Have fun!!

I have had to tell many a poor 4Her that they have entered the their bird in the wrong class. Because they have been sold "Araucanas" . True araucanas have no tail. Ameraucanas were breed from araucanas by americans who did not like rumpless birds ,but did enjoy the color eggs. Ameraucanas can be shown in shows. They are a standardized breed but they must have willow leg color,breard, no ear tuffs,and lay blue eggs. other color eggs are not exceptable in prue bred ameraucanas. More information can be gotten from the Ameraucana Breeders club.They have a very nice breed book for a small price. Write to ameraucana@aol.com for information. My daughter has raised this breeed for many years. They are a wonderful breed.

The true Araucana will have tufts, pea combs and rumpless. The tufts can be seen on a new hatch chicks but a very small number will actual have the tufts--we call the others chicks clean head. Good clean head hens are mated to the tufted, rumpless rooster. The web sit Mr. Smith suggested is a good one for pictures. We have a Araucana Club that has a breeder guide also the newsletter Blue Egg Clucker is on line.

Does anyone know any good websites on raising chickens? Please let me know. Thanks

Try the new Araucana Forum
InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb578845
ask that question you always wanted to know about Araucanas

Are ameraucana chickens docile like the barred rock? I am interested in getting a couple of hens for my backyard, but I need docile, friendly types. The green/blue eggs sound good. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Nikki

I brought 4 Araucanas a week ago, (or so I was told), Thanks to you lot I now know they are actually ameraucanas. Not that I mind what they are called as they are beautiful birds, (one is totally blue/grey apart from her neck which is an amber colour, she's stunning).I'm new to this game and have had a few teething problems, one being they don't like perching and seem to prefer to sleep on the floor. I've been told this is bad for them, doe's anyone have any suggestions? Also I'm feeding them growers pellets continuasly, as the lady I brought them off told me they need food in front of them all day, but when I go to refil the bowl they've hardly toutched it, is this because they've not settled in yet? I would appreiciate any useful tips on looking after my AMERAUCANAS, they are 8-12 week old bantams.Thanks.

I was thinking about ordering some araucanas for eggs to feed my family. I'm very new to chickens and have 2 Plymoth Rocks that I've had for about six months and are doing very well. They are a lot of fun. Can I put the auraucanas in with the P. Rocks? How does that work? I appreciate all the help I can get. twiggy@intercom.net

I was told that it is very hard to get a purebred araucana and that they usually breed for egg color. I recently purchased about 100 green eggs and about 85 have hatched...my question is some of them have feathers on thier legs, it this normal or have I been tricked? Also, I was told if they came from a green egg they will always lay colored eggs is this true?