Breed Profile
Blue Ameraucana Chicken
APA 1984Breed Overview and Origin
The Blue Ameraucana Chicken is a true Ameraucana variety known for blue-gray plumage, blue egg potential, muffs, beard, pea comb, slate legs, and rare backyard appeal. If you want a genuine blue egg layer that is not an Easter Egger™ and not an Araucana, Blue Ameraucanas are an excellent choice.
Ameraucanas were developed in the United States from blue-egg-laying Araucana ancestry. However, Ameraucanas are a separate breed with tails, muffs, beards, pea combs, and blue egg genetics. They are also different from Easter Eggers™, which may vary widely in body type, feather color, and egg color.
Cackle Hatchery® began offering Blue Ameraucana day-old chicks in 2015. This rare variety was created by Master Breeder John W. Blehm, an important name in modern Ameraucana breeding. Cackle also notes that its Blue Ameraucana line is a production-type bloodline developed by Cackle Hatchery® Poultry Breeding Farm since 2015.
Because Blue Ameraucanas are limited and popular, customers should plan ahead. Cackle Hatchery® notes that customers can be ready to order as early as late November, with delivery requests typically available from early February through early August, depending on hatch availability.
Appearance and Characteristics
Blue Ameraucana chickens have blue-gray plumage, muffs, beard, pea comb, slate-colored legs, and a full tail. Ideally, each blue feather has darker lacing, creating a refined blue pattern that looks beautiful in a backyard flock.
The blue color comes from the blue gene, which dilutes black feathers into a blue or blue-gray shade. Because of that, Blue Ameraucanas are based on black feather genetics, with the black color diluted to blue.
This variety can be especially appealing for customers who want:
- A true Ameraucana variety
- Blue egg potential
- Blue-gray plumage
- Muffs and beard
- A pea comb
- Slate-colored legs
- A rare colored egg layer
- A bird created from John W. Blehm’s Ameraucana work
Blue Ameraucanas bring both visual interest and egg basket value, making them a strong choice for colored egg layer flocks.
Blue Ameraucana Egg Color and Laying Expectations
Blue Ameraucanas are best known for true blue egg potential. Cackle Hatchery® notes that the plumage is blue-gray, but the eggs are true blue. However, a small percentage of hens may lay eggs with a light green shade.
This is one of the main reasons customers choose true Ameraucanas over generic colored egg layers. While Easter Eggers™ can be fun and useful birds, their egg colors can vary more widely. Blue Ameraucanas offer a more specific breed type and a stronger blue egg focus.
Egg color and production can vary by individual hen, age, nutrition, daylight, season, and flock management. Even so, Blue Ameraucanas remain one of the most popular options for customers who want a beautiful chicken that can add blue eggs to a colorful egg basket.
For customers comparing blue egg options, Cackle’s Best Blue Egg Layers article is a helpful resource.
Important Note About Blue Breeding Genetics
Blue chickens do not breed true. This is one of the most important details customers should understand before ordering Blue Ameraucanas.
Cackle Hatchery® notes that blue-to-blue matings produce approximately:
- 50% blue chicks
- 25% black chicks
- 25% splash chicks
Cackle will send as many blue chicks as possible in your order. However, customers should also expect that some black and splash Ameraucana chicks may be included because of how blue genetics work.
This does not mean the birds are wrong or mixed. It is the normal result of blue breeding genetics. Customers who want only one exact feather color should understand this before ordering.
Blue Ameraucana vs Splash Ameraucana
Blue and Splash Ameraucanas come from the same blue-color genetics, but they look different.
A Blue Ameraucana has blue-gray plumage, ideally with darker lacing.
A Splash Ameraucana chicken has much lighter plumage with darker splash markings. Splash birds result when a chick inherits two copies of the blue gene.
Choose Blue Ameraucana if you want blue-gray feathering and true Ameraucana type.
Choose Splash Ameraucana chickens if you like the lighter splash color pattern and still want Ameraucana blue egg potential.
Blue Ameraucana vs Lavender Ameraucana
Blue Ameraucanas and Lavender Ameraucanas can look somewhat similar, but the genetics are different.
A Blue Ameraucana carries the blue gene. Blue does not breed true, so blue-to-blue matings can produce blue, black, and splash chicks.
A Lavender Ameraucana chicken carries the lavender gene, also called self blue in poultry standard language. Lavender bred to lavender should produce lavender chicks.
Choose Blue Ameraucana if you like blue-gray plumage and understand blue breeding results.
Choose Lavender Ameraucana chickens if you want a true-breeding lavender/self-blue color variety, while also understanding the lavender feather-quality notes.
Blue Ameraucana vs Easter Egger™
Blue Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers™ are often confused, but they are not the same.
A Blue Ameraucana is a true Ameraucana variety with specific breed traits, including muffs, beard, pea comb, slate legs, tail, and blue egg genetics.
An Easter Egger™ chicken is usually a mixed or non-standard colored egg layer. Easter Eggers™ can be excellent backyard chickens, but they may vary widely in feather color, body type, and egg color.
Choose Blue Ameraucana if you want a true Ameraucana with recognized breed traits and blue egg potential.
Choose Easter Egger™ chickens if you want a fun colored egg layer and are flexible on final egg shade or breed type.
Cackle’s Blue Egg Chicken: Ameraucana or Americana? article is a helpful resource for customers comparing Ameraucanas, Americanas, Araucanas, and Easter Eggers™.
Blue Ameraucana vs Araucana
Blue Ameraucanas are also different from Araucanas.
Araucanas are a separate blue egg breed known for rumplessness and ear tufts in the American standard. Ameraucanas, by comparison, have tails, muffs, and beards. Cackle Hatchery® explains that Araucanas can be difficult to breed to standard and have poor hatch rates, which is one reason Cackle discontinued Araucanas after offering them from 2012 to 2016.
Choose Blue Ameraucana if you want a blue egg breed with a tail, muffs, beard, better fertility, and a more practical backyard option than Araucana.
For customers who want blue eggs but do not need a true Ameraucana, Easter Eggers™ or other colored egg layers may also be worth comparing.
Important Note About Scissor Beak / Cross Beak
Cackle Hatchery® notes that Ameraucanas have an inherent genetic beak issue. About 1 out of 100 chicks may develop some degree of scissor beak or cross beak as they grow.
Scissor beak, also called cross beak, means the top and bottom beak do not align properly. The condition can vary in severity, and it often becomes more noticeable as the chick matures.
Customers should understand this breed note before ordering Ameraucanas. Many chicks grow normally, but the genetic risk exists in the breed. Cackle recommends reviewing poultry care resources and the Cackle Hatchery® blog for more information on this condition.
Important Note About Sexing Accuracy
Ameraucanas can be harder to vent sex than many other breeds. Cackle Hatchery® notes that sexing accuracy for this breed averages about 80%, compared with the usual average of about 90% for many other breeds.
This matters most for customers ordering females. If you live where roosters are not allowed, or if you need a very exact male-to-female ratio, keep this lower sexing accuracy in mind before checkout.
Because Blue Ameraucanas are limited and popular, customers should also check availability early and plan ahead.
Blue Ameraucana vs Other Ameraucana Varieties
Blue Ameraucanas share the same general Ameraucana traits as other Cackle Ameraucana varieties. The main differences are feather color, genetics, availability, and customer preference.
For customers who want blue-gray plumage, true Ameraucana traits, and blue egg potential, Blue Ameraucana is a strong fit.
If you prefer a classic show favorite with solid black adult plumage, compare Black Ameraucana chickens.
For customers who like a lighter variety produced from blue genetics, Splash Ameraucana chickens may be a better match.
If you want a true-breeding lavender/self-blue color, review Lavender Ameraucana chickens.
Customers who want to compare several Ameraucana options can review Cackle’s Ameraucana Chickens resource, which covers Ameraucana standards, eggs, housing, health, genetics, breeding, hatching, and exhibiting.
For broader egg color comparisons, Cackle’s Colored Egg Layers for Sale category is another helpful place to start.
Temperament and Suitability
Blue Ameraucanas can work well in backyard flocks, colored egg flocks, and small breeding programs. They appeal to customers who want true Ameraucana identity, blue egg potential, and a beautiful blue-gray bird.
This variety can work well for:
- Backyard blue egg flocks
- Colored egg basket projects
- Ameraucana enthusiasts
- Customers who want true Ameraucana traits
- Keepers who like rare feather colors
- Small breeding programs with careful selection
- Flocks with other colored egg layers
- Customers who want a blue egg breed that is not an Easter Egger™
However, customers who want guaranteed blue feathering in every chick should understand blue breeding genetics before ordering. In addition, customers who need the highest possible sexing accuracy should review the Ameraucana sexing note.
Overall, Blue Ameraucanas fit best with customers who value true breed type, blue egg potential, rare color, and the genetics that come with breeding blue poultry.
Is the Blue Ameraucana Chicken Right for Your Flock?
Choose Blue Ameraucana chickens if you want:
- Blue egg potential
- A true Ameraucana variety
- Blue-gray plumage
- Muffs and beard
- Pea comb and slate legs
- A bird created by Master Breeder John W. Blehm
- A rare colored egg layer
- A breed that is not an Easter Egger™ or Araucana
- A beautiful addition to a backyard egg basket
However, consider another breed if you need guaranteed blue feather color in every chick, very high sexing accuracy, or a lower-cost colored egg layer. In short, Blue Ameraucanas are best for customers who want true Ameraucana type, blue eggs, and a rare blue-gray chicken.
Care and Housing Tips
Blue Ameraucanas need the same dependable care as other standard-size chickens. They do best with a clean coop, secure run, proper feed, fresh water, and predator protection.
For best results, provide:
- A dry, well-ventilated coop
- Clean bedding
- Predator-resistant fencing
- Fresh water at all times
- Balanced chick starter and age-appropriate feed
- Enough roosting space
- Nest boxes when pullets near laying age
- Shade and ventilation during hot weather
- Protection from drafts and damp bedding in cold weather
Because Ameraucanas have pea combs and small wattles, they can be a practical choice for many climates. Even so, customers should still provide shade in hot weather, dry bedding in wet weather, and draft-free shelter during cold weather.
If you plan to breed Blue Ameraucanas, remember that blue does not breed true. Plan matings carefully and expect blue, black, and splash offspring from blue-to-blue pairings.
Recognition, Clubs, and Availability
Blue Ameraucana is a recognized Ameraucana variety. The Ameraucana Breeders Club lists Blue among the recognized large fowl Ameraucana varieties. Cackle Hatchery® notes that its Blue Ameraucana supply is limited and that it began offering day-old Blue Ameraucana chicks in 2015.
Jeff Smith and Cackle Hatchery® are members of the Ameraucana Alliance Club. Customers who want to learn more about Ameraucana standards, history, and breeders can review the Ameraucana Alliance and Ameraucana Breeders Club websites.
Since hatch dates and shipping windows can change during the season, customers should check Cackle Hatchery’s Chicken Availability Chart before ordering.
Related Breeds and Helpful Cackle Hatchery® Resources
Customers who like Blue Ameraucanas may also enjoy other Ameraucana varieties, Easter Eggers™, blue egg layers, and Cackle’s comparison tools.
Helpful Cackle Hatchery® links for this product page include:
- Ameraucana Chickens
- Black Ameraucana chickens
- Lavender Ameraucana chickens
- Splash Ameraucana chickens
- White Ameraucana chickens
- Easter Egger™ Chickens
- Blue Egger Female Surplus
- Colored Egg Layers for Sale
- Cackle Hatchery’s Best Blue Egg Layers
- Blue Egg Chicken: Ameraucana or Americana?
- Ameraucana Chickens in the Spotlight
- Baby chicks for sale
- Chicken Breed Selector
- Chicken Breeds List Comparison Chart
- Chicken Availability Chart
FAQ: Blue Ameraucana Chicken
What is a Blue Ameraucana Chicken?
A Blue Ameraucana Chicken is a true Ameraucana variety with blue-gray plumage, muffs, beard, pea comb, slate legs, tail, and blue egg genetics.
Are Blue Ameraucanas real Ameraucanas?
Yes. Blue Ameraucanas are true Ameraucanas. They are not Easter Eggers™ and they are not Araucanas.
Do Blue Ameraucanas lay blue eggs?
Yes, Blue Ameraucanas are bred as blue egg layers. Cackle Hatchery® notes that a small percentage may lay a light green egg.
Are Blue Ameraucana eggs blue or green?
The goal is true blue eggs. However, a small percentage of hens may lay light green eggs.
Who created the Blue Ameraucana?
Cackle Hatchery® notes that this rare variety was created by Master Breeder John W. Blehm.
Does blue breed true in Ameraucanas?
No. Blue does not breed true. Blue-to-blue matings can produce blue, black, and splash chicks.
What colors can come from Blue Ameraucana matings?
Cackle Hatchery® notes that blue-to-blue matings produce approximately 50% blue chicks, 25% black chicks, and 25% splash chicks.
Will every Blue Ameraucana chick in my order be blue?
Not always. Cackle sends as many blue chicks as possible, but customers should expect that some black and splash Ameraucana chicks may be included because blue genetics do not breed true.
What is the difference between Blue Ameraucana and Splash Ameraucana?
Blue Ameraucanas have blue-gray plumage. Splash Ameraucanas are much lighter with darker splash markings and result from two copies of the blue gene.
What is the difference between Blue Ameraucana and Lavender Ameraucana?
Blue Ameraucanas do not breed true and may produce blue, black, or splash chicks. Lavender Ameraucanas carry the lavender gene, and lavender bred to lavender should produce lavender chicks.
What is the difference between Blue Ameraucana and Easter Egger™?
Blue Ameraucanas are true Ameraucanas with specific breed traits and blue egg genetics. Easter Eggers™ are mixed or non-standard colored egg layers that may vary widely in appearance and egg color.
What is the difference between Blue Ameraucana and Araucana?
Ameraucanas have tails, muffs, and beards. Araucanas are a separate breed known for rumplessness and ear tufts in the American standard.
What do Blue Ameraucanas look like?
They have blue-gray plumage, muffs, beard, pea comb, slate legs, and a full tail. Ideally, each feather has darker lacing.
What is scissor beak or cross beak in Ameraucanas?
Scissor beak, also called cross beak, means the top and bottom beak do not align properly. Cackle Hatchery® notes that about 1 out of 100 Ameraucana chicks may develop some degree of this condition.
Does scissor beak get worse as chicks grow?
It can. Cackle Hatchery® notes that the condition normally gets worse as the chick grows, although severity can vary.
Are Blue Ameraucana chicks easy to sex?
No. Cackle Hatchery® notes that Ameraucanas are harder to vent sex than many breeds. Sexing accuracy averages about 80% for Ameraucanas, compared with about 90% for many other breeds.
Are Blue Ameraucanas good for backyard flocks?
Yes. Blue Ameraucanas can work well in backyard flocks for customers who want blue eggs, true Ameraucana traits, and attractive blue-gray plumage.
Are Blue Ameraucanas good for beginners?
They can work for beginners who understand blue breeding genetics, lower sexing accuracy, possible scissor beak risk, and limited availability.
Does Cackle Hatchery® offer other Ameraucana varieties?
Yes. Cackle Hatchery® offers several Ameraucana varieties, including Black, Blue, Lavender, Splash, and White Ameraucanas, depending on availability.
Is Cackle Hatchery® connected with Ameraucana breed clubs?
Yes. Jeff Smith and Cackle Hatchery® are members of the Ameraucana Alliance Club. Customers can also learn more from Ameraucana breed organizations such as the Ameraucana Alliance and Ameraucana Breeders Club.
Where can I check Blue Ameraucana availability?
Customers can check Cackle Hatchery’s Chicken Availability Chart for current hatch and shipping timing. Since Blue Ameraucanas are limited, ordering early is recommended.