Ameraucana
Egg layerUnited StatesBeginner friendly
Bred in the United States in the 1970s to lay reliably blue eggs, the Ameraucana sports a fluffy beard and muffs that give it a permanently cheerful expression. It's a hardy, personable bird that fits right into a backyard flock. The small pea comb shrugs off frostbite better than most.
Eggs per year
180–250
Egg color
Blue
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
5–6 lbs
Temperament
Friendly and curious
Broodiness
Sometimes broody
Did you know?
Every Ameraucana traces back to Chilean blue-egg stock, but the breed itself was standardized in America — which is why it's often confused with both the Araucana and the Easter Egger.
Ameraucana egg production
Expect roughly 180–250 blue eggs a year from a Ameraucana in her prime — about 3–5 a week, or 15–21 dozen over the course of a year. That makes it a solid, dependable layer. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Ameraucana is generally described as friendly and curious. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Ameraucana rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
A Ameraucanahen may go broody now and then, but it isn't something to count on — if hatching chicks matters to you, plan on an incubator and our incubation calculator.
Space & feeding
A Ameraucana hen is a medium-sized bird at 5–6 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Ameraucana right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You'd like blue eggs in the basket
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
Think twice if…
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
Ameraucana FAQ
- How many eggs do Ameraucana chickens lay?
- A healthy Ameraucana hen lays about 180–250 blue eggs a year — roughly 3–5 a week, or 15–21 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Ameraucanas lay?
- Ameraucanas lay blue eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Ameraucana chickens get?
- A Ameraucana hen weighs roughly 5–6 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Ameraucanas cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Ameraucana is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Ameraucanas good for beginners?
- Yes. The Ameraucana is a forgiving, friendly and curious breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Ameraucana hens go broody?
- Sometimes. A Ameraucana hen may go broody now and then, but it isn't guaranteed — plan on an incubator if hatching matters to you.
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Keeping Ameraucanas?
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