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8:34 pm
March 14, 2011
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What color eggs do Fawn and White Indian Runner ducks lay and how often do they lay?
Over the past month or so I've had 2 white eggs in my nest boxes, but it seems that if my female Indian Runner were laying eggs she'd lay a little more regularly? (She is about 6 months old) I also have Americauna chickens and at first I thought that the white eggs were actually supposed to be the blueish green ones, that somehow missed out on getting their color…………. is that even possible?
9:11 pm
February 10, 2009
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Ameraucanas do not all lay colored eggs, there's just a decent chance you may get some that do. Some breeders who are very very careful about their crosses do very well with getting good color in the eggshells, but it's never a sure thing and after all, there's no way to tell untill they get mature enough to lay eggs.
Most so called Ameraucanas from hatcheries are more often called "Easter Eggers" because they are so loosly bred as far as breed standards go. Of course, the breeding for most hatcheries really isn't up to show standards, nor does it need to be! They mass hatch them from eggs supplied by whatever farmers they have on contract to supply them and I'm sure most reputable hatcheries do the best they can as do their suppliers.
Out of 5 Ameraucanas I have I have one that lays a pinkish egg, one that is noticeably blue-ISH, two that are very pale green-ish and one that is a sort of ivory colored.
As far as your duck eggs go, I have no idea, my neighbor's duck eggs are wonderful for baking though. She has Pekins which are what my aunt had and that's the only breed I've been around much. Sorry not to be of more help!
8:46 am
February 6, 2011
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Somedays mine look white until they are put next to something that is actually white. Then a little color is noticeable. Their color varies from day to day also.
12:28 pm
June 11, 2011
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I have five EE pullets who haven't started laying yet. They SHOULD be old enough, but of all this year's pullets only the Pearl White Leghorns and a couple of Black Stars have laid any eggs for me. And they're all EATING SO MUCH! 
12:43 pm
February 10, 2009
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EE's are notoriously late layers, on the good side, when my last batch of girls got older, they were the best layers. Much better than the fast maturing, early laying ones.
12:51 pm
February 6, 2011
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My EEs are not good layers, never have been. At their peak, they layed every other day. The most we ever got from our 6 hens was 4 in one day. Now, at 1.5 years or so, we get one egg every couple of days. We have no way of knowing (without sitting all day and watching) which one is laying, so we keep them all around until all are ready to be canned.
12:21 pm
March 3, 2010
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I am assuming by Americauna, you are talking about Americana? Araucana is a more rare, tufted at the neck, rumpless (tailess) chicken. It is extremely rare to have one that is two-tufted, because those with those genes typically don't survive. The Americana is a cross as was stated earlier, between Araucana and another breed or breeds. These are the "easter eggers." These birds will lay eggs of many shades…lavender, pink, blue. The Araucana will only lay blue colored eggs.
I have wanted Araucana for many years now, and may have finally found a source close to home. Before that, I would have had to drive many days to the west coast just to get some. I am hoping to arrange to get some chicks next spring. 
Anyway, here is a link to the Canadian Araucana Society for more information if you are interested:
4:29 pm
March 14, 2011
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I think my gals are Americaunas and not Aracaunas…… here's a picture of a couple of them…. it's hard to tell from photo but they have really bushy cheeks (like grizzled old men!) and their butts do look different than my other gals'… flatter… I love their faces, they remind me of hawks. I seem to get eggs from them nearly every day… very pretty bluish green eggs, so I would say they are very good layers. Their eggs aren't quite as large as my Red Sex Link's eggs, but the fun color more than makes up for it!
I do also get pinkish eggs, but I know for a fact that those are laid by my Cochins.
My Cochin chickens are like dogs…. This is Gertrude, she's my hubby's favorite and in this picture she really wants to come inside out of the rain! (she doesn't seem to think she belongs in the coop with the other chickens!)
5:43 pm
February 10, 2009
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True Araucanas are practically nonexistent in North America. There are a few breeders who do breed them properly, but they are few and far between. They don't just have the little muffs around their cheeks and chins, they have big TUFTS of feathers that look truly amazing! They should have ear tufts, muffs and beards, with a very tiny combs. They also have a small feather crest and no wattles at all, as well as being "rumpless". That means they're actually missing a vertebrae which leaves them tailless too. I've seen a couple real ones, but I have to say that I'm pretty happy with my Ameraucanas which are an actual breed recognized in the US and look a little more normal to my eyes.
The more common "EE" or 'Easter Egger' means that they have the gene to lay pretty colored eggs, but don't share all of the other characteristics, though they do often have the muffs which are very cute.
You're more likely to wind up with Easter Eggers if you buy from a hatchery, and they may or may not lay colored eggs.
IF you get some that meet all the breed standards though, you can continue to work on continuing to breed them to standard and you will have real Ameraucanas, because there's no bloodline registration with chickens like there is in dogs or horses or whatever, you just have to have a chicken that shows the proper characteristics, and you can call it that breed. An ethical breeder will hatch out at least a couple generations that continue to carry true, but to show a chicken either at a poultry show or a county fair your bird just has to conform to the standards.
11:51 pm
January 31, 2011
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goodness this is interesting. i can hardly wait until I can do this…
laur
7:00 am
June 11, 2011
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I bought mine from a hatchery as Araucanas, but they do fit the description of Americanas. That's fine with me, because they didn't overcharge me and the muffs are SOOOO cute! 
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