It is very difficult to describe the history of the “Ameraucana” breed to everyone’s satisfaction. Some would say that it is “America’s NEWEST breed”, emphasizing its most recent developments; but that description overlooks and would deny the long history of the bearded muffed tailed blue egg layers that existed long before adoption of the ABA and APA Standards for “Ameraucana”, when such birds were being raised and shown as one type of “ARAUCANA”, going back to imports from southern Chile in the 1930’s. But in spite of its long history, it is correct and accurate to say that the “Ameraucana” is one of America’s most newly recognized APA/ABA Standard Breeds (American Poulty Association/American Bantam Association).
As you may know, a breed is NOT a BREED until the APA or ABA say it’s a “BREED”.
For those who may no know the breed characteristics, “Ameraucana” are first and
foremost blue egg layers. They MUST have “pea combs”, and be bearded and muffed and tailed, and cannot have any tufts. They also MUST have slate blue legs, and red ear lobes (females pale). There has been a definite relationship established between the “Pea Comb” gene and the “Blue Egg” gene. Both these genes have been shown to be carried on the same chromosome, and thus closely related.
The APA and ABA have accepted Ameraucana in the following varieties: black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, silver, wheaten, and white. The Ameraucana Breeders Club has started the official APA process for the approval of the lavender and splash varieties.