Ameraucana at a glance
| Egg production | 200–250 eggs/year |
|---|---|
| Egg color | blue, green |
| Size | medium; hen weight 4.5–6.5 lb |
| Temperament summary | Friendly/quiet to calm; line variation exists |
| Housing class | laying hen |
Strongest documented traits
Cold tolerance
Excellent cold tolerance
UMN says heavier Ameraucanas overwinter well
Source confidence: High
Egg-color uniqueness
Very distinctive egg color
blue-green eggs
Source confidence: High
Foraging
Good forager
Source confidence: High
Broodiness
Often broody
Source confidence: High
Temperament
Calm temperament
friendly/quiet and calm in sources, but some line variation noted
Source confidence: Medium
How the planner uses this breed
The flock planner does not rank Ameraucana from a single overall score stored in the database. Instead, it weights individual traits differently for each household. Cold hardiness matters more in harsh winters; heat tolerance matters more in hot climates; docility receives additional weight when children will handle the birds; and housing size can prevent a breed mix from being recommended even when its preference score is strong.
Sources used for this record
- Utah State University Extension: Managing Chickens From Chicks to Peak Egg Production
- Mississippi State University Extension: Choosing the Right Breed for Your Backyard Flock
- Mississippi State University Extension: Poultry Beginnings: Raise Your Own Backyard Chickens
- University of Minnesota Extension: Caring for chickens in cold weather
Last database review: 2026-10-03. Trait values are normalized to a 1–5 planning scale; see the methodology for how uncertainty is handled.