I will never forget the first time I bought baby chicks. The local feed store had some big tubs with all different varieties, black, brown, yellow, spotted, and all of them were adorable and fluffy. I felt like I was in a candy store! I want one of those, and one of those, and two of those… They were all so cute I wanted to bring them home with me, but I limited myself to four.
My First Ameraucana
Over the years I have loved my Buff Orpingtons, my Silkies, my Astrolops and many others. But when I learned that Ameraucanas lay green eggs I thought I have got to try one. I got my baby chick and watched her grow. She got beautiful rich feathers that started black on her head and turned to gold as it went down her body. She was so pretty I was worried she might be a rooster. On her face she had cute tufts of feathers that made her look like she had chubby cheeks. She was a beautiful bird.
My chicken coop is behind my shed and has a 6ft fence at the back of it and a 4 1/2 ft fence on the front of it. Most of my chickens have been happy staying there, but not my Ameraucana! She was always getting out into my yard, and before long she taught all the other chickens to do it too. Chickens can destroy a young garden or flower bed in no time. I would go out to find strawberry plants ripped out, holes dug into my flowers and general mayhem. I added chicken wire to the 4ft fence. That kept the other chickens in, but not my Ameraucana. I changed her name to Houdini.
Making my escape!
Making even a saint swear
My parents live next door and Houdini used to make my Dad so mad. He would find her digging in his garden, or leaving him presents on his patio. Once I went out and there was an upside down garbage can in his garden. I asked him what it was for and he said “that blasted chicken, I have her in solitary confinement.” It didn’t teach her anything but it made him feel better.
Once my niece brought a boyfriend over to meet her grandparents. On the way the boy had asked what they were like. “Is your grandpa one of those crotchety old guys who swear a lot?” No, says my niece. “My Grandpa never swears.” They got out of the car and the first thing they heard was “That #@&! chicken!”
I clipped her wings, kept working on my chicken yard turning, it into a fortress, and eventually I was able to keep her inside. Since that first one I have tried Ameraucanas a couple of times, and every time I have a hard time keeping them contained. So as much as I love the green eggs and beautiful birds I decided that they are a pain in the neck. No more Ameraucanas.
More little Houdinis
Last fall I needed to start some new chicks so I went to the feed store. They had one called a Tetra Brown. From the description they sounded like a really good breed so I got four of them. I brought them home and watched them grow. As they grew they began to get beautiful feathers on their necks, cute little tufted cheeks, and they figured out how to get out. I thought “Tetra Browns sure seem, a lot like Ameraucanas.” Finally I looked up what Tetra Browns are supposed look like and they look nothing like Ameraucanas. So lucky me! I now have four escape artists and once the weather warms up I’m going to have to get to work and Houdini-proof my chicken coop!
C’mon girls, back inside!
