Ameraucana Chickens

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henmama6plus

henmama6plus

Chirping
10 Years
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coop and run first eggs for me ever and first for
Love these birds first time chicken keeper. Not sure if I have hens or roosters though. They do not have the spike yet. One I thought was a Rooster seems to be a Hen as his crown is not a bright red. Largest of the bunch and keeps an eye on the others. Might be a transgender chicken. Seems some Hens start to take on the characteristics of Roosters from research I have done. Anyway when do they grow this spike on the foot as I found out was a sure way to tell a Hen from a Rooster? I got mine around Easter from the local farm supply store. Been pondering this new hobby for several years now and am in it full throttle. Love the birds pick them up and play with them regularly. Some are sweet some are aggressive. Have 6 in all was told all were Ameraucana's 3 buff and 3 are the russett color. But when do they get the spike on the foot? Thank you for any info anybody can relay to me as I am a total newbe into this amazing creature.
 
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Welcome from Georgia!! If you can post some pics it might help to determine sex. I think by spike you mean spurs? It can take a while for a rooster to develop spurs and this is not a good way to determine sex early. It can be hard to sex ameraucanas early.
 
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The 'spike' on the leg is called a spur. Cockerels may start developing spurs as they become sexually mature. Hormonal changes (frequently cancerous in origin) can cause a hen to 'turn into' a rooster, but I have never heard of this happening in a young bird - generally this happens in mature hens with ovarian problems. You don't say how old these chickens are - as they become sexually mature, cockerels will develop shiny, pointy, hackle (neck) and saddle (back) feathers along with more flowing and curvy tail coverlets. The combs on Easter Eggers ( very likely the birds purchased from a farm supply are not Ameraucanas) are slower in developing than those of single combed birds. If and when you can post pictures, someone can help with the gender of your birds.
 
Thanks to all for replying to my request. i will post pics as soon as I can. Tomorrow. if possible. One is crowing and has a red crown so I am sure he is a rooster.. lol. Not to sure about the big one might be hen might be rooster. Is an aggressive overseer of the pack. The three others are probably hens. I am sure hoping so. They told me at the farm store that they were Ameracuans. jjI know I spelled that wrong but to tired to go to the trouble to correct. lol.
Thanks again and will def post photos of all 6 tomorrow. Thanks again/
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice/suggestions above, hope the rest of your birds do turn out to be girls for you. Feed stores / Commercial Hatcheries often sell Easter Eggers as Ameraucana, EEs are mixed breeds that usually have Ameraucana in their ancestry, but true Ameraucana have to meet a written standard and be specific colors etc, here is the website to the breed club http://www.ameraucana.org/index.html
 
I think so to the large one and the smaller rooster are sorta not to happy with each other and are both vying to be the big daddy of them all. I think the large one has crowed a few times. I really didn't want roosters as i just want to keep about 3 hens to lay me some eggs. I don't have room or time for roosters and a place to keep them seperated. Urban chickeneer and neighbors are allready a squawking more than the flock I have here. I don't care as there is no rules against this and the noise ordnance does not start till 12 pm. They can squawk all they want. Only have 2 neighbors and they are both the worst neighbors in History. I don't give a hens peck for their squawks just it is expensive to build a good warm coop for these hens and to build two and two pens would be out of my range. I kinda get a tickle out of them crowing cause I know it irritates them, but I might have to give the roosters away I do hate to break up the little family I have raised since Spring of this year from little chicks. Then again I just might find a cheap way to do the two coop and yard thing. They are only 4 or so months old. But they know who feeds them and tucks them in at night. I have spoiled the little buggers to the max. Or have they got me wrapped around their big feet?
 

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