Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Christie Rhae]

That's all I do, all day.

But seriously, it takes less than 10 minutes, 3 times a day to do the turning. I spend countless hours candling eggs --- I just love watching 'wigglers' wiggling.
edited to add: I've never set more than 10 doz eggs at a time, but I set eggs every week.

Only 10 dozen? Wow and here I was ready to be impressed. How can you honestly call your self a chicken lady with only 10 dozen eggs incubating at any given time?

Oh I can only dream....

 

[Cynthia12]

I'm hand turning my BBS Ameraucana eggs, three times a day. Have had good luck with the Ameraucanas' hatching..had 9 out of 12 lavender Ameraucanas hatch not too long ago.
So far, from a great breeder on here, I have 11 of her 13 she sent me. They are due to hatch on the 23rd..will have to post pictures. I am so wanting a splash or two out of them. Her blues are gorgeous too, well goodness, her blacks are pretty too! I also have some Wheatens coming..now that I am excited about! The eggs are in the mail.

 

[Tailfeathers]

I am going to do that also. I am hoping I have enough genetic diversity to start closing the flock, and not have to many faults pop up! I am going to try Royce, you have convinced me My wife will also be happy, no more buying birds/eggs. I can close down my quarantine area, and make a bachelor pad. Instead of buying birds eggs, I want to get a new bator! I am not sure which one to get, I am caught between the brisnea hatcher/brooder, or the Sportsman 1502. Or should I get the separate hatcher, bator???????????????

I bought a used 1502 that was like in new condition. At the time new 1502's were going from $550-600 and that did NOT include shipping which I think was like another $100-150. In addition I also got the see-thru plexiglass door (another $150+ new), plus the water reservoir (basically a five gallon - I think - bucket that sells for like $75 new), plus egg trays and I don't remember what else. I paid $400 for all of it. I don't remember what year it was but it has the thermometer that sticks in the top side and is not digital. having said that, I turn the thing on and NEVER have to mess with it and I couldn't be more pleased.

As for separate hatcher, I hatch a LOT of chicks and I've never felt the need to have a separate hatcher. You might want to check into that before putting out the extra expense because they run as much as an incubator as I recall.

God Bless,

 

[Rainwolf]

I am going to do that also.  I am hoping I have enough genetic diversity to start closing the flock, and not have to many faults pop up!  I am going to try Royce, you have convinced me   My wife will also be happy, no more buying birds/eggs.  I can close down my quarantine area, and make a bachelor pad.  Instead of buying birds eggs, I want to get a new bator!  I am not sure which one to get, I am caught between the brisnea hatcher/brooder, or the Sportsman 1502.  Or should I get the separate hatcher, bator???????????????

 Have to add, when ever I want to buy a certain breed, I come onto that breed's thread, read up on all of the good comments, pleasant comments, take notes, also take notes of who I might buy from.

I suggest a hatcher and a incubator if you plan to hatch more then 40 at a time.

I really like my Brinsea 190 with humidity pump.  I hatch in a Hovabotor 1588 to keep the Brinsea cleaner. 

I wish there was something in between the Hovabator 1588 and the cabinet incubators... price wise I mean.
 Dang I just cannot see spending 700.00 to 1000.00 on an incubator right now, but really want something bigger/better than my styrofoam incubators.  

Look for the older wood incubators. If your willing to do some rehab work you can get them for as low as $100 and they can hold anywhere from a couple hundred eggs to a couple thousand. I just saw one that holds 2100 eggs in Minnesota craigslist for $450

I own a 400-500 egg Farm Master. They are made of Redwood and double walled solid wood.
Keep as original as possible in the way it is wired/heated/fan and you will have a stable work horse of a incubator.
*replace wiring if needed as most were kept in barns so some inside work may need to be done. also replace wafer with a new one.

I have a hen who is supposed to be Ameracauna. I got her and another at 6 weeks old but unfortunately lost the other a couple weeks later. I've been patiently waiting for months for her first egg and it arrived today!!! However, it is more greenish than blue. Does this mean I was sold an EE not a pure Ameracauna? She is black, has a greenish hue in the sun much like my Australorp and her legs are slate colored. I have been a little suspect because there are a few feathers around her neck with flecks of gold in them. Any experts out there care to comment? Thanks!

I think this got missed. So I will take a stab at it.
First I am not a expert at Ameraucana's... Yet

If the bird meets all standards for the Ameraucana breed but lays a slightly green egg then it is most likely a ameraucana in my humble opinion.
They are still working on getting the eggs to be blue in some lines. Ameraucana's are still a newer breed so still need a lot of work in some areas.
I think it was Tailfeathers who has almost white eggs due to his work on improving the breed and trying to remove all trace of the brown egg color genetics as well as improving productivity.
Some are working on the blue egg coloring
and still others are working on other breed standards such as improving body, colors, etc.

If you are going to be breeding Ameraucana's find the best birds you can with the traits you like and try and work out the ones you don't (such as the green egg coloring) by selective breeding and heavy culling.
Find and buy/print a copy of the Ameraucana breed standards and keep up with any changes.

If you just wanted a true Ameraucana in your flock you might have one. post a photo and we can let you know.
If you wanted a blue egg layer in your flock you might have to find a breeder who has been working on egg colors to get a hen that lays blue eggs.

also note there are many shades of blue... some have a green tint or some are very pale.
I've also heard Ameraucana pullets tend to throw green tints when they start laying but again I'm no expert so dunno for sure.

All my hens lay very pale blue eggs. when next to a white egg it is obviously blue but when just looked at it can be mistaken for white.

Hope this helps.

 

[tennesseeckn]

I have that same problem here. In the summer when it is about 99 in the shade, I think I will just leave the bator door open....

I'm not sure why the Department of Tourism is all over that! "Welcome to Tennessee, Where You Can Incubate Eggs on Your Back Porch!"

 

[DMRippy]

I'm not sure why the Department of Tourism is all over that! "Welcome to Tennessee, Where You Can Incubate Eggs on Your Back Porch!"

Maybe we should suggest that....

That might explain all the fridges on the porches in the summer.... hum......

I am crying........

 

[DMRippy]

I needed that.... still crying by the way and I am going to wake the baby if I am not careful....... I have had a headache for 2 days and it is finally letting up and that really helped.....

 

[Rainwolf]

speaking of wood incubators...
Here is a nice one... in Greenbay
http://greenbay.craigslist.org/grd/2900190782.html
$450

To give you a idea what I meant by wooden incubators...
circa 1950's

and another one for $250 with no photo....
http://utica.craigslist.org/grd/2899520009.html


These older redwood incubators are fantastic if you have the space


edited again since I can not spell or type today

 

[heatherscooby77]

I am totally drooling right now.

speaking of wood incubators...
Here is a nice one... in Greenbay
http://greenbay.craigslist.org/grd/2900190782.html
$450
To give you a idea what I meant by wooden incubators...
circa 1950's
and another one for $250 with no photo....
http://utica.craigslist.org/grd/2899520009.html
These older redwood incubators are fantastic if you have the space

edited again since I can not spell or type today

 

[Rainwolf]

lol...
I've been toying with starting a "Redwood Incubator" thread that people can post the ones they find for sale... I see them all the time just not in my neck of the woods.