Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[fowlman01]

Cindy and Walt make some excellent points. And Walt your post scared the dickens out of me! A closed flock for 30 years and now you get this pop up?? Ouch!

Having said that, both Cindy and Walt's post - but especially Walt's - add a great deal of merit to why I say that one should maintain a closed flock AND linebreed while keeping meticulous records. I know of no other way to identify the culprit that is the contributing factor to a problem that rears its ugly head. If you know who each parent is and keep track of each subsequent mating, you can go back and identify where the problem is originating.

This requires a lot more time and effort but I believe it's worth it in the long run. And even linebreeding isn't the best because I've seen where breeding one male to four or five full blood sisters can result is an oddity and then the only recourse is to get rid of the entire line of females if the male is ruled out as the problem maker. Single mating or in other words 1 on 1 is probably the best but I have neither the time, space, or energy to do that.

God Bless,

I like to think that I am a serious breeder and serious breeders need to keep track of their birds and keep very good records. I toe punch all my chickens and waterfowl, so even if they lose their metal bands, I will still know who their parents are. Since our chickens have been made by crossing breeds somewhere down the line, things can pop out from time to time. This is not unusual in most flocks. I have enough birds so that I can be ruthless in culling. I can't afford to tolerate any kind of DQ popping up, so when it does I cull hard.....but I know where it came from, so I only need to cull the birds involved. If you consider the benefits, I don't think it is time consuming. I am willing to spend some time in the beginning to make the end easier. You can use one male with multiple females if you trap nest the females.

Walt

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Use it in your Olive Egger projects, if you have one. That is what I am going to breed to in my Olive Eggers.

 

[Reyvaughn]

Use it in your Olive Egger projects, if you have one. That is what I am going to breed to in my Olive Eggers.

To bad you didn't live closer... I would have 3 chicks for you (and maybe a hen)! I don't have an OE project - don't have the room for it and I don't have Marans.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

I'm curious to ask the Ameraucana experts.I just hatched this little cutie, and I'm wondering whether it's white or splash? It's pretty much solid yellow and a little bit smokey around the face. All of the other chicks are blue. The breeder said it could be either.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm really new to chickens - so this may be a dumb question - please forgive me in advance if it is.

My beautiful AM Miss Ebony who is now almost 9 weeks old was hatched from eggs from BYC breeder Mrheinz77 and does not appear to have a ear tuffs, beard or muffs. So what does that make her? She's not SOP - but is she also not an AM? I suppose a breeder would cull her - but since I don't intend to breed her - does it matter if I refer to her as an AM - if yes, what should I call her?

 

[heatherscooby77]

did she have fuzzy cheeks when she was born? When they are teenagers they sometimes lose them until the rest of there feathers come in. So there is still hope for muffs, and a beard.. Ameraucanas don't have tufts, that is Aracaunas. She looks a little bit flat butted. Like she doesn't have a tail. Then she would be a clean faced Aracauna. As for what to call her?????? I would probably call her an EE for now.

I'm really new to chickens - so this may be a dumb question - please forgive me in advance if it is.

My beautiful AM Miss Ebony who is now almost 9 weeks old was hatched from eggs from BYC breeder Mrheinz77 and does not appear to have a ear tuffs, beard or muffs. So what does that make her? She's not SOP - but is she also not an AM? I suppose a breeder would cull her - but since I don't intend to breed her - does it matter if I refer to her as an AM - if yes, what should I call her?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks for the help! She does have a short tail. So an AM that doesn't make SOP is an EE?

I went back through some of her day old to 1 week pics and she did have what looks like a fluffier chin. So I'll keep an eye out for her beard. Guess I'll have to look up muffs because I'm not sure what they look like. Thanks again.

 

[2seth2]

Yep, got this feathered legged blue wheaten chick in one of my recent hatches. I sold this chick, and when I saw a picture of it at 4 weeks of age the feathers were gone

This chick was SUPER fluffy with a very large beard and muff. It was adorable!

hey that my chick

you can barely see the feathers now but they are there barely

 

[chickee]

Did that one turn out to be a pullet or cockerel?

hey that my chick

you can barely see the feathers now but they are there barely

 

[2seth2]

The fulffy footed chick was extremely fluffy i could tell who it was just by looking at her beard. she was super sweet and if is is a girl that is cute it is worth$