Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[BroosterSpringsteen]

At what age can you tell a roo from a pullet?

I have three blue ameraucanas that are 7 weeks old. One holds itself taller and stretches it's neck out more, but it's also been slow to feather and is smaller so maybe it's just developmentally behind and the neck looks thinner/longer because it's not totally feathered? Anyway, none of them are developing combs at all. What do I look for and when?

THANKS from this excited newbie!

I've been really lucky. There is a very big difference between the rate of feathering between my roos and pullets. I can usually tell in the first week or so. My girls sprout tails, and the boys don't get any tail feathers for 3 weeks or so. But maybe that's just my line? My boys also develop a three ridged comb by 3-4 weeks. Some of the girls will occasionally confuse me by getting pink combs, or maybe feather a little differently, but the tails are always totally different. That's not true for everyone's chickens though. You should post pictures.

 

[Christie Rhae]

I...now...own...John Blehm ameraucanas!!!

They are freakin awesome!!! Seriously... I had no idea there would be such a difference. Cannot express how happy I am to have them!
I ended up with 18 blacks and 8 wheaten.

 

[ashandvine]

This is why you need BOTH the blacks and the lavs- to get the "orpy" lavs true to type. You're off to a good start.
I don't mind my old Shaffer girls one bit- they have awesome egg color and great personalities, even if they are broody 1/2 the time!

Funny you say that because my current brooder (on Maran eggs) is a Shaffer lav hen with the Orp body. She and her sister are just so sweet. One 'plays' with my son. He calls her over, pets her, then starts running and she chases him in this very funny waddling gate. So funny. She was in my lap trying to get the treats I brought out yesterday. The blacks (Smith and Cree, and the Ramey splash) are all out today, freerange for their first time here. I'm hoping Shaffer hen, Henny Penny, doesn't show them the garden!! They are mild in temperment but stand their ground with other birds. Hoping the 9 acres is big enough for them all to get along. I'm not sure what I like 'better.' I like beautiful, friendly birds.

 

[Lark Rise]

I...now...own...John Blehm ameraucanas!!!

They are freakin awesome!!! Seriously... I had no idea there would be such a difference. Cannot express how happy I am to have them!
I ended up with 18 blacks and 8 wheaten.

So excited for you!!!! Congratulations!!!!

ETA: You will continue to post pics as they grow, won't you?

 

[jerryse]

New question: I have Lav Ams from Shaffer and Blacks from Cree and a few others. All the blacks have a body composition similar to an Orloff. Tall, long neck. Shaffer's sweet hens are more like Orp bodies. What/why/how??

Most likely lav orp was used to increase size at some point.New varieties must borrow the color from somewhere and sometimes size also.A good lav orp rooster may go 8 pounds.That exceeds ameraucana weights and a good choice for fast size improvement.Shaffer birds are in demand.He has done an excellent job of improving.Continue to use good blacks to improve type.

 

[chicknadventure]

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and intro myself. I am a chicken newbie but decided early on that I wanted some nice show type birds. I am eagerly awaiting my huckleberry farms order of bbs hatching eggs. I have a mixed backyard flock so these will be my first with real bloodlines. The rooster is John blehm. I live in central Florida and will have tons of questions. I will probably be lurking until the babies hatch so hi to everyone!

 

[DMRippy]

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and intro myself. I am a chicken newbie but decided early on that I wanted some nice show type birds. I am eagerly awaiting my huckleberry farms order of bbs

hatching eggs. I have a mixed backyard flock so these will be my first with real bloodlines. The rooster is John blehm. I live in central Florida and will have tons of questions. I will probably be lurking until the babies hatch so hi to everyone!

Welcome!

 

[Christie Rhae]

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and intro myself. I am a chicken newbie but decided early on that I wanted some nice show type birds. I am eagerly awaiting my huckleberry farms order of bbs

hatching eggs. I have a mixed backyard flock so these will be my first with real bloodlines. The rooster is John blehm. I live in central Florida and will have tons of questions. I will probably be lurking until the babies hatch so hi to everyone!

Welcome!!! I just got my order of chicks from John Blehm and I am SO excited. lol

 

[MoriahQuilts]

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and intro myself. I am a chicken newbie but decided early on that I wanted some nice show type birds. I am eagerly awaiting my huckleberry farms order of bbs hatching eggs. I have a mixed backyard flock so these will be my first with real bloodlines. The rooster is John blehm. I live in central Florida and will have tons of questions. I will probably be lurking until the babies hatch so hi to everyone!

Cknadventure - I just hatched eggs from Huckleberry Mother's Day weekend. They got lost by USPS and I still had a darling light blue and a black hatch. I love the lacing/edging on her blue hen. Fingers crossed that one of mine will be as pretty. Welcome and good luck!

 

[heatherscooby77]

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and intro myself. I am a chicken newbie but decided early on that I wanted some nice show type birds. I am eagerly awaiting my huckleberry farms order of bbs

hatching eggs. I have a mixed backyard flock so these will be my first with real bloodlines. The rooster is John blehm. I live in central Florida and will have tons of questions. I will probably be lurking until the babies hatch so hi to everyone!

Welcome and have FUN!!!!!