Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[DMRippy]

Help.

What is the SOP on eye color? Specifically for a blue cockerel/roo? I looked at the Ameraucana site and they just list eyes to be "expressive".

Could someone tell me the correct phenotype [what they should look like], and also, the genotype of the eye color if known?

Many thanks!

Pretty sure it is bay for all the breeds I have..... I don't know if there is another color eye in chickens.....I am sure there is I just don't have those breeds.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Not trying to afend anybody. I have read a lot of this tread and i have relized that the whole americana and EE thing is a toughy subject. But what exactly ae the differences between americanas and EEs. And how do you tell them apaart

 

[Basel]

Pretty sure it is bay for all the breeds I have..... I don't know if there is another color eye in chickens.....I am sure there is I just don't have those breeds.

Thanks. Well silkies have dark eyes, as definitely do Black Australorps. Some have more orange/red influences and / or an amber color.


I'm wondering if anyone knows the eye genetics and the correct eye color for AMs.

 

[Basel]

Not trying to afend anybody. I have read a lot of this tread and i have relized that the whole americana and EE thing is a toughy subject. But what exactly ae the differences between americanas and EEs. And how do you tell them apaart

Here's the link to explain all your questions:

http://www.ameraucana.org/faq.html

 

[dak]

Not trying to afend anybody. I have read a lot of this tread and i have relized that the whole americana and EE thing is a toughy subject. But what exactly ae the differences between americanas and EEs. And how do you tell them apaart

If you have read alot of this thread and still ask that question, you need to read more. You will realize we cover this so often that most just roll their eyes and leave it for someone else to deal with. All pertinent info will be found somewhere in this thread.

No offense taken.

 

[Tailfeathers]

I am interested in establishing a flock that has the potential to produce show quality birds but will at the very least produce birds that breed true to standards. I like larger birds and egg color is very important to me. I want to be confident that if I sell hatching eggs or chicks to someone down the line they will get exactly what they were expecting and not have to deal with all the difficulties that I have to work through.

I also have 3 blue wheaten pullets and 1 wheaten pullet. They are from two different breeders, 1 well known for the egg color of her birds and the other one a random seller on BYC. I just started getting eggs from these pullets and two are on the green side even though they were hatched from decent eggs. One of the eggs from the other two pullets is beautiful; B6 in color and a beautiful shape (this is from the "well known" breeder and I will definitely keep her but am not sure which one laid it. My question is regarding one of the pullets that laid a greenish egg. She is beautiful, very large - my best blue wheaten pullet from a form standpoint in my opinion (will send picture). My issues are with egg color and that the other pullets from that breeder have varying degrees of curled toes (inbreeding?). She does not. Is it worth trying to breed to a better egg color or should I just move on from her.

Sorry about the long post but I just wanted to share my experience and get some general comments from the board. I could never have imagined just how difficult it would be to build a halfway decent flock of chickens when I stated out so innocently last year .

John

A couple of quick observations and comments for the benefit of all hands. I sent you a PM and addresses some other things as well.

First, you have a very worthy goal when you say, "I want to be confident that if I sell hatching eggs or chicks to someone down the line they will get exactly what they were expecting and not have to deal with all the difficulties that I have to work through." However, you should expect to work years in order to achieve that goal. Until you find yourself getting 75-90% of your chicks all turning out the same, you can't expect others will.

Which bring me to my second point with regard to your comment, "I could never have imagined just how difficult it would be to build a halfway decent flock of chickens when I stated out so innocently last year." I think many of us may be guilty of inadvertently and unknowingly leading others to believe that this idea of breeding chickesn to a SOP is a quick process and that all one has to do is buy eggs or chicks from some top breeder in the country and Voila - now you've got some too. Everyone should be aware that it's just not that simple.

As I told John in my PM, I raised 100 chicks this year from each of my four breeds and I only kept about 4 or so of each breed. Now I fully realize that some of the chicks I sold may be show quality birds and, could in fact, wind up beating my birds at a show. But for those old enough for me to judge, I kept the best. That being said, I have no doubt that a good 50% or so of my birds would not be show worthy. Some plain out had DQ's. Others had severe (or least what I'd consider severe) faults. Of the remaining 50%, most of those is where my birds were 2-3 years ago. So I have no need of them but they would make good "starting" stock for many.

And "starting stock" is what needs to be looked at. Those just getting into a breed and desiring to breed for show, should not expect to start out with the best. Besides that, what pleasure is that? Taking someone else's efforts and winning a show would mean little to me. So I maintain that beginners should not set their expectations too high. Start with a worthy goal and work to improve each year. That's my two-cents.

As for the BW gal that lays the blue egg, if you go back and look thru this thread you will find I've written on this subject fairly extensively. Most of my W's & BW's laid a green egg when I started out. Now I'm not sure I have any that do. Certainly not the two that are laying now. With a good linebreeding program, the brown egg gene modifiers can be eliminated.

God Bless,

Royce

 

[ChickenLeg]

Thanks. Well silkies have dark eyes, as definitely do Black Australorps. Some have more orange/red influences and / or an amber color.


I'm wondering if anyone knows the eye genetics and the correct eye color for AMs.

Reddish bay is the desired color

 

[Kismet]

I am interested in establishing a flock that has the potential to produce show quality birds but will at the very least produce birds that breed true to standards. I like larger birds and egg color is very important to me. I want to be confident that if I sell hatching eggs or chicks to someone down the line they will get exactly what they were expecting and not have to deal with all the difficulties that I have to work through.

Anyway, here is what I have to work with: 1 black and 1 blue pullet - no eggs yet but should be any day now. Both are from breeder on the ABC list and come from beautiful blue-green, large eggs. They both have the size I am looking for and to my eyes seem to be true to standards I will take some pictures and send in the next few days. The black pullet has two feathers that have a white tip to them. If this turns out to be her only major defect would she be worth breeding? I have a black cock that came from the same breeder last year that I could put over them but he has some issues... Good points: he is big, the egg color he hatched from was excellent and he has proven to be extremely virile in test hatches. Now for the problems... his comb is a bit large and has added gold hackles and a few gold feathers on his wings since he molted.... He was completely black as a cockeral and had a few gold hackles grow in as he matured. I will send a picture of him as soon as I get a chance. I have 1 blue cockeral from the same hatch but he seems too small to me at 6 mos. I'll let him mature before I do anything with him.

John

​

I am curious why so many people are trying to breed very large Ameracaunas. The Ameracauna Breeders Club website gives the weights for standard large fowls (copied below). In my opinion, if you breed larger than the standard, you are just creating a bird that will eat you out of house and home, but not produce or look any better, and, of course, not be bred to the SOP. If one wants really large birds, a different breed might be a better choice.

STANDARD WEIGHTS for LARGE FOWL

Cock………………6½ lbs. Hen……………….5½ lbs.​

Cockerel………….5½ lbs. Pullet……………..4½ lbs.

 

[Basel]

Reddish bay is the desired color

Thank you, chickenleg!

 

[Basel]

Reddish bay is the desired color

So is this eye color dominant or recessive?

I read an article on eye color genetics and am curious. A lot of AM traits are dominant. Curious.

Does anyone know the genetics?