Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Angelicisi]

My wheatans that have one center ridge raised and two smaller rows on either side are pullets. 3 rowed flatter combed were roo's.
At 8 weeks I'd be looking at comb coloring/shapes, tail feathers and coloring (wheatans). The tail feathers on my pullets look like a set of praying hands. The roo's had crazy or stumpy tails.

Question about pea comb sexing.  Can a chick have three rows of peas, one large and two very small and still be a pullet?  My chicks are going on 8 weeks now and I thought it would be more apparent from the combs which are pullets and cockerels, but it's proving difficult.

I have one cockerel for sure with a wide, three-row comb that is starting to turn red, and two with big three-row combs.  I also know I have some pullets because they have one narrow row of peas and almost nothing on the sides.

But then I some in between that have three distinct rows of peas but the side rows are very small or irregular.  Would these be pullets?  Or are three rows a sign of cockerels for sure?  Will pullet combs only start to turn red near point of lay?

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[jerryse]

My wheatans that have one center ridge raised and two smaller rows on either side are pullets. 3 rowed flatter combed were roo's.
At 8 weeks I'd be looking at comb coloring/shapes, tail feathers and coloring (wheatans). The tail feathers on my pullets look like a set of praying hands. The roo's had crazy or stumpy tails.

X2 plus wheaten cockerels should be getting that calico look and pullets should be looking more buff colored.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

My wheatans that have one center ridge raised and two smaller rows on either side are pullets. 3 rowed flatter combed were roo's.
At 8 weeks I'd be looking at comb coloring/shapes, tail feathers and coloring (wheatans). The tail feathers on my pullets look like a set of praying hands. The roo's had crazy or stumpy tails.

Okay that's good to know that pullets can still have three rows. Overall tail length wasn't telling me much but I'll have to look at tail shape next.

X2 plus wheaten cockerels should be getting that calico look and pullets should be looking more buff colored.

Mine are blacks/blues so unfortunately I can't rely on color (that would be nice!). Although I have noticed with the blue chicks, the obvious pullets have uniformly dark heads at this point whereas the cockerels are still patchy yellow down and blue. Do pullets feather out more quickly?

 

[Angelicisi]

My girls definitely feathered in first. So much so I almost figured they were a week apart.

Okay that's good to know that pullets can still have three rows.  Overall tail length wasn't telling me much but I'll have to look at tail shape next.


Mine are blacks/blues so unfortunately I can't rely on color (that would be nice!).  Although I have noticed with the blue chicks, the obvious pullets have uniformly dark heads at this point whereas the cockerels are still patchy yellow down and blue.  Do pullets feather out more quickly?

 

[kara1015]

Question about muffs/beards.... If chicks hatch without them, will they ever grow in? Genetically if I have a roo without a muff/beard, will his offspring also be without?

 

[pips&peeps]

Full muff and beard birds carry two copies of the gene. If they have sparce muff and beard they only carry one. Clean face birds have no gene.

mmbbXmmbb = 100% offspring with muff and beard

mmbbXmb = 50% full muff and beard and 50% with little muff and beard

mbXmb = 50% little muff and beard, 12.5 % full muff and beard, 12.5% clean faced

00Xmb = 50% clean faced, 50% little muff and beard

 

[jajeanpierre]

What does mmbb and mb look like?

Thanks

 

[kara1015]

Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

No one has bought from Duane Urch/Turnland poultry?

Bum

 

[SullyD]

Thank you for the info! Not what I was hoping for, I was hoping for at least one pullet, but maybe one of them will be nicer than the black one I already have.