Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[dak]

The Chantecler Fanciers International club forum can be found here.

http://showbirdbid.proboards.com/

Now back to Ameraucanas.

 

[my sunwolf]

Okay, since we're back to Ameraucanas... I have a few photos of some 5 month old blue pullets, and was hoping you all could evaluate in terms of judging. Ex: Are the tails okay? Is it acceptable if they have blueish earlobes? How important are combs? I think I remember that eye color is not too important. And most important of all: how do their shapes look??







Feather question: I don't have any photos, but some of my girls have this "fanning out" problem where their feathers begin to look extremely fluffy and stand out from their bodies, mostly on their backs. This is NOT rooster damage as I don't have a rooster in with them right now. How do I fix this? I'll try to get a photo of this, it looks really odd and I haven't seen it on anything other than Faverolles before.

Splash question: Is there a benefit to breeding with a very defined splash bird (one with individual darker feathers among the white feathers) versus a more "mottled" splash bird (one with dark flecks on various feathers)? Is it connected to blue lacing at all?

Thanks for any advice in advance!!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Try searching that question on this site. It's been answered many times. You can also go to ameraucana.org

Ah, come on, that is not the answer we novices are looking for. Being able to identify "type" is a lot more than just ticking the boxes. I have a lavender Ameraucana, which is NOT an acceptable color at all. She is most certainly not an easter egger. I am trying to identify "type" in the breed so really would appreciate those who are very involved in the breed to be able to say, that's an ee because... and then explain it. Personally, I think if anyone has to ask, they don't have quality stock, but that still doesn't preclude a learning experience for novices like me. Type is elusive and I want to develop my eye for what true type is.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Okay, since we're back to Ameraucanas... I have a few photos of some 5 month old blue pullets, and was hoping you all could evaluate in terms of judging. Ex: Are the tails okay? Is it acceptable if they have blueish earlobes? How important are combs? I think I remember that eye color is not too important. And most important of all: how do their shapes look??




I'm going to go out on a limb and comment. (I'm a novice--I hope that someone will correct me so then I'll learn something!)

I love the above bird's color and lacing. I don't like the tail set (or whatever it is called in chickendom). It is too high. I don't like the length of the body--too short. Does she have a proper beard and muff?--it doesn't show in the photo. I like the one below a lot better.

 

[pips&peeps]

Bringing these to the Ameraucana National in Great Falls!

 

[unkadan]

Bringing these to the Ameraucana National in Great Falls!

tisk, tisk, Jean seems the color is not a selected color, let alone those combs and wattles!

(said with reference to today's discussion ;-)

 

[pips&peeps]

 

[delisha]

How do you tell Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers apart?

That is a very good question..

Opinions are varied and with some reading on this thread and others like it..you too can spot the difference. (I am never 100% positive on some of the birds)
Some say green legs make it an EE even if it is perfect in every other way..
Feather color is one of the clues. AM's come is specific colors ...not only on the feathers.. but even the bottom of the feet.
Comb type and ear color and weight


All recognized breeds of chickens have specific colors and body *types*. They are listed in a book called:
*American Standard Of Perfection*
You can find that book on the link below or click on the link in my signature
http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/
Believe it or not there are clubs just for chickens and clubs for breeds of chickens.
You can join those clubs and support the breeds. Please do!

I sure hope you find the help and support you need in this forum and other forums on BYC and if you join the clubs you will get some very good information too.

Okay, since we're back to Ameraucanas... I have a few photos of some 5 month old blue pullets, and was hoping you all could evaluate in terms of judging. Ex: Are the tails okay? Is it acceptable if they have blueish earlobes? How important are combs? I think I remember that eye color is not too important. And most important of all: how do their shapes look??


Love the lacing on this pullet..very pretty.

.tail set is too high ..and it throws off the balance of the bird.

I like this bird much better in body structure. The light blue color is pretty...love her muffs


Feather question: I don't have any photos, but some of my girls have this "fanning out" problem where their feathers begin to look extremely fluffy and stand out from their bodies, mostly on their backs. This is NOT rooster damage as I don't have a rooster in with them right now. How do I fix this? I'll try to get a photo of this, it looks really odd and I haven't seen it on anything other than Faverolles before.

Splash question: Is there a benefit to breeding with a very defined splash bird (one with individual darker feathers among the white feathers) versus a more "mottled" splash bird (one with dark flecks on various feathers)? Is it connected to blue lacing at all?

Thanks for any advice in advance!!

I would need to see pictures of what you call *fanning out* to even try to answer that question. Even with pictures I might be clueless.


Again opinions are going to be different and everyone is right about there own personal experiences.
You have BBS.
I also have BBS. I can't help with other colors because i know nothing about those colors.
This is just my opinion and my experience.
Splash is not recognized but it has use in breeding BBS. it helps to clarify mossy and muted lacing. I have found if you breed splash every 4 years or so it helps to clean it up. It also helps if you are getting too dark in the blues. I do not use splash for any other reason. I am sure there are many other reasons to use splash that I have no knowledge about. I hope others chime in and offer information.
This is easy to understand and has some information
I have dyslexia so please excuse all my mistakes. My program does not let me use it in BYC. It takes me a long time to type and correct all of those red underlines.

http://briarwoodpoultry.weebly.com/breeding-blue-poultry.html

I hope this helps..if it does not please PM and I would be delighted to point you in a different direction or give you additional material to read.

 

[tec27]

Ah, come on, that is not the answer we novices are looking for. Being able to identify "type" is a lot more than just ticking the boxes. I have a lavender Ameraucana, which is NOT an acceptable color at all. She is most certainly not an easter egger. I am trying to identify "type" in the breed so really would appreciate those who are very involved in the breed to be able to say, that's an ee because... and then explain it. Personally, I think if anyone has to ask, they don't have quality stock, but that still doesn't preclude a learning experience for novices like me. Type is elusive and I want to develop my eye for what true type is.

The question was just entirely too broad.

 

[jajeanpierre]

The question was just entirely too broad.

Not at all. I was asking that rather than a two letter response, "ee," the experts expand on their rationale for coming to that conclusion. It would help novices to be able to identify type. Type is not something that is a combination of the right color feathers, legs and the proper comb. Type is an elusive quality, it's an art to identify. A discussion on what makes a chicken an Ameraucana and not an ee, and vice versa would be educational for everyone. It's a pretty new breed, so there must be a lot of debate on what is correct and what is faulty. It would be educational to have those kinds of conversations on this board.