Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Quechicks]

Here I am not an expert but I learn pretty soon from breeders that améraucanas must....have black legs...then standard colour or colours in developpement (like my lavander girl)....and lay blue eggs....it is a good start...legs legs legs....

Isa

 

[tec27]

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.

The question i answered was "How do you tell Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers apart?" originally posted by Brahmacole. There is way too much to say about that topic. Plus it has already been said a million times even on this particular thread. An ameraucana is any chicken that is confined to the standard of the breed brought up by the association. Any chicken that is not on the ameraucana website is technically not yet recognized as an ameraucana and is therefore some other breed or an ee.

 

[jajeanpierre]

The question i answered was "How do you tell Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers apart?" originally posted by Brahmacole. There is way too much to say about that topic. Plus it has already been said a million times even on this particular thread. An ameraucana is any chicken that is confined to the standard of the breed brought up by the association. Any chicken that is not on the ameraucana website is technically not yet recognized as an ameraucana and is therefore some other breed or an ee.

You responded to my request for more discussion on what constitutes "type" in an Ameraucana. That's a lot different than a question on comb type or leg/feather color. Declaring "ee" without a reason does not help any of use understand the breed.

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.

 

[Angelicisi]

Here's some answers.. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/128806/differences-ee-ameraucana-araucana-pls-post-pics

You responded to my request for more discussion on what constitutes "type" in an Ameraucana.  That's a lot different than a question on comb type or leg/feather color.  Declaring "ee" without a reason does not help any of use understand the breed.

I dunno if i can cross post :/ but there's good info and pics. Once someone informs you of the breed there are threads on the specific breeds to gain info from the people that raise those specific breeds...like if you have ameraucanas, here's a great thread. Or, if you find out you have an Easter egger (EE) there's an "Easter Egger's bragging thread" with tons of answers from those who raise them https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/12420#post_11883257


As far as standards for true breeds the SOP is free online I believe and a great bookmark to reference as your flock grows.

 

[rbaker0345]

I have encountered this problem on other threads. People who have been on the thread for a long time have answered the same question over and over again and eventually they get downright rude and dismissive to people who ask that same question yet again. Its human nature, like when a four year old asks the same question over again.

I think that the "experts" need to be a little more polite and, like when dealing with a four year old or anyone who is still learning about something, you need to direct the question to the proper post or thread in a constructive and polite manner instead of just being dismissive. Dismissiveness makes people feel small and insignificant and I know that none of us want to make anybody else on BYC feel bad about themselves. However, you may not want to have to type out an explanation yet again, so can we just be polite to each other and consider each other's feelings? After all, we are all here because we love Ameraucanas and want to share that love with others, right?

 

[jajeanpierre]

What do you think of this 5-month old pullet?

 

[heatherscooby77]

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.

What I think people are trying to say, is you first have to know if you are looking at an AM or not. If you are looking at an EE, it doesn't matter what the type is.

 

[jajeanpierre]

What I think people are trying to say, is you first have to know if you are looking at an AM or not. If you are looking at an EE, it doesn't matter what the type is.

Now I'm really confused. Is my lavender an easter egger?

 

[heatherscooby77]

What do you think of this 5-month old pullet?

The reason you are having a hard time with the "type" topic is because it is not something that is black and white. Type is subjective, so there is the ideal bird described in the SOP. Judges and breeders are going to have there own image of what is the ideal bird. If you are new to the breed, you need to get the best birds you can find, with your budget, and pic one or two things to work on. You might cross two lines together, and not have great results even if you start out with birds with no horrific faults.

So even is someone tells you on here they like your bird because of A, B, and C, or they say we don't like it because of a,b, and c, that is that persons opinion. The things you also must consider are the faults, as well as the positives of your own birds, and use that as part of your breeding plan. A bird can work in your breeding program, but not in someone elses. I don't know if this is making sense, I hope so.

Your pullet: I like her beard and muffs, I do not like the black in her hackle. That is something that is an ongoing issue with this variety. I like her bottom line, and neck. I think her tail is set to low (in this pose). If her tail rises more in a different position you are pretty good. That will make her back seem not as long. She has a decent depth, I cannot comment on her chest. It seems like her legs are the correct space apart (not narrow). She has a nice skull structure, I can't see the eye. Her tail looks like it would make a nice V shape from the back. She is not overly fluffy which is good, you want nice tight feathers, with just enough fluff in the vent area.

 

[heatherscooby77]

Now I'm really confused. Is my lavender an easter egger?

From the club's perspective I think the project colors are considered EE. I am not sure on that.

From a breeders perspective, if you have a plan to improve the variety, help get it accepted as a variety, and cull the birds to the Ameraucana SOP, I would call it a project color??? IDK

Again, these questions have been answered, its like beating a dead horse. Especially to the people that have been on the thread for a longer period of time. Its okay to be a newbie, and want to learn. Just don't get upset when you are directed to another thread, or web page. This thread is about Ameraucana, not about a debate on what is or isn't an Ameraucana. We are here to talk about people breeding to the SOP, of currently accepted varieties, and projects. That is why people get upset. To me its like this: would you post a pic of a Barred Rock, on the Rhode Island Red thread? No Would you argue with people and tell them that your Barred Rock is a Rhode Island Red? No Would you expect people to answer you sweetly, and nicely why your chicken is not a Rhode Island Red, and why its a barred rock? No Would you be surprised if every day you were on that thread somebody new came on the thread, trying to pass off there Barred Rock as a Rhode Island Red? Yes

Now for this thread: all the answers are the opposite. Does it still seem crazy that people that have been on this thread are tired of the above arguments? NO
So when you ask about type, and the EE/AM battle, you are going to get referred somewhere else.