Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[speckledhen]

Well, sometimes, internet pics are hard to see, even when enlarged, so our monitors could be skewing what we see, either yours or mine.

 

[Schroeder]

is this a show bird, my wife wants to go to a show.


The photo is too dark to tell much. However, John Blehm (Ameraucana guru) once told me, "Prior to every show, I think my birds aren't big enough, the color is wrong, or they have some other problems. Then at the show there always are others worse then some I left at home." He was not bragging about his birds, but conveying the message that you should never shy away from showing your birds. There is no better way to learn how yours stack up against others, and how the advanced breeders would work to improve the quality of your stock. I definitely recommend, GO FOR IT.

 

[CackleJoy]

I'm new to Am's but love the Wheaten and BW breed. They seem extra friendly! Just acquired some Cockerels for both the W & BW. I especially want the pullets I get to be from lines that have really big muffs. Can you tell me, does the muff get bigger as they grow out or do some just have cleaner necks? Are there breeders whose birds have been bred for that? My BW cockerel has a smaller beard than I'd like & I want to compensate if possible.
Thank you!

PS. It was here that I found out my "Pure AMs" were EE.'s Very thankful! They lay beautiful eggs, but moving on now =) Thanks again.

 

[CackleJoy]

BTW - I think I do have pure Ameraucana's, they just shouldn't have been labeled that way. Something to be on the lookout for. 'Purebred' Ameraucana's that have multiple colors of breeding stock in one pen. They are still all one kind of bird but because there is mixed colors they should technically be called EE.'s. Am I correct?

 

[speckledhen]

The labeling thing has been a bone of contention for ages.

I have this hen who came from a BBS Ameraucana flock (saw the stock and am very familiar with BBS Ameraucanas), hatched from a lovely blue, not green, egg. She has no beard, has spurs, lays a brown egg, can be aggressive, and as she grew, it became apparent that she had Sumatra influence somewhere way back in her lineage. And, though it probably has no bearing on breed, she has terrible eyesight. She's an obvious throwback to some fence jumping Sumatra rooster many breeders ago, not the breeder who gave me the eggs. I don't even like to call her an EE. I call her my weirdo Ameraucana with Sumatra lineage. What the heck would you call an accident of genetics like Tiny, really? Genetics are funny things, little trick-playing gremlins.
Here is a spur she lost recently:






Tiny as a pullet:

 

[Angelicisi]

Sorta, the wheatan/blue wheatan/wheatan splash can breed together as well as Blue/Black and Splash and the results are a percentage of offspring of specific colors that ate accepted. Except Splash- while not a recognized color, can be used in breeding to obtain traits and a different percentage of blue wheatan offspring I believe.

BTW - I think I do have pure Ameraucana's, they just shouldn't have been labeled that way.  Something to be on the lookout for.  'Purebred' Ameraucana's that have multiple colors of breeding stock in one pen.  They are still all one kind of bird but because there is mixed colors they should technically be called EE.'s.  Am I correct?

 

[CackleJoy]

I googled Paul Smith Ameraucana's and couldn't find the actual page for him. Lots of interesting articles though! Can anyone attach a link for me?

 

[CackleJoy]

So having both cockerels the BW and W is overkill? I could get by with one? Right now I have each. Both 6 months +

The BW

The new boys are rather shy so getting pictures turns out to be a real chore!

How does one choose between two such spectacular beauties? I really shouldn't keep any more Roo's than absolutely necessary!
Thanks for input!

 

[CackleJoy]

• speckledhen, I'd call that one ENTERTAINMENT! We have several birds that are not good for anything but laying eggs. Some don't even do that. But the entertainment is worth a lot! =) Any bird with that many foibles is just fun!

 

[pips&peeps]

So having both cockerels the BW and W is overkill? I could get by with one? Right now I have each. Both 6 months +

The BW

The new boys are rather shy so getting pictures turns out to be a real chore!

How does one choose between two such spectacular beauties? I really shouldn't keep any more Roo's than absolutely necessary!
Thanks for input!

I always keep a back up...... one could get hurt, be sterile or some other problem. One may throw better offspring.