Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[sbucciarel]

Thanks.  I had expected to have more pullets, but my (expletive) mini Dachshund thinned the ranks.  I have been planning to slaughter two of the cockerels, but have managed to put it off weekend after weekend.  Maybe I'll just have to just do it--set a date and stick to it.

I was hoping to be able to get through the winter with just the three young pullets and the two cockerels and then in the spring place another order of Ameraucanas from the breeder I got these from.  I have four Polish pullets that I had thought of putting with the free range group, but I don't like the idea of Polish free ranging.  It  would require me to make sure their top knots were always clipped, and I know I won't keep up with it.  The little Silkie hussies are dying to come out to play with the big boys, but they are worse at free ranging than the Polish.

I like this cockerel and he impressed me today when he tried to chase down my low-flying Scarlet macaw.  The two cockerels I want to keep really chased her across the field--they were really moving fast.  I was impressed.  I figure they'll stop a hawk attack so I kind of want to keep them both.

I don't know about free ranging Polish. I have Polish and don't consider them a good candidate for free ranging. They're silly, flighty, don't see as well as other chickens with their crests hindering their vision. Keep the roos you want. I only have the one (with that particular flock) because the other one I kept was very aggressive and I didn't like him at all. You'll get more pullets eventually and it'll work out. Just be aware that some roosters shouldn't be left around children unsupervised.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Go with your gut feeling. Most people keep a back up rooster anyways, its not impractical at all. Keep the two and just make a bachelor pad for one.

On the subject of free ranging polish. I dont recommend it lol. I learned the hard way. Mine were outside in winter and couldnt see to find their way back and froze. Not a good expereince. Spring and summer probably arent as a big deal, but when the cold temps come. I just really didnt want to trim their feathers and they died because of my own stupidity.

You fly macaws outside? Do they come back? And what is the point of flying them? I am just curious I have never had a macaw and really know nothing about them

So far, there hasn't been any problems amongst the four cockerels. Everyone knows there position. Surprisingly, one of the pullets is the top bird. She breaks up any minor skirmishes, chasing off even the top-ranked cockerel. The skirmishes have been really minor--mostly just flaring hackles and a little chasing, nothing serious. I do understand that these are young birds and are not yet mature.

I have two big parrot flights that I can put either the cockerels or the pullets in if it gets unmanageable. Of course, there's also the freezer.

Yes, I fly my macaws outside. They are big, intelligent birds and really need the stimulation of flying and being birds. Most parrots go absolutely insane in captivity. I really don't think they make good pets; they suffer a lot in captivity. I house them outside in 20 x 8 x 8 foot aviaries and that isn't enough. I have flown my African Grey and Pionus outside, but don't anymore, both are small birds that a Coopers Hawk might find appealing. There aren't too many avian predators that will tackle a big macaw. The Pionus isn't interested in flying outdoors anymore and the Grey is a little too spooky. Greys have a very different temperament than the macaws, and are more likely to get themselves lost. They are hard to find when they are lost, too, because they hide and will go silent when stressed. A macaw sits up high in a tree and makes a LOT of noise. A grey tends to hide in a tree and their contact call is a short beep that resonates in your brain but you can't get a direction on it. I've had my Grey contact calling me in a tree 20 feet away and I couldn't get a fix on her location. Macaws, on the other hand, are hard to lose! That said, flying parrots outside is something I've worked really hard at learning to do reasonably safely. It is not something anyone should attempt without a really strong training background.

 

[mstricer]

Quote: I cull mine down by selling as pet quality, that way I don't have to do the deed, or trade for produce with the Amish. The reason you aren't have the problem yet is they are probably coming into age, I have a higher ratio of girls then boys but when the youngsters start acting like roosters it is game on and the girls pay the price and then, out go the boys.. I agree with Speckledhen, I once had a Spitzenhauben rooster go after my niece, all she did was walk in the run, he chased her all over the yard, until I caught up to him, needless to say he went down the road the next day. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

So far, there hasn't been any problems amongst the four cockerels. Everyone knows there position. Surprisingly, one of the pullets is the top bird. She breaks up any minor skirmishes, chasing off even the top-ranked cockerel. The skirmishes have been really minor--mostly just flaring hackles and a little chasing, nothing serious. I do understand that these are young birds and are not yet mature.

I have two big parrot flights that I can put either the cockerels or the pullets in if it gets unmanageable. Of course, there's also the freezer.

Yes, I fly my macaws outside. They are big, intelligent birds and really need the stimulation of flying and being birds. Most parrots go absolutely insane in captivity. I really don't think they make good pets; they suffer a lot in captivity. I house them outside in 20 x 8 x 8 foot aviaries and that isn't enough. I have flown my African Grey and Pionus outside, but don't anymore, both are small birds that a Coopers Hawk might find appealing. There aren't too many avian predators that will tackle a big macaw. The Pionus isn't interested in flying outdoors anymore and the Grey is a little too spooky. Greys have a very different temperament than the macaws, and are more likely to get themselves lost. They are hard to find when they are lost, too, because they hide and will go silent when stressed. A macaw sits up high in a tree and makes a LOT of noise. A grey tends to hide in a tree and their contact call is a short beep that resonates in your brain but you can't get a direction on it. I've had my Grey contact calling me in a tree 20 feet away and I couldn't get a fix on her location. Macaws, on the other hand, are hard to lose! That said, flying parrots outside is something I've worked really hard at learning to do reasonably safely. It is not something anyone should attempt without a really strong training background.

I hope all goes good with your cockerels and there is no reason you couldnt keep more than one. Just takes a little more time keeping peace. As long as the cockerel didnt attack me I would keep him and just lock him up when people are around. But mine very very seldom get to free range, too many preadtors and my dogs would probably rip them to pieces, but they have large fenced in areas that they are content with. I always found hobbies dealing with birds were interesting and there isnt very many people around where I live that do anything like that. I imagine that it take a lot of time and dedication.

 

[jeremyhodges]

Thought I would post this photo of Sophia, my darling blue ameraucana. Purchased from Meyer Hatchery on July 29th, I'm hoping she lays her first blue egg around Christmas time!!

 

[Mrsfoote]

My only experience with an Ameraucana is only partial as i have an Olive Egger Roo, so he looks pretty similar. But I have plenty of experience with Roosters, as I seem to luck at getting them, and having various ones my meanest to date was my Silkie God rest his soul, but he died defending the girls, can't say the same for my other two Roo's ( Olive Egger, Buff laced Brahma).

But I do know one thing, I have no tolerance for a mean roo. I've left my small children as I"ve done chores nearby around the roos my kids have grown up with them, My olive egger having massive in tact spurs, but my Roos have never shown ANY aggression. My daughter when she was old enough to talk and recognize what it was she was around would enter the coop and in her deepest most serious voice yell " Hey Roo " And they just walked off. It sounds to me like teenage behavior. You could wait it out just a bit more, as long as you keep an eye on any kids, and the moment there is any aggression address it.

Like I said one time my Silkie chased me around the yard, and I gave him one swift kick in the butt, and when he tried it again I hosed him off with the garden hose and carried him screaming around the yard in front of all his girls. Humiliate them, they'll learn.

But I do agree it sounds like too many roo's too few hens. If your intent on keeping them longer, maybe make a few makeshift pens, or get crates and do it that way, then try and get some more girls and see if it solves the problem. We just moved and my Olive Egger was my less dominant Roo the Brahma being top dog...or Roo...we moved here and the tables got turned, We have 11 girls and intending to get more this spring, and two roos and two turkeys. Even when the other roo acts out a bit the Turkey Jake puts him in his place, but seeing as how a 5 year old isn't very big ( my kids being 4 and almost 6) a hormonal teenage roo probably saw the child as an equal. So tell any kids who come over...when roos are teenagers they need to stand their grounds. But I've had great roos of various breeds, but I'm firm with them, and don't tolerate repeated bad behavior.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thanks for everyone's Roo advice. I am going to set the date in two weeks to slaughter the two I definitely don't want. There will be more hens next year when I get more chicks.

 

[familypendragon]

I am in my first year of chicken keeping. I don't know if I am just really lucky or what... I have about 150 birds and of those I have about a 1 of 10 ratio of roosters to hens. Until next year they all sleep in the same "hen house" and free range all day together (except the littles who are in the outside brooder). So far I have never had a problem with aggression toward people or really even each other. I had a RIR that I purchased as an adult and he tried to kill some of my chicks so he was dispatched. But the rest have all grown up with each other and get along fine. I have a Lavender Ameraucana who is the big daddy of the bunch and he seems to be a good alpha male as he is super gentle and chivalrous with the ladies but somehow keeps the boys in line without actually hurting anybody. Everyone still has their spurs too... I hope my luck holds out. The age group ranges are 30 months, 7 months, 4 months, 3 months, and then various chicks from 1 week old to 3 months. The head roo is probably at least 2 years old. He was a hand-me-down chicken

 

[Angelicisi]

Lol @ hand me down chicken
I find homes for other chickens when owners can't keep and have slowly acquired a small extra misfit flock of hand me down birds that just nobody wanted lol I love them all, entertainment alone is worth it.

I am in my first year of chicken keeping. I don't know if I am just really lucky or what... I have about 150 birds and of those I have about a 1 of 10 ratio of roosters to hens. Until next year they all sleep in the same "hen house" and free range all day together (except the littles who are in the outside brooder). So far I have never had a problem with aggression toward people or really even each other. I had a RIR that I purchased as an adult and he tried to kill some of my chicks so he was dispatched. But the rest have all grown up with each other and get along fine. I have a Lavender Ameraucana who is the big daddy of the bunch and he seems to be a good alpha male as he is super gentle and chivalrous with the ladies but somehow keeps the boys in line without actually hurting anybody. Everyone still has their spurs too... I hope my luck holds out. The age group ranges are 30 months, 7 months, 4 months, 3 months, and then various chicks from 1 week old to 3 months. The head roo is probably at least 2 years old. He was a hand-me-down chicken

 

[CackleJoy]

Can someone tell me how to reply exactly to a post? I hit reply and it goes to the end of the line of the forum. Often I have questions from 2 or 3 comments up. As it is, my replies look like REALLY RANDOM , don't fit the context, comments.

Trying to learn this!