Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Blue Hill Farm]

Agreed

Chickens in general are fun...lol

And addictive! I'm sure my family and friends thought I needed an intervention a few years back, haha.
Now they know better and accept my chook obsession is for life.

 

[Blue Hill Farm]

So, all you ameraucana pros..... This is the only cockerel I kept out of the 6 I had. Am I even on the right track here? I'm fairly new with AMs, so I'm trying to see if my idea of a good bird fits the norm for this variety. Feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[americaca jtl]

Ok so I'm trying to decide which 2 of my blues to keep for myself I was wondering if the lighter or darker colored chicks will have better color on the edges of the feathers when they mature? Also I ended up with 4 cockerels (DNA sexing), are the worth the $20 I have invested per bird when I sell them? They are show quality chicks from mr.smith's flocks.

 

[pips&peeps]

Also check his earlobes they look like the may have a bit of enamel white in the middle. If so, just pick one of his son's to replace him when you get chicks.

 

[Blue Hill Farm]

Merrell: Are you limited to keeping only the one male? Because I'd really recommend keeping at least two in the future. Or more if you have the space. I've learned the hard way not to put all my eggs in one basket. Males can just up and die, or even be infertile. (knock on wood that isn't the case)

 

[Blue Hill Farm]

Ok so I'm trying to decide which 2 of my blues to keep for myself I was wondering if the lighter or darker colored chicks will have better color on the edges of the feathers when they mature? Also I ended up with 4 cockerels (DNA sexing), are the worth the $20 I have invested per bird when I sell them? They are show quality chicks from mr.smith's flocks.

If time and space permit, I would keep and breed them both. Then you'll know for sure who produces the best chicks.


In regards to lacing, your birds either have lacing genes or they don't. Hormones at sexual maturity can enhance the edging on the feathers and appear like lacing, but it's really not. Most Ameraucanas I've seen don't have real lacing, but there are projects in the works to correct that.

Speaking of which, has anyone heard how that's going? Or working towards such a goal themselves? I was (am) though my project suffered a blow when my only blue Andalusian cock died. I still had a hen with great lacing for awhile, but she turned out to be a dud too. Never layed a single egg in all the time I had her. And after processing I realized why - she had a 1/4 inch thick layer of fat coating all her insides. Yuck. It was one of the more disgusting things I've seen...

 

[sbucciarel]

Ok ... I bought some eggs some time ago from Meredith/Pips & Peeps lines and 4 of them hatched and (ha ha) all four are cockerels. Here's the two I like the best. What do the experts think of them? I've also got a dozen month old chicks from Paul Smith and I will combine my Smith line with these ... I'm thinking. What do you think?

 

[Blue Hill Farm]

Hi subcciarel,
Lucky you! They are lovely, and still quite young. Personally, I would grow them all out a bit more before final selection. A lot can change during adolescence and after molting.

That said, which cockerel are you drawn too? Besides type and temperament, look for the one with a swagger to his step and a bright gleam in his eye. The cock of the walk as the saying goes. lol Mark him as one to watch as you grow' em out, he just might be the one you're looking for.

 

[sbucciarel]

Hi subcciarel,
Lucky you! They are lovely, and still quite young. Personally, I would grow them all out a bit more before final selection. A lot can change during adolescence and after molting.

That said, which cockerel are you drawn too? Besides type and temperament, look for the one with a swagger to his step and a bright gleam in his eye. The cock of the walk as the saying goes. lol Mark him as one to watch as you grow' em out, he just might be the one you're looking for. 

Thanks. I'm really liking the one in the last two pics and the blue wheaton as well. Out of the two that I didn't get good pics of, one of them attacked me when I went to water them yesterday ... flew right on my head in an aggressive eagle swoop. lol. Suffice it to say, he's not one of my favorites. The other 3 haven't shown any aggression, even to each other, but I'll take your advice and keep them all and see how they progress (except the mean one if he continues to be aggressive).

 

[DMRippy]

Ok ... I bought some eggs some time ago from Meredith/Pips & Peeps lines and 4 of them hatched and (ha ha) all four are cockerels. Here's the two I like the best. What do the experts think of them? I've also got a dozen month old chicks from Paul Smith and I will combine my Smith line with these ... I'm thinking. What do you think?

The blue is looking off. I don't like the lighter color hackles, he also looks to have some lacing in the blue on his hackles. Tail angle looks wrong and he just looks off in his type too. The black would be my first pick. Do you have any others?