Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[jerryse]

I am still waiting to prove or disprove cockerels based on who got their little tails first. I think I will be fairly close to what I predicted. Oh, and I looked at combs too. This was at one week of age. I think I posted this on page 2380. No,I am not ready to take this to the bank yet and I know the experts will poo-poo me but I am having fun. I will very carefully cull them based on what I like, not necessarily what would be best in show. I think I will have three blues, which are too many and maybe two splash. One is going to join my laying flock because I usually get my replacements from a hatchery so I am not concerned with the breeding aspect. I will probably have three breeding pens so that means I can keep 4-5 roos. I have read the cautions about not getting rid of any too soon, so mine will be grown, or close too it before I cull. I will not be eating them because I cannot.

The tail feather method is pretty accurate . No poo-poo from me .

 

[ChickyChickens]

I use a similar method
( I say that roosters get their feathers later than hens! When I sex my chicks I check who has the most feathers on their wings and also who gets their tail first! This method has is so far been very successful with me!!)
I hope its successful with others!!

 

[heatherscooby77]

Looking at there legs is another good way to tell. Especially if you have experience with the bloodline you are working with. Also the ones jumping out of the brooder first are usually males. They are also friendlier/less timid. Don't pet them. You want them to respect you when they get older. Otherwise your birds will turn mean. I really believe in this. I will not keep a mean bird and use it for breeding. I will not perpetuate that behavior. It doesn't matter how nice looking/quality he is!!!

As for people having problems with there birds not being productive, and late layers.................. It happens. You might want find someone that has a better laying rate then you do, add a couple of there birds into your breeding pens. Also, it depends when the pullet was born. For example a pullet born in April through August, I don't expect them to lay until the spring of the next year. Pullets born from January through March will usually lay in the fall, around September or October. It will take a "pure" non-hatchery birds longer to lay then other types of birds. They will have a longer lay period. I have some the are 5-6 years old that still lay 3-4 eggs a week for quite a bit of the year. Also the amount of light and nutrition factor in. So eliminate all the things you can control, to see if you can get more eggs. Keep in mind to look for egg eaters. Then look at genetics. Make sure your birds if they are line bred, that they are not too close. That is a big factor in fertility, especially if you are breeding for specific traits.

I am not able to get onto the thread to much this time of the year. So I tried to answer/give opinions on what I can remember I that I read...... I still cannot do the multiple quote, without messing up!!!!!!!! Please feel free to ask questions, or give feedback on this thread. There was some hostility back a few pages. Don't want to scare the new people! We were all new once

 

[chickee]

The tail feather method is pretty accurate . No poo-poo from me .

X2

Also, there is a look to the male chicks at hatch that I have become familiar with. Recently I hatched some W/BW Ameraucana chicks for an order and had a couple of extras. I was able pick out two pullets to keep at one week of age. Actually I could tell at hatch. After hatching so many chicks, you get an eye for the different sexes

 

[Divannah]

This April I hatched my first batch of Ameraucanas, multiple breeds. (Pips and Peeps) It was right when the feather-sexing discussion came up, so I excitedly recorded each chicks' feather status at one week. I am quite eager to see what people discover with this approach. Now they are 8 weeks and I'm a unsure on them, basically because I have no prior experience with AM's.

What I can add is this. I thought I had 5 out 5 female wheatens based on feather sexing. Oh boy! But that made me suspicious it wasn't applicable to them. But it turned out I got 4 out of 5, because one has much darker feathering and comb.

The Lav, Black Lav Spit, White, and two Black Am's I am waiting to see if my "one week old" predictions hold true.
I only got one Lavender and she is a bigger in size and has a bit larger comb with a triple line of bumps appearing.

The white one I predicted to be a boy, but now "he" has grown up with no tail and not too much of a comb growing in, and one of the blacks has no comb, so maybe two checked off in the male column get to move to the female column on my chart. Crossing my fingers.
Thank you all for your input. Us newbies certainly learn a lot here and I appreciate your patience with us.

 

[alibra]

Hi everybody was just wanted to share a few pics of my pullet and get some feed back on my bird.
Does she look like an Ameraucana at all?.... " im guessing not" just a EE?
The lady i got her from said Ameraucana, I really dont know and im brand new, this was my first bird.

And will feathers grow around her eyes or is that the breed and they will stay red and fleshy like that?

Fresh

she is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[alibra]

Hi guys. I have not been on BYC for most of the summer. Now that life has calmed down I thought I'd check in.

I wanted to share a little project Im going to be working on. This is one of my wheaten roosters, that has become mottled at age 2-3 years old......




This is what he looked like last year.....

gorgeous

 

[alibra]

These pictures are of Papa's Poultry stock.
You can see why it is easy to tell the EE's from the AM's. As hard as I plan to cull, I doubt there will mistakes. I only plan to keep blue or black.
Several pictures of the feet.

that lacing is killer!

 

[jonsccm]

My new roosters I recived from another BYC member! They are quickly becoming my favorites!

 

[dstokely]

My new roosters I recived from another BYC member! They are quickly becoming my favorites!

How old are they?