Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[TaraBellaBirds]

That reminds me, was at another County Fair last weekend where a pretty nice Wheaten won BB.....problem I saw was it was entered as an Aracana....and that's how it was spelled to!! I know it was just a small show....but shouldn't the judge at least make them get the breed right???

You are probably the closest BYC'er that I have found thus far! I was shocked at how little people know about chicken breeding in a small KS farming and ranching community. I am basically the first and at moment only chicken owner in a 50 mile radius that is interested the more rare breeds. I am starting small, I will be breeding buff brahmas and EE's starting in the Spring, which I think will go over well here.
I will be expanding my flock to include Jubilee Orpingtons, ShowGirls (not practical for the area but I just adore them!), and some more Ameraucanas, within the next year!

 

[MrsBachbach]

She is really a beautiful bird! Love the color. Is that typical of Ameraucanas  to have a muff? If so then the 3 chicks I hatched have muffs and that would tell who the father was.

Yes, Ameraucanas have muffs and beards. Although, so do some EE's and other breeds.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Others are saying pullet, but remember this. I am saying cockeral. Is going to mature slowly and have a small comb. I am basing this off that last picture of comb and the tail. How old is it and did you check for saddle feathers yet?

I agree. Those are not pullet tail feathers. Isn't a small comb desired in a cockerel?

 

[RoosterLew]

That reminds me, was at another County Fair last weekend where a pretty nice Wheaten won BB.....problem I saw was it was entered as an Aracana....and that's how it was spelled to!! I know it was just a small show....but shouldn't the judge at least make them get the breed right???

You are probably the closest BYC'er that I have found thus far!  I was shocked at how little people know about chicken breeding in a small KS farming and ranching community.  I am basically the first and at moment only chicken owner in a 50 mile radius that is interested the more rare breeds.  I am starting small, I will be breeding buff brahmas and EE's starting in the Spring, which I think will go over well here.
I will be expanding my flock to include Jubilee Orpingtons, ShowGirls (not practical for the area but I just adore them!), and some more Ameraucanas, within the next year!  

I have EE's as well. Have you checked the consolidated Ks thread? Probably some others close to you.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Yes, it is and it sure does make it difficult to sex them early when they have really small pea combs. After learning the function of the comb on a chicken, I worry about these little bitty pea combed birds. The hot weather must be very difficult for them.

 

[RoosterLew]

Yes, it is and it sure does make it difficult to sex them early when they have really small pea combs. After learning the function of the comb on a chicken, I worry about these little bitty pea combed birds. The hot weather must be very difficult for them.

Ours did ok in the 100+ heat. Some our heavier bodied, single combed birds struggled but did survive.
I do build very open air type coops though. Had a few severe cases if frost bite, but the only heat fatality was a chick that got itself trapped.
We get both extremes here so I am learning to build "convertible" coops.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Ours did ok in the 100+ heat. Some our heavier bodied, single combed birds struggled but did survive.
I do build very open air type coops though. Had a few severe cases if frost bite, but the only heat fatality was a chick that got itself trapped.
We get both extremes here so I am learning to build "convertible" coops.

I guess if the girls can survive with their non existent combs, then I guess small combed males can too. Mine are fairly open also (I cover with plastic or tarps for winter), but tin sides and roofs so it can get much hotter than it really is. Factor in humidity and it can get dangerous for them.

 

[RoosterLew]

One of the many ways I beat the heat is with straw bedding. On those really hot days I use it as a type of evaporative or "swamp" cooler. I wet the straw down in the morning. Throughout the day as the heat builds the water evaporates, cooling the coop. On really hot days we might have to re-wet it in the afternoon.
Before anyone expresses concerns of mold or damp conditions, I only do this if it is a hot dry day. Humid days will not allow for evaporation. By night fall the straw is completely dry. I have been able to drop temps as much as 15 degrees. I have actually gone into the coops to cool down when working around the barn. And when the free range flock chooses to hang out in the coop on a 115 degree scorcher, you know it's working well!!

 

[Manningjw]

Well, in about 1.5 weeks i am hoping to be able to finally post pics of my first pure bred BBS Ameraucanas. I ordered 12 eggs shipped, received 4 that were cracked (4th one was noticed after blood ring developed) but 7 out of the 12 are still developing normally for this stage of incubation. Crossing my fingers I have at least 1 roo and 1 pullet to hatch out.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I have EE's as well. Have you checked the consolidated Ks thread? Probably some others close to you.

I did when I quite a while ago. Most Kansans live in the East side of the state. I am SW, only 15 min from the OK border