Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[jerryse]

This is very interesting! I have Lavender Cuckoo 100% English Orpingtons and they are so pretty that I'm thinking about trying it with the Ameraucana's. I got lucky and just hatched eggs from someone else's hard work with the Orps. With the Ameraucana's I'll have to do all the work myself and I find I'm looking forward to the learning process.

I have one hen we bred - a BR rooster - that is a complete EE but I have her in the pen with an AM cockerel (black). I'm hoping out of the chicks I get a good single barred cuckoo cockerel. This cockerel will be 1/2+ Ameraucana with more traits going for it than against it. I'm not sure he will be any good for breeding but I'm hopeful.

The EE pullet is pictured here - her yellow feet are a dead give-away Anyway, she lays a nice green egg so I'm hoping that by breeding her to a Black AM, I will get a good cuckoo cockerel with some good Ameraucana traits that I can start a project with. I'd like a good black cuckoo that I can breed with the Lav's. Even if it takes me a couple years of work to get the right cockerel I'm willing to be patient. I also plan to buy a good line of Lav's for the project so I'm not wasting time that way. I know it's not an SOP color but it would be so pretty!

LOL . I made my own lavender cuckoo orpington as a side project . Plus cuckoo Ameraucana .

Note the dark legs .

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

. I remember hearing you couldn't grow seed from hybrid flower or tomatoes . Did it and found out they should have said shouldn't . I had fun with it anyhow .

Bet you didn't end up with what you expected!!!

I have a better idea of chicken genetics and breeding from my plant lover background ) surprisingly similar. I think that is why I have such an appreciation for Heritage breed birds, but still love my special hybrids too!

 

[jerryse]

Bet you didn't end up with what you expected!!!

I have a better idea of chicken genetics and breeding from my plant lover background ) surprisingly similar. I think that is why I have such an appreciation for Heritage breed birds, but still love my special hybrids too!

So true . I just knew seeds were meant to grow . Opened up the world of plant breeding to me . Still tinkering with breeding plants I want . Seems my goals are different than what is offered sometimes .

 

[cntryinn]

We have a bird that looks exactly like this. I never knew what she was...

 

[CackleJoy]

LOL . I made my own lavender cuckoo orpington as a side project . Plus cuckoo Ameraucana .

Note the dark legs .

As usual your birds are lovely! I suppose a few more generations and I can get rid of those yellow legs

 

[jerryse]

As usual your birds are lovely! I suppose a few more generations and I can get rid of those yellow legs

Yes but it is a challenge . Barring interferes with black pigment in the legs also . Hens are easier as they have 1 copy of barring ( hemizygous ) . Double barred males are harder to get slate . Spotted legs are the norm at first . Just keep going back to black or lavender . I have messaged with nicalandia on here about this and there is a genetic break that can occur to allow slate . I believe I have that now . Until then save the best colored legs for breeders . Barred rock often have a black wash over the yellow . This will enhance any slate you get on the inner layer of skin . It takes large numbers to sort it out . No need to keep them all till adult . Cull heavily when you can . I believe the genetic break is already out there in barred birds so the odds are better than I was told . My best male at first turned to spotted legs at 6 months . His son kept the slate but lightened with some spots . I checked skin layer colors on some cull cockerels this year when I butchered them . Surprise was the spotted inner layer was light slate also . Each generation is getting better leg color .

 

[Nofowlplay]

LOL . I made my own lavender cuckoo orpington as a side project . Plus cuckoo Ameraucana . Note the dark legs .

All so pretty! I love the pen amongst the trees!

 

[Manningjw]

Well I think my shipped BBS hatch is over. Out of 12 Ameraucana eggs, 4 arrived broken/cracked and the rest were coated in egg but 6 looked viable into lockdown and 3 hatched. I suspect these are all blacks but I wanted the opinion of those here about not having any blues:



The angle makes this little guy look like he has a giant head .

 

[hotlipshens]

They all 3 look like blacks to me. I didn't plan on having any blacks but am so glad I wound up with a few...they shimmer a gorgeous beetle green in the sun and are super personable!

 

[JekkaLynn]

I think this guy is a 3/4 Ameruacana.

This girl is a 100% Ameruacana and is splash

I am hoping to breed them to get some chicks but the pullet isnt laying yet