Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[PapaChaz]

ok I have gone out and got a few pics, to emphasize what I am thinking. I will say that trying to take pictures of chickens AFTER throwing in treats and they hit that wide open game of keep away isn't the best way to attempt it, LOL

first three are of the 'longer tail' and I think are roosters:




on the next few, the tail doesn't appear as long, and there are feathers from the bottom that seem to be wrapping around from the outside. I think these are pullets? correct me if I'm wrong:

 

[dstokely]

ok I have gone out and got a few pics, to emphasize what I am thinking. I will say that trying to take pictures of chickens AFTER throwing in treats and they hit that wide open game of keep away isn't the best way to attempt it, LOL

first three are of the 'longer tail' and I think are roosters:




on the next few, the tail doesn't appear as long, and there are feathers from the bottom that seem to be wrapping around from the outside. I think these are pullets? correct me if I'm wrong:

My personal opinion is at this age, you don't just go by the tails. You may be right on these, judging by the color on the bow or shoulder part of the wings. The first two look like the may have the darker coloring coming in. It is difficult for me to tell as I don't see any hackle feathers at the neck, especially #3. I tried enlarging the comb on the two I could, but still could not tell as they were not clear enough. I would prefer some good side shots of the entire body and a close up of the comb. My thoughts: #1 Roo #2 Roo, #3 Can't tell #4 Definitely can't tell #5 Probably a hen #6 Can't tell #7 leaning toward a hen. One of my black hens, I really could not tell until she was 5 to 6 months old. I was leaning toward a roo because of her thicker body and I really wanted a black roo. I knew definitely when she laid her first egg. A beautiful blue egg, it was. I look forward to comments from the more experienced people on the board so I can learn as well.
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[PapaChaz]

thanks @dstokey. I have read different people's opinions throughout the board about the 'darker coloring' coming in. But I don't know, does that really apply? they were all different shades of black/gray from hatch all the way until now.

I know the pics aren't the best, like I said, trying to take pics of chickens playing keep away after giving them their treats for the day wasn't the smartest thing I did yesterday,

I'm beginning to think I'm just going to have to wait until I get crowing or an egg

 

[dstokely]

thanks @dstokey. I have read different people's opinions throughout the board about the 'darker coloring' coming in. But I don't know, does that really apply? they were all different shades of black/gray from hatch all the way until now.

I know the pics aren't the best, like I said, trying to take pics of chickens playing keep away after giving them their treats for the day wasn't the smartest thing I did yesterday,

I'm beginning to think I'm just going to have to wait until I get crowing or an egg

Darker color on the wings(shoulder/bow) definitely applies. Look at the coloring of the blue large fowl on ABC: http://www.ameraucana.org/scrapbook_files/lfbluem.jpg . They will not get the saddle feathers or full hackle until much later. Check the combs. Red and three rows, its a roo. Pale pink and one row, hen. Of course there are the occasional exceptions.

 

[dstokely]

PapaChaz, This is a picture of one of my blue males at 3 months old. You can see the darker wing, the early hackle feathers are darker and his saddle feathers are beginning to come in and darker. The one in the middle is a blue hen, and although you can only see her back, you can still tell the difference.

 

[PapaChaz]

Darker color on the wings(shoulder/bow) definitely applies. Look at the coloring of the blue large fowl on ABC: http://www.ameraucana.org/scrapbook_files/lfbluem.jpg . They will not get the saddle feathers or full hackle until much later. Check the combs. Red and three rows, its a roo. Pale pink and one row, hen. Of course there are the occasional exceptions.

PapaChaz, This is a picture of one of my blue males at 3 months old. You can see the darker wing, the early hackle feathers are darker and his saddle feathers are beginning to come in and darker. The one in the middle is a blue hen, and although you can only see her back, you can still tell the difference.

thank you. I had read that about the combs as well. As for the tail questions, I am seeing more of a defined 'sickle' on some of mine, clear and apparent like on your rooster there.

I was looking at another thread from a few years ago someone posted a pic of a blue hen that was laying for them, and it's hackles were almost black.......

but like you said, there are definitely exceptions to every rule, heck, are there even 'rules'??? LOL I have come to realize I'll most likely have to wait until I get eggs. I may set up a digital camera in there once they start laying to see which one is laying,

 

[dstokely]

" I may set up a digital camera in there once they start laying to see which one is laying" - Papa Chaz

Good luck. I can tell you what my BW lays, my lav and one black, my two easter eggers--but my BBS pen. All five of them lay in the same box. Sometimes two at a time. I cannnot tell you which of the five lays what in that pen. Oh, and sometimes they just go sit a while and do nothing. My lav and one black that I had separated did that to me today.

 

[TattooedMama]

Just wanted to introduce myself as I have been stalking this thread here and there

I currently have a handful of black Ameraucanas and am hoping to start a Chocolate project pen soon. I had originally started with Wheatens/Blue Wheatens in the beginning of the year but found the stock to be somewhat questionable in quality so I sold them all. With the first birds I fell in love with the personality of the Ameraucanas and had to have more. I came across the photo of a chocolate Ameraucana in a search for more info on the breed and fell in love. I am a sucker for chocolate and had no idea they came in this color. I am eager to learn more about the breed so I can do well in breeding my birds when they are grown out.

 

[MrsBachbach]

ok I have gone out and got a few pics, to emphasize what I am thinking. I will say that trying to take pictures of chickens AFTER throwing in treats and they hit that wide open game of keep away isn't the best way to attempt it, LOL first three are of the 'longer tail' and I think are roosters: on the next few, the tail doesn't appear as long, and there are feathers from the bottom that seem to be wrapping around from the outside. I think these are pullets? correct me if I'm wrong:

First three, lighting is not too good, too much shadow, but I see a darkening of some feathers that suggest male. Your last set of pics, I only see one, the last one, that looks like it could be female. The lighter one's comb looks male although the pic is a bit blurry. The one with the tail to the camera, I think is male. Looks like some curving sickle feathers starting?

 

[MrsBachbach]

Just wanted to introduce myself as I have been stalking this thread here and there 

I currently have a handful of black Ameraucanas and am hoping to start a Chocolate project pen soon. I had originally started with Wheatens/Blue Wheatens in the beginning of the year but found the stock to be somewhat questionable in quality so I sold them all. With the first birds I fell in love with the personality of the Ameraucanas and had to have more. I came across the photo of a chocolate Ameraucana in a search for more info on the breed and fell in love. I am a sucker for chocolate and had no idea they came in this color. I am eager to learn more about the breed so I can do well in breeding my birds when they are grown out. 

Hi and welcome to the thread. I haven't seen a chocolate, but have heard of them. They are a project color and I believe one breeder, pips n peeps, appears on this thread and lives on your side of the country.