Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[cgmaster]

You know, I got to looking at the last few pics I posted, and you are right. He has filled out a lot just in the last month. I guess I just don't notice it as much because I see him every day, but these two pictures were taken only 4 or 5 weeks apart I had that happen with a silkie cockerel I hatched in may

 

[MrsBachbach]

I rehomed my blue roo because of leakage. Is it common? Why does it happen? Can it be bred out?

Unlikely. Your males would need to pick up some extra melanizers to cover the groundcolor that is showing. You may have success if the leakage is not excessive and you have a heavily melanized female to breed to.
If you have leaky males it is coming from the females. Females do not show leakage, but they pass the tendency on to the male offspring. If you want to get rid of leakage in your males you have to be willing to grow out males bred from your females and then get rid of those females that produce leaky males. So tracking is involved along with months of growing out males to full maturity.

 

[Red Banks]

Unlikely. Your males would need to pick up some extra melanizers to cover the groundcolor that is showing. You may have success if the leakage is not excessive and you have a heavily melanized female to breed to.
If you have leaky males it is coming from the females. Females do not show leakage, but they pass the tendency on to the male offspring. If you want to get rid of leakage in your males you have to be willing to grow out males bred from your females and then get rid of those females that produce leaky males. So tracking is involved along with months of growing out males to full maturity.

I have rehomed the Blue Roo a few weeks ago. The information is very helpful. Is it common? Does it only happen in Blues?

 

[scflock]

He is very pretty! So is your splash hen! Are they they sweet? Are you able to handle your boys if u need too?

Thanks. They are still a little skittish, but they will eat from my hand. I'm trying to spend more time with them to tame them a little. If I herd them into a corner, I can pick them up and they will calm down pretty quickly, but I can't just walk up to them and pet them

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Hi guys! I'm looking to transition my flock from an easter egger flock into pure wheaten/blue wheaten. I have a wheaten roo over my hens which are a mixed bunch of brown egg layers, a green egg layer, a white and three BBS ameraucanas.



I'm wondering if anyone knows if anyone has any wheaten am eggs available this time of year. I'd love to hatch some out by spring. I'd really prefer to order from an NPIP flock.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I have rehomed the Blue Roo a few weeks ago. The information is very helpful. Is it common? Does it only happen in Blues?

No, it can happen in other colors also. It happens because the breeder has not checked all his females by growing out males and tracking who laid what egg and then following that egg to maturity. It can be very common in large breeding flocks because, after all, who has the time, patience and facilities to grow and house male offspring of every female breeder they own?
I have a small flock and had the same leakage issues popping up. I always have grown out males and usually do know what bird came from what parentage, so, it didn't take long for me to eliminate the females causing the problems. When new birds are brought in, you have to do it again. There are many issues besides leakage that can take years to eliminate because genes are hidden. What people need to realize is that you can't have it all...with every bird produced. There will always be issues that need addressing when raising birds. Not every bird from a respected breeder is going to be perfect or meet the standard in every respect. We don't have a window into the chromosome to see what each parent is carrying and know which gene they will pass to their offspring. Sometimes it takes a couple of years to discover your bird is carrying something you don't want. Yet, it has all these other great traits. So, what do you do? Bring in an unknown who could be carrying something you already eliminated or work with what you have? It's a give and take when it comes to breeding. Some find one or two faults and decide to scrap the whole bunch. That's ridiculous, imo, unless the faults are so egregious they just can't be bred out.

 

[Red Banks]

No, it can happen in other colors also. It happens because the breeder has not checked all his females by growing out males and tracking who laid what egg and then following that egg to maturity. It can be very common in large breeding flocks because, after all, who has the time, patience and facilities to grow and house male offspring of every female breeder they own?
I have a small flock and had the same leakage issues popping up. I always have grown out males and usually do know what bird came from what parentage, so, it didn't take long for me to eliminate the females causing the problems. When new birds are brought in, you have to do it again. There are many issues besides leakage that can take years to eliminate because genes are hidden. What people need to realize is that you can't have it all...with every bird produced. There will always be issues that need addressing when raising birds. Not every bird from a respected breeder is going to be perfect or meet the standard in every respect. We don't have a window into the chromosome to see what each parent is carrying and know which gene they will pass to their offspring. Sometimes it takes a couple of years to discover your bird is carrying something you don't want. Yet, it has all these other great traits. So, what do you do? Bring in an unknown who could be carrying something you already eliminated or work with what you have? It's a give and take when it comes to breeding. Some find one or two faults and decide to scrap the whole bunch. That's ridiculous, imo, unless the faults are so egregious they just can't be bred out.

Yes I agree with you. I rehomed the Blue with the obvious bleed thru in favor of a black that has a little more going for him. I had three cockerels.... blue, lavender and black. I thought black could offer the most to the girls I have.

 

[tao chick]

I know this isn't the greatest picture. Initial thoughts on this Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel? He's 17 weeks old.

 

[samouw]

I know this isn't the greatest picture. Initial thoughts on this Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel? He's 17 weeks old.

That is not a wheaten Ameraucana. It is most likely an EE. This is what a wheaten Ameraucana coloration should be, except the beards and muff should be full black. This picture is of a young cockerel and his adult beard and muffs haven't finished growing in.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I know this isn't the greatest picture. Initial thoughts on this Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel? He's 17 weeks old.

He's carrying the wrong genes. The yellow in the head and wing bays should be orange. I've seen others post pics of theirs like that. Some say they are carrying some sort of dilution gene. Don't breed him.