Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[WalnutHill]

Quote:
Yes...no matter what you are buying, there are several tiers of quality. Puppy Mill / bulk hatchery, backyard enthusiast, and professional breeder. It takes years to develop a breeding flock that does not have major flaws, as even flocks started with great SOP birds can throw bad traits that have to be traced back and eliminated. Without ruthless culling, or with selection of color over form or function, you may have very pretty birds that can't perform. Too many generations of bad breeding for a single trait can condemn an entire line. While backyard enthusiasts can produce birds every bit as good as professional breeders, it is very much hit and miss because of the low volume and the challenges of growing out many birds to find a few worthy of keeping.

 

[Saris]

Hey they look really good! Are they happily settled in?

Thank you! They are happy, I'm glad they are so chill. Not a hint of flightiness. They will be moved out to a bigger quarantine coop in a few days.

 

[chickee]

That was part of why I wanted Ameraucanas and Marans.I love how the eggs look together. I have had easter eggers many times in the past and love how friendly they are! The ameraucanas are so very pretty though and love the blue eggs!

 

[chickee]

Looking forward to spring so I can let my chickens (supervised! I have tons of predators!!) out to enjoy the new grass.

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm not going to post the entire PM here, but so others will know, your issues are related to the breeder you bought your birds from. A disreputable breeder who doesn't even sell AMs any more. The problems you have were caused by the breeder, and that is why I rave about Paul so much. I'm sure there are many other breeders that have birds just as good, maybe even better, but when you get purebred birds from someone who has been working them for a long time, is good at what they do, and is pleasant to deal with, the difference in those birds is astonishing

The breeder we got our BW Amer from is no longer breeding Amers due to retirement to another State. They were show breeders and I think that SOP takes a priority to production with show birds so we will give it time to see if our girl takes up the Spring call to lay again.

 

[AuntNomi]

The breeder we got our BW Amer from is no longer breeding Amers due to retirement to another State. They were show breeders and I think that SOP takes a priority to production with show birds so we will give it time to see if our girl takes up the Spring call to lay again.

Well then theres your answer!

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm not going to post the entire PM here, but so others will know, your issues are related to the breeder you bought your birds from. A disreputable breeder who doesn't even sell AMs any more. The problems you have were caused by the breeder, and that is why I rave about Paul so much. I'm sure there are many other breeders that have birds just as good, maybe even better, but when you get purebred birds from someone who has been working them for a long time, is good at what they do, and is pleasant to deal with, the difference in those birds is astonishing

The first breeder we had was a show breeder and SOP requirements are a priority over production which I learned afterwards but their bird was our only Amer survivor and a sweet bird if not productive. On the 2nd breeder they just shipped sick birds and was not reputable, I agree, still we managed to save one thru the vet but unfortunately not the Blue Amer..

 

[Sylvester017]

Well then theres your answer!

Cross your fingers for me, or pray, or chant, or something, so we have a laying Amer again!!!!

 

[scflock]

Cross your fingers for me, or pray, or chant, or something, so we have a laying Amer again!!!!

I'm 99% certain that a second year layer, post molt, in January, is just taking a break.
From what I'm reading, the reason you are getting some snippy responses is you are blaming it all on the "blue egg gene". That's just not true. Individual birds of any breed in any line can be poor producers. For me, those are culls. A good breeder can produce SQ birds while maintaining decent production. A few of my birds are exceptional, and all are pretty good layers. Dealing with 5 birds at a time it's harder to see some of the flock dynamics and cull purely for personality, but a decent breeder will do just that. Poor layers are eaten, or sold as meat birds. Same for mean roosters. My suggestion for you, if you really want AMs, is to keep the flock you have until production is too low for you to handle, get rid of them all, then replace them with 5 AM pullets the same age from a good breeder. It doesn't have to be Paul, there are many good breeders, but learn the questions to ask someone before you buy birds from them

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm 99% certain that a second year layer, post molt, in January, is just taking a break.
From what I'm reading, the reason you are getting some snippy responses is you are blaming it all on the "blue egg gene". That's just not true. Individual birds of any breed in any line can be poor producers. For me, those are culls. A good breeder can produce SQ birds while maintaining decent production. A few of my birds are exceptional, and all are pretty good layers. Dealing with 5 birds at a time it's harder to see some of the flock dynamics and cull purely for personality, but a decent breeder will do just that. Poor layers are eaten, or sold as meat birds. Same for mean roosters. My suggestion for you, if you really want AMs, is to keep the flock you have until production is too low for you to handle, get rid of them all, then replace them with 5 AM pullets the same age from a good breeder. It doesn't have to be Paul, there are many good breeders, but learn the questions to ask someone before you buy birds from them

Unfortunately (or fortunately) our 4 birds are pets and most have rewarded us with good production - even the 5-yr-old hen. I've cycled through 13 birds in 5 yrs to have the 4 gentles we have now so I'm not a stranger to culling (re-homing). The Amer has not layed in almost 6 months so hopefully like our Silkies her production will be unpredictable and I'll be more patient about it. I just never had a breed before that quit laying for such a long time.

Anybody else have start, stop, start-again molting from their Amers? Mine exploded like a pillow twice last year. Unlike a 3-yr-old Leghorn who got bare spots, our Amer never looked bad in molt?