Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Percheron chick]

So I have another ee that has feathered feet, is that common? The person I got him from said he was half copper maran.

if he's half copper maran than he would have the feathered shanks. EE chicks would only have them if they are out of feather footed birds which is a less common cross. He is considered an olive egger.

 

[RedtailAdams]

if he's half copper maran than he would have the feathered shanks. EE chicks would only have them if they are out of feather footed birds which is a less common cross. He is considered an olive egger.

Cool thanks. Mostly i just want to know more closely what i have. Incase i sell some i dont wanna be "that guy".

 

[lacy111693]

Are "Ameraucanas" from my local feed store probably actually EE's?

 

[RedtailAdams]

It depends on what they are crossed with. This roo crossed with those Red Sex Link hens gave me a son that looked exactly like him and two that were nearly the same. The roo is by a Salmon Faverolle out of an Ameraucana, hatched from a blue egg. The chicks he sires all have puffy cheeks, heavy lacing. When he mates the Cochin/Ameraucana EE hen, the babies have feathered feet. My other roo is by a Light Brahma out of an Ameraucana, hatched from a blue egg, looks like a Light Brahma except for a small comb and almost no feathers on the shanks, but when he mates the Cochin/Am hen, the babies have 4" long foot feathers! These are some of my EEs:

Beautiful birds!!! Also thanks. I just wanna know what I have. I plan on doin some breeding and if I sell any I dont wanna be "that guy". Lol

 

[scflock]

Are "Ameraucanas" from my local feed store probably actually EE's?

99% of the time, yes. If you have a backyard flock, and only care about pretty eggs, EEs are hard to beat. If you want a pure line that is bred to standard, then you are better advised to order from a breeder

 

[trailrider330]

Are "Ameraucanas" from my local feed store probably actually EE's?

Yes. Chances are they are EEs. Generally you are only going to find Ameraucanas through a breeder.

 

[WalnutHill]

Are "Ameraucanas" from my local feed store probably actually EE's?

Yes. Feed stores generally stock from hatcheries, and hatcheries generally stock birds that are not pure stock.

 

[KernH]

I don't think I was suggesting a street address, though that would make picking up birds easier

But if someone is CA wants to get Ameraucanas, they might prefer the birds not have to travel from the East coast if there are quality birds on their "side" of the country and vice versa. So even New England, Mid Atlantic, South East, etc is better than nothing.

Well said about location. It is difficult when people have birds for sale and you don't know what side of the country the birds or eggs may come from. Kern

 

[KernH]

99% of the time, yes. If you have a backyard flock, and only care about pretty eggs, EEs are hard to beat. If you want a pure line that is bred to standard, then you are better advised to order from a breeder

I have two EE that lay nice blue eggs that are crosses of Cream Legbars and true Wheaten Ameraucanas. They are nice birds and are in with a BCM to make Olive Eggers. Kern

 

[Miss Ameraucana]

Well then my non expert opinion is "don't sweat it!" 

We bought this place at the end of 2011, prior owners apparently owned (over time) just about any animal you might find on a farm but bovines. There are 2 pre Civil War barns (not in good shape) and the lower part of the small one has been set up for fowl, but it is foul (bad roof). And it is not at all predator safe (gee I wonder why he lost chickens to weasels when you can see light between the foundation rocks). So I converted a horse stall (*) in the lower part of the big barn to a predator safe coop. There is a pond in a (poorly fenced) barnyard behind the barns. We get a couple of migrating Canada Geese and Mallards coming through in the spring. They hang about for a couple of days.

The chickens have free run of the lower part of the barn all day, the "barnyard" any time we are gone for just a few hours and anywhere they want to go (they self limit to about 100' from buildings) if we are home. There is no way to keep them from going where wild birds have been including inside the barn, they seem to prefer the layer feed to whatever they would eat outside while my chickens love to forage"real" food.  I've not seen any disease or parasite problems in my birds. If the avian flu starts showing up in the Eastern migration corridor, I will have to take steps to keep them from visiting us.

Of course, your "mileage" may vary   and I can certainly understand not wanting to take any chances with special birds!


* There was a lady that boarded 3 horses here when we bought it and her horses were here until about a month before I got chickens so the chicks were on "pasture" that had recently been used daily by horses for quite some time. 

Hey,thanks so much for your reply! I have only had chickens for 8 months! Pre civil war barns! That's old, but neat. I bet they make for a good conversation!