Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[MrsBachbach]

I wondered if the bluexblue matings made a better splash.
My first batch of chicks was almost entirely from the splash rooster/black hens pen, and the blue chicks were very dark. I sold them all, but the woman lives close, so I will get to see how they grow out. My next 2 sets are a pretty even mix with the eggs from the black rooster over blue hens, so I'm curious to see how they compare

The blues from that mating may very well be dark also. Some may be too dark. I've had some that I thought were a dark blue end up being black and vice versa. Good luck with that. I think it all depends on how much melanizer the bird gets.

 

[scflock]

Ok, while we were talking about it, my customer sent me an updated picture of the chicks

 

[scflock]

The blues from that mating may very well be dark also. Some may be too dark. I've had some that I thought were a dark blue end up being black and vice versa. Good luck with that. I think it all depends on how much melanizer the bird gets.

I only had one nicely laced, dark blue hen, and she is in with the splash rooster. That's my one option for splash chicks. The hens with the black rooster are all lighter, so I hope the offspring will look better than the hens

 

[MrsBachbach]

Ok, while we were talking about it, my customer sent me an updated picture of the chicks

I see what I think are many cockerels in that pic! Other than that, they look like the correct phenotype. Although, that black(?)one seems to have a clown face. Some will cull clown face, but I had a pullet win Champion Ameraucana who hatched as a clown face. Her offspring hatched that way too. Although that one in the pic has more yellow in the head than what I've normally seen. It may just take longer to fill in as it grows.

 

[dstokely]

Paul always told me you get your best blues from splashxblack matings. You may get some good blues from bluexblue if your blues are dark. As far as splash, from what I have seen, I get my best splash from bluexblue matings. Your chances of getting a splash are less, but color wise, bluexblue makes the best splash. If it were me, I would keep a couple of those splash with your black male, your blue females with your blue male and one splash female in there with your blue male. Compare color intensity of your splash from your bluexblue matings and your bluexsplash matings. I think you will see more "splash" from your bluexblue matings.

I may do this. My favorite are the splash, and especially the very colorful ones. I have been giving mine away to a couple of friends and I have not seen them, other than the black roo that I got back yesterday. Maybe it is time I got serious.

 

[scflock]

I see what I think are many cockerels in that pic!

Other than that, they look like the correct phenotype. Although, that black(?)one seems to have a clown face. Some will cull clown face, but I had a pullet win Champion Ameraucana who hatched as a clown face. Her offspring hatched that way too. Although that one in the pic has more yellow in the head than what I've normally seen. It may just take longer to fill in as it grows.

I appreciate that information, because that batch is my first ever and that woman bought them all, so I haven't gotten to watch them grow. I'm keeping some of the next hatch for myself, so I need to learn what to watch for.
Why do you say many cockerels?

 

[dstokely]

I see what I think are many cockerels in that pic!

Other than that, they look like the correct phenotype. Although, that black(?)one seems to have a clown face. Some will cull clown face, but I had a pullet win Champion Ameraucana who hatched as a clown face. Her offspring hatched that way too. Although that one in the pic has more yellow in the head than what I've normally seen. It may just take longer to fill in as it grows.

What is a clown face?

 

[MrsBachbach]

I only had one nicely laced, dark blue hen, and she is in with the splash rooster. That's my one option for splash chicks. The hens with the black rooster are all lighter, so I hope the offspring will look better than the hens

Well, would really like to see the offspring from that match. How dark is your splash rooster? If he is of a darker color(cape prominent) you very well may get some good splash and blue. My experience with mating splash x splash and splash x blue has been washed out splash and lighter blues.

 

[scflock]

What is a clown face?

I'm guessing the one on the far right with the yellow downy feathers up over his eyes. There were 2 like that, and they were easy to identify from the others when they hatched

 

[scflock]

Well, would really like to see the offspring from that match. How dark is your splash rooster? If he is of a darker color(cape prominent) you very well may get some good splash and blue. My experience with mating splash x splash and splash x blue has been washed out splash and lighter blues.

Maybe it's just me, but I think he's gorgeous. Very dark cape, and color. His tail set is too high, but my backyard customers love him


The hen directly behind him is the very dark blue