Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[happytxchick]

Quote:
The pea comb gene is strongly related to the blue egg gene - I believe they are found on the same chromosome. You wouldn't want to use the straight combed male in breeding unless he came out of an amazingly blue egg, then you'd want to use him over blacks with good type to get the comb situation straightened out -- pea combs are dominant over straights.

Here is an example drawing of different combs. Rose combs are found in breeds like Wyandotte & Dominique.

 

[happytxchick]

Quote:
I am sorry about your girl, but must admit I'm glad I'm not the only frustrated chicken person out there today. I've had the worst hatch ever, and with breeds I was really anticipating starting strong with this year! Perhaps this is the Good Lord's way of saying, "Deanna, you need to go a different direction with this..."

So, I'm beginning to revamp some ideas.

 

[Harris5]

Quote:
I honestly don't know.


Jeremy - Yes, I love those teal/robin blue ones too, they're so rich, but I'd love to think I can work more towards a more true blue, even if it has to be pale.


Don't get me started on Blue Wheaten males!

I don't think I ever recall seeing one I truly thought "he'd cream everyone in a show" about. . . .

Jean has posted that Paul Smith has the best blacks. I received a trio of them from him.

 

[Illia]

Oh yeah, now I remember that photo! Very nice young'ins.

While I'm at it I may just order a couple Buffs too. . . Get some Blehm lines in my Buffs and see if they turn out.

 

[CRYSTALCREEK]

I have four Smith black pullets here to improve my lav project. They are stunning. The pullets are nice size. They lay a huge egg. The color of the egg is a huge improvement from those laid by my lav pullets. Paul is a pleasure to deal with and has been very helpful and informative to me. Fertility is good even in Dec/Jan and even first eggs were fertile. They started laying at around 6-7 months. I don't know what else you could ask for.

 

[jeremy]

Paul was incredibly helpful and nice when I placed my order with him. I'm getting 7 BW (with a small chance of Wheatens), 3 SW and 5 RIR chicks from him in mid March, I can't wait!

I'm excited to see how they mature, as compared to my Blehm chicks and my own chicks I'll be hatching from Jean's stock. I really hope to get a Splash Wheaten cockerel from my Smith order.

 

[La Mike]

Quote:
The pea comb gene is strongly related to the blue egg gene - I believe they are found on the same chromosome. You wouldn't want to use the straight combed male in breeding unless he came out of an amazingly blue egg, then you'd want to use him over blacks with good type to get the comb situation straightened out -- pea combs are dominant over straights.

Here is an example drawing of different combs. Rose combs are found in breeds like Wyandotte & Dominique.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/36268_images1.jpg

Thanks happytxchick I will try and get some decent photos of all my Ameracauna for maybe some opinions tommorrow

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
EVERY bird has an undesirable trait/gene. The weight you put on that undesirable trait is a matter of personal preference. Egg color may drive you crazy, ugly pea combs may drive me crazy. If you cannot find a fault in your birds you are not looking hard enough. Lets say don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and strive for improvement across the board

Very true, too. I look at my rooster Claude everyday and the black striping in his lower hackles just about makes me want to cry.

But, he is all I have, so I've gotta make it work! At least for this season until I hatch a nicer replacement.

How did I miss this, (I know why, the stress of switching stock!), I do go by that saying. What drives me crazy is those pinched tails and little beards and muffs. If they have a small trait that could be easily fixed but has AWESOME type then I'm going to pick type over that small trait hands down. I always just focus on one trait at a time. I always strive for type. I want showy effortless looking chickens that is my goal. then my priority is color, then egg color. Oh another thing that gripes me is what I call a skyscrapper comb. A comb that is just really tall.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

There's an online poultry show going on for pure Ameraucanas....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=443002

 

[Mahonri]

Do roos go through periods of infertility? That or Geoffry is shooting blanks!

I gave 8 w/bw eggs to a fellow BYCer in Casa Grande and after 8 days, ALL EIGHT are duds!!!

(I hatched a couple of pullet eggs from him for my New Years Hatch so I know he had a little fertility then)

I also just gave another 15 to a Noskiveez for a test hatch yesterday... I guess we'll see how he's doing at first candle next weekend.

It just aggravates me. I've got folks on a list for eggs, but I'm not going to sell them for anything other than eating until I know he's getting the job done.

I've noticed the Splash roo that I got from Peachick is attempting to mate when Geoffry isn't looking LOL, ... should I put Geoffry in a roo coop for a while?

... talk about FRUSTRATION!