Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[jeremy]

HappyMtn, I just read your signature...

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
It's been like that for weeks! You are the first to notice

I'm a big fan of "Car Talk" and the credits at the end.

I got some pics of the juveniles today(4 months old)- first time free ranging. I ended up with one clean-faced BW boy that I *think* came from Peachick's stock, but luckily my neighbors are in need of a roo! Have some of my own eggs incubating now- hoping for a better percentage of females with my own stock.

 

[jeremy]

Lovely youngin's HappyMtn! Your Wheaten pullet has nice tail color.

I can't wait to have eggs hatch and get chick orders in this year, I'm itching for babies sooo bad! I've got 8 of my own eggs in the bator right now, all from Jean's lines, due on the last couple days of Feb. Plus 3 Wheaten chicks from John Blehm and 7 Blue Wheaten/3 Splash Wheaten chicks coming from Paul Smith the last week of March. I wish I could just fast forward a couple weeks so they could be here now!

Oh and I really did laugh out loud when I read your siggy!

 

[TK Poultry]

why do wheaten pullets hold their tails so high?

 

[Illia]

Quote:
The same reason others do. . . ? Tail carriage isn't really about color and gender, it's about genetics and breeding. In most cases I see Wheaten/Blue Wheaten traits simply being so because most W/BW birds out there are bred almost solely for egg color. A 45 degree tail is preferred, as well as a slight small cushion before the tail, so naturally it may seem that way with the contrast of the black tail, but many of them do indeed have way too high set of a tail or even tail base.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
The same reason others do. . . ? Tail carriage isn't really about color and gender, it's about genetics and breeding. In most cases I see Wheaten/Blue Wheaten traits simply being so because most W/BW birds out there are bred almost solely for egg color. A 45 degree tail is preferred, as well as a slight small cushion before the tail, so naturally it may seem that way with the contrast of the black tail, but many of them do indeed have way too high set of a tail or even tail base.

Mine is one of them. Standing next to my BBS hens I can really tell. I just notice it when people post pics that the wheaten have a higher tail set than I see in other varieties.

 

[jeremy]

I just candled 4 of my own Blue Wheaten eggs that I put in the incubator on the 6th... 2 of the eggs are showing major signs of development- veins, black blobs taking up a lot of the inside of the egg and they were heavy, you could feel the babies growing! The other two eggs didn't appear to be developing, it looked as if they might of quit early on. Still, that's two possible babies, I'm stoked!

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
The same reason others do. . . ? Tail carriage isn't really about color and gender, it's about genetics and breeding. In most cases I see Wheaten/Blue Wheaten traits simply being so because most W/BW birds out there are bred almost solely for egg color. A 45 degree tail is preferred, as well as a slight small cushion before the tail, so naturally it may seem that way with the contrast of the black tail, but many of them do indeed have way too high set of a tail or even tail base.

Actually, the pullet's tail should be lower than the male's, and set at a 40 degree angle. Ameraucanas are a young breed, and still need refining IMHO. With a patterned variety like the wheaten, each breeder may have their own priorities and color may trump tail carriage for many. Of course, the improovment of any flock of the older breeds is still necessary.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
I didn't realize you set your's on the 6th. That's the same day I set mine. We should have babies hatching on the same day.

The only pure ams I have in there now are my blacks though. The rest are EEs. I have some wheaten hens but no roo. One of the reasons I went in on that order of wheatens with your group. I am hoping for a roo. My wheaten gals are gorgeous, they will make beautiful chickies.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
That's funny- I think I was candling at the same time. Fingers crossed for a good hatch and all girls!