Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Who do I email with questions about my ABC membership? I joined last Apr and things got discombobulated. My '11 membership was supposed to be paid, but I don't know if it was or not.

This weeks hatch of Ameraucana chicks:

Here we are in March already and the girls are not fully up to speed laying eggs.

Lisa

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
PM'd you.

 

[PepsNick]

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Hello. Nice hatch! How many eggs were set?

 

[livin-green]

I hope I'm not "starting something" and I certainly don't intend to sound rude, but I have to ask ~ am I wrong in understanding that anybody can join the ABC and be listed as a breeder? How do you know that those listed have pure, quality Ameraucana? I didn't see any where on the form asking for "proof" or even asking what line your chickens are from. How do you know you are getting quality?

What are some of the top lines of Ameraucana? I have Cree birds, which I understand are a very good line--that was luck as I didn't know that when I ordered them! If I decide to purchase more to expand my flock, how would I know which line would be best to add to the flock?

 

[pips&peeps]

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You have to do your homework. Ask lots of questions when contacting a "breeder" on the breeders list. For the most part, I have not found anyone that does not have real ameraucanas in the club or on the list.

One of the most basic questions I would ask is "How long have you been breeding ameraucanas?"

 

[livin-green]

pips&peeps :

Quote:
You have to do your homework. Ask lots of questions when contacting a "breeder" on the breeders list. For the most part, I have not found anyone that does not have real ameraucanas in the club or on the list.

One of the most basic questions I would ask is "How long have you been breeding ameraucanas?"

Thanks! That's good to know that there hasn't been problems with this. I thought joining and being listed would take lots of extra work, like participating in shows and being judged, etc., so I'm actually kinda' relieved that I won't have to do all of that. Don't even know of such around here Plus, there aren't any breeders listed for the state of AL, and many around here do not know the difference b/t an Ameraucana & an EE.

However, being new to breeding, I was also concerned that I might not get the quality expected and would then lower the quality of my breeding program. I know what I think is a really pretty bird, but I'll admit I'm still rather inexperienced at eyeballing quality according to the standards.

And, WOW!, chicken genetics?...I don't know if I'll ever get all that down!​

 

[faykokoWV]

I finally got my membership packet last week. I was very happy to get it and to be able to register on the forum finally. The egg color chart will be very helpful and I really enjoyed the newsletter!

 

[SteveH]

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Unless they were bred by Cree, in my opinion, they would not be called "Cree birds". I'll be getting eggs from whites bred by Anne Foley, and blacks/blues from a cross of John Blehm's and Paul Smith's. All three breeders have done a good job of breeding, but another is selecting the birds for breeding now and they're her lines [good or bad]. However, I met the breeder and saw some of the birds she's chosen to use at two shows; enough research to satisfy me. When I select the birds I want to use in my breeding program; they will no longer be any of the former breeder's lines either, regardless that they came direct from them.

I learned a long time ago not to ask breeders to evaluate themselves or their stock. I often learn quite a bit of their character by the way they conduct themselves on the forums or at an event, and their stock by learning to know what they should like, then looking at the stock direct or through what they're selling others. Past experience has taught me that if the pictures appear shopped or colors enhanced, stay clear; and that a great photographer can get a great picture of a poor specimen even without altering the pic. Us newbies posting pics of the birds we purchased from breeders, and asking questions about our birds, can sometimes tell more about the breeder's birds than you would realize at first. LOL

You are correct; anybody can call themseves a breeder, on the ABC Breeder's Directory or here at BYC. Both sites run disclaimers and warn "BUYER BEWARE". I just joined the the ABC and will be added to their directory soon I guess [I have nothing to sell yet so no need to ask for my references].

I've yet to see a "breeder" claiming I produce and sell inferior Ameraucana type birds with many poor qualities!

But its all good, just learn what you want, find someone that has it at the price you want to pay , then enjoy breeding your own.

 

[jeremy]

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It took me awhile, too many pots on the fire, plus had to remember the title I had the link under. You may find the entire, ancient research publication by Punnet interesting; as these birds would probably be distant family to those the Ameraucana were later developed from.
http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/jgenet/27/465.pdf

Thank you for this link.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
It took me awhile, too many pots on the fire, plus had to remember the title I had the link under. You may find the entire, ancient research publication by Punnet interesting; as these birds would probably be distant family to those the Ameraucana were later developed from.
http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/jgenet/27/465.pdf

Wow, interesting. Olive Eggers began before even Ameraucanas and Araucanas were "created." I didn't know people created Olive Eggers in tests in the 1930's.