Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Ameraucanas can be SO frustrating to sex! I have 2 Blue Ameraucanas that still have me totally on the fence at 6 weeks (although one is REALLY advertising pullet at this point). Their tails aren't helping me a bit.

I am glad that you have written about this, as I am getting so frustrated with my 10 week-old Lavs from John Blehm (rec'vd as day-olds). One is clearly a boy--clearly pronounced, red comb and high tail carriage if that means anything), but the other LAV just started to show red on its comb, and only on the top half, and tail set a bit lower...?!? And now one of the two wheatens, which have been confirmed over and over again as pullets, has her comb turning red! I think it is a sign of maturation in the wheaton, but could that be the deal with the LAV?

the Questionable oNE
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/65263_imag08171.jpg

THE NOT Questionable One
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/65263_imag08101.jpg

The girls' combs do pink up eventually and some can even get rather pronounced, in my experience.

I vote pullet on your questionable one (I really would expect more comb development in a cockerel by 10 weeks) and look forward to hearing what he/she proves to be in the end!

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
I think they are pretty nice. All they need is a little conditioning thats all but whose birds don't need that? mine look terrible most of the time. Somehow I make it work in shows LOL! I think you have a good little start there! I'm a big fan of LF Blacks

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
I think they are pretty nice. All they need is a little conditioning thats all but whose birds don't need that? mine look terrible most of the time. Somehow I make it work in shows LOL! I think you have a good little start there! I'm a big fan of LF Blacks

I PMed NevadaRon after seeing pictures of his roo on another thread. I hate to judge a chicken by pictures, but was concerned about whether his beard was dirty, washed out, or if he had some chocloate/red showing; plus the stance and tail looked off to me in the picture. Its not my place to critique another's birds, especially by pictures, but figured I would want to know myself if my Ameraucanas were crossed [possibly because I bought a splash that turned out to be carrying both dominate white and genes for yellow/green shanks, though his own shanks were quite dark slate. I noticed my guy's upright stance and tail, used him to make some EEs, and he produced several white feathered, green legged females, and yellow legged males, off Black Laced Red Wyandottes]

 

[suburbanchickymama]

Wow, Jeremy - GORGEOUS!!!

Hi all! I have 3 blue Ameraucanas so I've been stalking this thread a bit. I've read it mentioned that the early ridges on the comb are a good indication of boys, but I am very confused by my little ones! They are 6 1/2 weeks old (so I know it's early yet) but just curious.

This one (kinda leaning towards girl) is taller than the other two by a good bit which I find strange. Her feathers came in very slowly, but you'll see are much further along than the other two!

Here's one of the other 2 - the other is a little smaller but otherwise looks VERY similar to this ?guy?

Little skinnyish legs, too. I know I should be patient, but hoped you experts may be able to help! Thanks!!!

 

[dldolan]

Quote:
Oh, I wasn't questioning your assessment of the wheaties, Jeremy! They are girlies, for sure! Just interesting that one has her comb "pinking up" while the other is still flat and white. Wow, who knew this breed was a wee bit tricky! And my non-expert opinion loves your Hoyt! Wowie! Handsome guy!

Thanks, BarnGoddess01 who wrote:
"The girls' combs do pink up eventually and some can even get rather pronounced, in my experience.
I vote pullet on your questionable one (I really would expect more comb development in a cockerel by 10 weeks) and look forward to hearing what he/she proves to be in the end!"

I will let you know about the boy/girl thing. I will hope you are right. The combs on the Silvers look so different from the Wheatons, which look different from the Lavs...ARGH! At least the White is easy to tell!

Here are my Silver chicas:

Wheatie Girls:

And White dude:

 

[ItsAZOO32]

Is it at all possible to "feather sex" Ameraucanas at 1 week old? Do girls feather in faster then boys?

Thanks!

 

[TK Poultry]

I would say that you can't feather sex them but I have a theory that you can. They usually don't get their saddle feathers until much later.... that is JUST a theory

 

[Ivywoods]

I haven't followed this thread for a while, but thought I would try to keep up a little better. My older ameraucana chicks got moved to their grow out pen today. Gosh, what an ordeal. I had one place at the bottom of the pen that I didn't realize was not secured, and I had chickens out all over the place. I left the door open to their old pen, and many of them eventually went back in there. That made recapturing a little easier. They all get a treatment of ivermectin before going to their new home.

I'm amazed at the difference in their personalities. The silvers are by far the flightiest. My wheatens, however, have awesome personalities. I really haven't given them much attention with all the chicks I've got around, but these wheatens were super friendly and very curious. I sat down in their new pen and they walked right up to me, checking me out, walking over my legs, pecking around underneath me, etc. I loved it. The roosters were especially friendly. These guys are keepers for sure.

I've got one buff one. I'm thinking it's a rooster. Not sure what I will do with that one. I was hoping it would be a hen, then I could use it to make olive eggers.

Oh! Several of my black have white in their wings. Should I cull for this? They are just over 2 months old. I noticed several white tips on wing feathers, and one had a completely white feather a little higher up in his wing.

I'm hoping I can start thinning down to just the ones I want to keep. I'm going to have to do some studying because I really don't know how to pick the best ones. I think I need a checklist or something so I can evaluate them objectively...give each one a score based on multiple factors. How long should I wait to try to evaluate them?

 

[TK Poultry]

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Glad to see you back! I've not kept up with the thread very well with school and all! My brown reds sound just like your wheatens! I was taking pictures and I couldn't get a good type shot because they were all sitting on my knees and legs. My Silver hen (rooster got taken by a raccoon) is really really flighty. My Lavs are very sweet and curious but careful as well. My blacks and blues are nice but stand off-ish. I have 4 Month old Blacks growing out and they have lost their white. So I wouldn't cull for that yet. I would post a picture though. But I'm pretty sure that this is just normal black coloring.

Tyler

 

[Ivywoods]

Thanks for the reply, Tyler. That is kind of what I was thinking. All of my black copper marans have white in their wings until they molt. Once in a while there is a stray white feather after that, but not often.

Hopefully I will be able to get some good pics in the next week or so. Right now I'm just going to let them settle in to their new place. They were all pretty nervous at first and didn't want to come out of their house, but they are learning to move around more.... I put their water and food out in the pen, so if they get hungry....

Feed them and they will come.....

I'm going to have to hand feed some treats to get those silvers to calm down a bit.