Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[delisha]

Breeding pens are safer for everyone. They look like really nice sized breeding pens to me with using only one hen. No confusion at all on who layed what egg and who was bred to whom. Perfect and professional with no room for error. If you have something good or bad developing in your birds...correction is so much easier, since no guess work is needed. Keeping good records and controlling your breeding program makes for some beautiful birds.

 

[delisha]

Quote:
Depending on your state..some bird breeders are registered. My flock is registered in the State of Wisconsin and I am registered as a breeder. You can also register as a fancier, if you just show and do not breed. I am also a registered NPIP flock. I am sure many States have similar programs.

 

[chicksnthestiks]

Depending on your state..some bird breeders are registered. My flock is registered in the State of Wisconsin and I am registered as a breeder. You can also register as a fancier, if you just show and do not breed. I am also a registered NPIP flock. I am sure many States have similar programs.

My mistake, I know of flocks being registered NPIP but have never heard of a registered "breeder" of chickens.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I honestly do not think it means anything. It is a way to generate more money and for the State to try to get additional taxes from sales. it requires me to send in paperwork for every egg and bird I sell and ship out of the State. It does not require me to have good birds/show birds/breeders quality/ or just plain ole mutts. I just need to enter breed name and amount.

 

[soldier]

I have a question about Wheaten/blue Wheaten chick color. Are these chicks always born a whitish color/pale yellow or can some also be darker; the color of a buff chick; darker yellow or buff?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

 

[mabhera]

I see you're in PR, so it must be doubly difficult to obtain good stock. I am pretty sure John B. doesn't allow just anybody onto his property either.

You can bet is really difficult to get good stock here. And expensive. I'm tired of buying shipped eggs. Thank GOD and JB he was willing to ship here. I have found no one with ameraucanas. Just the hatchery EE's that some people try to pass as ameraucanas.

I feel a big responsability here. I'm one of the first to bring this breed here.....maybe I'm the first one to do it (not just EE's or just a few ams for BY use) so the birds I get could be the foundation for the breed here in Puerto Rico. I need to get the best stock I can, keep working to improve it and cull the ones that don't make it. Even if they are only for myself and a few people that are willing to educate about the breed.

edited to add a few things...

 

[Phage]

I have a question about Wheaten/blue Wheaten chick color. Are these chicks always born a whitish color/pale yellow or can some also be darker; the color of a buff chick; darker yellow or buff?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

I don't think they should be buff

 

[mabhera]

Time to get a couple big LSG dogs

I can't just get those LSG dogs around here. I would have to bring them from the states. More expenses to add to this great hobby. I dont want to even think how much they would cost. The few people that call about my chickens (marans and EE's) dont even start to pay the feed cost (my ameraucanas are still babies, Just getting to POL or starting to lay). And if they ask they dont really care about the difference about ee's and ameraucanas. Only 2 people had called knowing the difference and looking to be educated about the breed. Now I need to concentrate in making the breeders pens for each color of ameraucana.

A question for those experienced breeders. You use pens for each color/ variety or you have cages systems like the John Blehm's shown here? I'll be making mine in July and I was planning on pens but the cages shown here take less space and I think gives you more control to improve the next generations of birds.

 

[Tailfeathers]

I cannot imagine a breeder having their birds actually living like that for more than a few days. Those are practically battery cages.

And why not? Because you wouldn't do it? I was once at a breeder's place who does very well. He/She had row upon row of pet carriers lined up three high with food and waterers hanging on the door. They would walk down the aisle and be able to feed and water probably 50 birds or more in no time at all. At first I thought to myself, "Why would anyone have a chicken and keep it caged up all the time?"

But then I thought again. How much "freedom" do 4-5 hens in a 4 or even 8 foot chicken tractor really have? And what about parrots, cockatiels, or parakeets that are kept in a cage all the time? Is there really all that much difference? I mean their both just birds. Frankly, I've been thinking about getting an American Game or maybe a Seabright or something and keeping it in a birdcage in the house. That's a lot more appealing to me than having a parakeet.

We need to be careful about judging what someone else does when it's preference over absolute truth.

God Bless,

 

[Anna Lee]

I had NO idea that's how you knew what color they were! Thank you so much for that helpful tid-bit!! If they're Blue Wheaten, will their hidden feathers be blue, Wheaten would look like the picture and what color would Splash Wheaten be...white? Thank you again for the help! I'm learning so much from you all!

Yes Blue Wheaten have blue feathers on the wings and tail; Wheaten have black feathers on the wings and tail. I have never seen a splash but think you are right that it would have white rather than the blue or black. If you google Signature Feathers Farm she has a lot of pictures of male and female Wheaten and Blue Wheatens.The males get more colorful than the females fairly early. I agree with the other poster that yours look like pullets.