Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[bamitsbrittany]

Hello and

and Welcome to the joys of having chickens. I love mine and I really love the fresh eggs, I hope I don't ever have to go back to eating store bought eggs

She is very pretty, but she doesn't look like an Ameraucana. Closest would be a Silver, but I don't see the correct chest pattern. At 4 months old that is a small comb for a boy - so I would guess girl. You can bring her over hear and brag: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread/12020#post_11613138 That is a very striking color combination!

Please tell your husband that boys + girls do not = babies for birds unless they go broody AND you let them set on the eggs for 21 days. If you don't want chicks then collect the eggs. I never had any of my Easter Eggers go broody - but the Silkies will...

Ahh yes I told him that I will be collecting eggs therefore no babies. He is all weird about it and insists that we still buy eggs from the store when the chickens start laying. (weirdo) lol He is worried there will be babies in the eggs he said.

I posted in the other thread thanks so much for showing it to me! How fun lol Who doesnt love to show off their chickens!

-Brittany =]

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote:

I guess you will just have to enjoy your fresh eggs and let him eat his old stale rubbery flavorless store bought eggs. No babies in the eggs unless they are kept at about 100 degrees for at LEAST 3 days - to even start - and then, unless you are LOOKING for it you won't see anything.

Another sign that humans have gotten away from the connection of their food to where it comes from. Personally I would prefer not to support the inhumane practices of the egg laying industry (although not all are as bad as they used to be).. cage free is better than cages - but not as nice as what your birds will have. I think happy chickens lay healthier eggs! AND you aren't eating all the medication they feed to those birds to keep them alive....

Maybe some day he will realize what he is missing out on - and can enjoy real eggs...

 

[bamitsbrittany]

I guess you will just have to enjoy your fresh eggs and let him eat his old stale rubbery flavorless store bought eggs. No babies in the eggs unless they are kept at about 100 degrees for at LEAST 3 days - to even start - and then, unless you are LOOKING for it you won't see anything.

Another sign that humans have gotten away from the connection of their food to where it comes from. Personally I would prefer not to support the inhumane practices of the egg laying industry (although not all are as bad as they used to be).. cage free is better than cages - but not as nice as what your birds will have. I think happy chickens lay healthier eggs! AND you aren't eating all the medication they feed to those birds to keep them alive....

Maybe some day he will realize what he is missing out on - and can enjoy real eggs...

I completely agree. My chickens are as happy as they come I think lol. After having farm fresh there is no way I cant even look at the other eggs. lol Im sure once he sees how pretty my eggs will be he will get over it. =]

 

[speckledhen]

Here is my almost 6 year old Gypsy. She still lays in spurts a few times each year. Good Cree stock. Wonderful hen.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Good decision to start with one color.
Good decision to do some research and ask for advise.
If you breed just blues, you will get BBS(Blue Black Splash).
The best thing you can do is join the APA and Ameracuana club. Buy a copy of the SOP.(Standard of Perfection). Do some reading and research. Compare pictures of show quality birds and what you have. It is never too early to simply just enjoy your birds and watch them.
Make a list of your toe punches and colors. Note things you like about them and don't like.
The Ameracuana club have listing of highly qualified people and some could live close to you. One might even be a neighbor. Go to some shows in your area. (you will find the list on the bottom of my signature).
Talk with local breeders at the show.
Color changes all the time with molts and maturity. Many times it gets better with age and development. Same with faults, they become more apparent with age.
You can look for DQ's as they age and note them to ask a breeder his/her opinion.
You will find a list of DQ's in the SOP.
I hope this helps and points you in the right direction.

I joined the APA, bought their SOP and joined the Ameraucana Breeders Club. I've been reading a lot of the threads on the ABC web site. I bought my Ameraucanas from a serious breeder and exhibitor, Paul Smith, who lives about 400 miles away. I was hoping to drive all my chickens (that he bred) up to him for him to go over them for me. I was hoping to go to a poultry show, but I really can't understand where a show in my area is being held. I was thinking of entering all my birds in the Texas State Fair near Dallas in the fall just to have someone evaluate them for me. I have a background showing dogs (I've even judged a few dog shows), so once I know what correct looks like, I'll have some perspective in what I'm looking at. Reading the standard in the SOP isn't quite the same as interpreting it in a bird although I am starting to develop an eye for things. My biggest problem is in how to weigh the good traits and the faults on a bird. There is no perfect bird. The SOP may give a point value for faults in a show bird, but that may not be the relative value a BREEDER would give the same fault. There is a huge difference between judging exhibition animals and breeding stock. One might forgive a lot of faults to try to put a very, very rare quality into their stock. Since I don't know what is difficult to find in Ameraucanas, I have nothing to base a breeding decision. I also don't know WHEN to look at growing birds. I know in my show dogs, the most beautiful dog in the world might look just awful at a certain age, but if one knows the breed or the line, they will know where that dog is likely to end up. I haven't a clue with these chickens. As an aside, I find the APA's SOP to be incredibly confusing and poorly laid out. I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me where and when a poultry show will be held in my area (San Antonio, Texas). Thanks.

 

[delisha]

Here is my almost 6 year old Gypsy. She still lays in spurts a few times each year. Good Cree stock. Wonderful hen.

A very pretty bird..she looks like a total sweetheart too.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Your first statement can be argued, however, everyone has different ideas of that interpretation. Breeding stock does not necessarily mean show stock. Show stock should mean breeding stock.
I look at chicks at hatch. Some are not breeder or quality or even Ameracuana's at hatch, they are EE's. Lacing is one of the features you need to watch as they are developing. It is hard to find a good laced BBS. The lacing gets smutty. Most of the chicks get ugly at 7-14 weeks as they molt into Juvie feathers. Not a time to even look at them (IMHO). Take pictures weekly and you will see what I mean. One bird can look like you said dogs look and after a molt..they are stunning.
I am a head hunter..I love the eyes and head shape. I start to make and take note of the heads I like at hatch.


The SOP can be confusing. Like dogs, it is in groups/class first. (after they have general introductions/ glossary/drawings/interpretation of Standard/ and DQ's) Toy/American..etc.

You are way ahead of most people. You know a good breeder and have good stock. You have books and have joined the organizations that will help you. You understand the show ring. Just like the dog world, the SOP/AKC standard is not supported at all times at shows. Enough said

I am from Wisconsin, so I have no idea what cities you are close to. Here is a list of a few shows in Texas. I could look up where you live on a map and find out how far you are from bordering States, but, with all of your experience you will be able to do a much better job than I could possibly do. If I can help any other way please do not hesitate to ask. There are more people on here that have much more experience than I do with Ameracuana's. I also have a Smith bird I love and adore.

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Texas.html

 

[jajeanpierre]

It is hard to find a good laced BBS. The lacing gets smutty. Most of the chicks get ugly at 7-14 weeks as they molt into Juvie feathers. Not a time to even look at them (IMHO). Take pictures weekly and you will see what I mean. One bird can look like you said dogs look and after a molt..they are stunning.
I am a head hunter..I love the eyes and head shape. I start to make and take note of the heads I like at hatch.

Thanks so much for your comments and advice.

I'm not clear good lacing in blues looks like, having never seen a blue in my life except for the two chicks pictured below.. I'm not clear on what their feathers do as they go through their first few months of life.

Here are two blues. I went away for a month in June and my son was a bit sloppy with the closing the pen.... I lost three Ameraucanas, one being the littlest blue pictured on the left in the first picture. I believe she was a pullet. I still have the cockerel pictured on the right in the first picture.

What do you think of the lacing on these two birds? They were exactly 8 weeks old when the picture was taken. I think the bird on the left of the top picture has a better color and better lacing. She had a few white feathers in the wing though. The cockerel on the right has a yellow tone and now at 14 weeks, the color is even worse.




Cockerel on the left at 8 weeks.




Here is the same cockerel five weeks later at 13 weeks. The color is even more yellow and I can barely find any lacing. Part of the yellowing of his color is the reflection of all the yellow around him and bad lighting, but not all. His color bothers me, but since I have never seen a blue chicken in my life except for my two, I haven't a clue of what perfect looks like, especially in a 3/4 month baby.


Comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the list of poultry shows.

 

[heatherscooby77]

I joined the APA, bought their SOP and joined the Ameraucana Breeders Club. I've been reading a lot of the threads on the ABC web site. I bought my Ameraucanas from a serious breeder and exhibitor, Paul Smith, who lives about 400 miles away. I was hoping to drive all my chickens (that he bred) up to him for him to go over them for me. I was hoping to go to a poultry show, but I really can't understand where a show in my area is being held. I was thinking of entering all my birds in the Texas State Fair near Dallas in the fall just to have someone evaluate them for me. I have a background showing dogs (I've even judged a few dog shows), so once I know what correct looks like, I'll have some perspective in what I'm looking at. Reading the standard in the SOP isn't quite the same as interpreting it in a bird although I am starting to develop an eye for things. My biggest problem is in how to weigh the good traits and the faults on a bird. There is no perfect bird. The SOP may give a point value for faults in a show bird, but that may not be the relative value a BREEDER would give the same fault. There is a huge difference between judging exhibition animals and breeding stock. One might forgive a lot of faults to try to put a very, very rare quality into their stock. Since I don't know what is difficult to find in Ameraucanas, I have nothing to base a breeding decision. I also don't know WHEN to look at growing birds. I know in my show dogs, the most beautiful dog in the world might look just awful at a certain age, but if one knows the breed or the line, they will know where that dog is likely to end up. I haven't a clue with these chickens. As an aside, I find the APA's SOP to be incredibly confusing and poorly laid out. I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me where and when a poultry show will be held in my area (San Antonio, Texas). Thanks.

Here is a website that has poultry shows listed. It is a great tool. It talks about how to prep your birds for the show and everything.........

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Texas.html

Some of the questions you have actually don't have an answer that is black or white. Some of your questions, the answers are opinions. Basically this is what I would do if I were you. I would not sell/cull any of your birds until they are evaluated. There are obvious disqualifications that occur not matter what breed the chicken is. Cull for those first. Have your birds leg banded (wire ties) and keep meticulous records on them. Take pictures of all of them at the same intervals and make notes on things YOU like or dislike. Go to poultry shows as an observer until your birds are old enough to show. I understand about what you are say about the SOP layout, and so on......... Basically what you need to do is study the breed specific info, and look up the variety and look at those too. Last but not least, the SOP is subjective. It leaves a huge gap in interpretation. Judges have different interpretations which happens in all animal species. Ameraucana is such a new breed that sometimes the judges have not ever seen a good example of the breed. So you can't base you decision on just one opinion, there are many factors to consider. I hope some others weigh in too! I hope I helped you a little bit.

 

[dak]

I joined the APA, bought their SOP and joined the Ameraucana Breeders Club. I've been reading a lot of the threads on the ABC web site. I bought my Ameraucanas from a serious breeder and exhibitor, Paul Smith, who lives about 400 miles away. I was hoping to drive all my chickens (that he bred) up to him for him to go over them for me. I was hoping to go to a poultry show, but I really can't understand where a show in my area is being held. I was thinking of entering all my birds in the Texas State Fair near Dallas in the fall just to have someone evaluate them for me. I have a background showing dogs (I've even judged a few dog shows), so once I know what correct looks like, I'll have some perspective in what I'm looking at. Reading the standard in the SOP isn't quite the same as interpreting it in a bird although I am starting to develop an eye for things. My biggest problem is in how to weigh the good traits and the faults on a bird. There is no perfect bird. The SOP may give a point value for faults in a show bird, but that may not be the relative value a BREEDER would give the same fault. There is a huge difference between judging exhibition animals and breeding stock. One might forgive a lot of faults to try to put a very, very rare quality into their stock. Since I don't know what is difficult to find in Ameraucanas, I have nothing to base a breeding decision. I also don't know WHEN to look at growing birds. I know in my show dogs, the most beautiful dog in the world might look just awful at a certain age, but if one knows the breed or the line, they will know where that dog is likely to end up. I haven't a clue with these chickens. As an aside, I find the APA's SOP to be incredibly confusing and poorly laid out. I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me where and when a poultry show will be held in my area (San Antonio, Texas). Thanks.

http://www.poultryshowcase.com/Oklahoma State Poultry Show/2012_oklahoma_state_poultry_show.html

Paul frequently attends this show in Dec., in OK.

I also show dogs. Showing Ameraucanas is like showing a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in the Sporting group.