Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[mstricer]

Thank you I will check out all the suggestions. I have a few emails out

 

[rbaker0345]

This is just my opinion and my observation not only for this breed, but many others as well. I am sure someone will give more information that is breed specific and I would like to know that information also.

They are growing tail feathers and saddle feathers.... one side can sometimes have a heavier weight of feathers. it gives the experience of wry tail when it is not. When they body mature and the feathers mature they can support the feathers the way they are supposed to. The appearance of wry tail goes away. I have a few cockerels that some days they look wry tail and other days they do not. They are different breeds including AM's.

I have noticed this about my cockerels too. Sometimes I go out there and I see them holding their tails to the side and I have a little panic attack and mentally cull them. The next time I see them, they're looking fine.

 

[noodlesoup]

It is hard to tell from the distance and the lighting of the pictures. The bird's color doesn't look right either.

If that is the wheaten you got in the background, it doesn't appear to have a beard and muff. You may have gotten had for the amount of money you had to put out.

Just an update--MPC has given me a refund for the birds.

 

[cowmommy2001]

Just an update--MPC has given me a refund for the birds.

wow that's pretty amazing!!

 

[Veer67]

wow that's pretty amazing!!

MPC is pretty nice, they give refunds if they sent you the wrong breed of chicken, or if your sexed pullet becomes a rooster, and etc.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Where do I go to to learn about rooster behavior? Surprisingly, my chicken books don't go into it a lot.

My 5-month old Ameraucana cockerels are starting to grow up. I don't really understand the behavior one is presenting.

Thanks.

 

[jbravo54]

Where do I go to to learn about rooster behavior?  Surprisingly, my chicken books don't go into it a lot.

My 5-month old Ameraucana cockerels are starting to grow up.  I don't really understand the behavior one is presenting.

Thanks.

If you elaborate on the Roosters behavior, I am sure someone here will explain it.

 

[jajeanpierre]

If you elaborate on the Roosters behavior, I am sure someone here will explain it.

I wasn't sure this thread was the right forum to discuss rooster behavior. I have zero experience with chickens and don't know what normal rooster behavior really looks like.

I've read references to roosters that court females and dance for them but have not read a description of this behavior. What does it look like?

The cockerel I plan on keeping has just turned 5 months old. I have four cockerels, of which I will keep one and maybe a second. The other two (or three) will go to freezer camp when I grow the spine. The four cockerels free range with three pullets, all the same age. My neighbor took a fifth cockerel a few days ago. They have all gotten along very well, with no squabbling although in the last few days there does seem to have been a few little scuffles--nothing much, just flaring hackles really. The blue cockerel I intend to keep has grabbed both cockerels and pullets, pulling a few feathers out a few times. It would appear the blue is the most dominant of the cockerels.

A few days after he left my house, the rehomed cockerel saw me across the field and made his way home. He desperately wanted into my yard. All the Ameraucanas ran up to the fence greeting him. The blue cockerel dropped a wing and stomped in a circle. The rehomed cockerel freaked, shrieking and running/flying along the fence with the blue, just quietly stomping and dropping the wing in the same spot.

My husband has not finished their housing, so every morning I carry them out one or two at a time from a pen in my garage, and every evening I carry them in. I've noticed a few times in the morning, when they are a little excited about coming out and two birds becoming four as they are released, he will do the same little dance.

I can't remember exactly what proceeded it, but today he did that same dance for me.

On one hand, it looks like an aggressive/dominant display of some sort, but I don't think he feels any aggression towards me. In fact, I think he quite likes me. If I go out of the house, he always runs right up to me hoping I will give him a treat. When I carry him in or out, he seems very relaxed and seems to enjoy my stroking around his chin and through his hackle feathers.

Tonight for the first time, he did fuss a bit when a pullet complained when I brought her in, but all he did was follow closely as I carried her to the garage. (I will be so happy when my husband FINALLY finishes their housing this weekend!)

Years ago I played with a big tom turkey that would turn the most amazing shades of blue and pink when around people. He snapped his wing feathers on the ground. He really loved people and loved to be petted. There might have been a sexual component, but I didn't see it other than the intensity of his display. In some ways, this behavior of my cockerel is somewhat reminiscent of this overly friendly tom turkey.

That wing dropping doesn't seem to only mean one thing. The rehomed cockerel freaked when the blue danced, but no one else has.

I just wanted a discussion of what normal breeding behavior looks like and what it all means. I'm sure there is another thread that this discussion is more appropriate for but I just can't find it.

Thanks

 

[pips&peeps]

I don't handle my cockerels like you have mentioned it always ends up bad. I would stop carrying them around.

You are going to find yourself on the wrong end of a spur fairly quick. Get them in their new home asap.

 

[heatherscooby77]

I wasn't sure this thread was the right forum to discuss rooster behavior. I have zero experience with chickens and don't know what normal rooster behavior really looks like.

I've read references to roosters that court females and dance for them but have not read a description of this behavior. What does it look like?

The cockerel I plan on keeping has just turned 5 months old. I have four cockerels, of which I will keep one and maybe a second. The other two (or three) will go to freezer camp when I grow the spine. The four cockerels free range with three pullets, all the same age. My neighbor took a fifth cockerel a few days ago. They have all gotten along very well, with no squabbling although in the last few days there does seem to have been a few little scuffles--nothing much, just flaring hackles really. The blue cockerel I intend to keep has grabbed both cockerels and pullets, pulling a few feathers out a few times. It would appear the blue is the most dominant of the cockerels.

A few days after he left my house, the rehomed cockerel saw me across the field and made his way home. He desperately wanted into my yard. All the Ameraucanas ran up to the fence greeting him. The blue cockerel dropped a wing and stomped in a circle. The rehomed cockerel freaked, shrieking and running/flying along the fence with the blue, just quietly stomping and dropping the wing in the same spot.

My husband has not finished their housing, so every morning I carry them out one or two at a time from a pen in my garage, and every evening I carry them in. I've noticed a few times in the morning, when they are a little excited about coming out and two birds becoming four as they are released, he will do the same little dance.

I can't remember exactly what proceeded it, but today he did that same dance for me.

On one hand, it looks like an aggressive/dominant display of some sort, but I don't think he feels any aggression towards me. In fact, I think he quite likes me. If I go out of the house, he always runs right up to me hoping I will give him a treat. When I carry him in or out, he seems very relaxed and seems to enjoy my stroking around his chin and through his hackle feathers.

Tonight for the first time, he did fuss a bit when a pullet complained when I brought her in, but all he did was follow closely as I carried her to the garage. (I will be so happy when my husband FINALLY finishes their housing this weekend!)

Years ago I played with a big tom turkey that would turn the most amazing shades of blue and pink when around people. He snapped his wing feathers on the ground. He really loved people and loved to be petted. There might have been a sexual component, but I didn't see it other than the intensity of his display. In some ways, this behavior of my cockerel is somewhat reminiscent of this overly friendly tom turkey.

That wing dropping doesn't seem to only mean one thing. The rehomed cockerel freaked when the blue danced, but no one else has.

I just wanted a discussion of what normal breeding behavior looks like and what it all means. I'm sure there is another thread that this discussion is more appropriate for but I just can't find it.

Thanks

Your cockerel is going to become nasty toward you. He is not afraid of you, so he will attack, and fight for dominance. I don't handle my Ameraucana rooster much. I want them to be scared of me. For example if I am walking through the barn feeding, and he is in that stall: I hope he walks or runs the other direction. If you feed your roosters by hand they will get food aggressive, and also try to be dominant. The dancing is just the start. I would find all the other cockerels you don't want there new homes, or freezer camps. Then I would leave the single male with his ladies and not pay any attention to him, you need him to respect you. That's just my two cents. I only do this for my LF breeds of chickens. I have bantam cochins for my daughter, and they are different so far??????????? They require more grooming, show prep, and artificial insemination in some cases. I need to handle them more, I have not had problems with them yet.

He might also turn out alright, but you need to nip it in the bud now. He has all the signs of becoming very aggressive.