Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[minihorse927]

Pips, can I please get your opinion on the blue pullet I posted earlier?

 

[heatherscooby77]

Here is one of my hens. My phone stinks at taking pictures. This girl is just about done molting. Love her beard, don't like the black ticking in the hackle. Can't really tell much else from the pic.

 

[pips&peeps]

Pips, can I please get your opinion on the blue pullet I posted earlier?

This is my opinion and why I didn't post:

I don't like the color of the bird. She has poor lacing, black spots here and there in the feathers and her eyes are not correct. She also looks to be based on gold as she has the rusty feathers already.

As for body type, she is ok. Just make sure and weigh her; you never want to use an undersized hen.

 

[jajeanpierre]

This is my opinion and why I didn't post:

I don't like the color of the bird. She has poor lacing, black spots here and there in the feathers and her eyes are not correct. She also looks to be based on gold as she has the rusty feathers already.

As for body type, she is ok. Just make sure and weigh her; you never want to use an undersized hen.

Thank you for posting your honest opinions.

Help out us novices, why is being based on gold bad? Do you forgive oversize birds (and not undersized)?

Can you give me the genetics of a bird that should produce the best blue and black? Is there a different genetic makeup of the black that you would use for blue/black/splash breeding and lavender breeding?

Thanks so much.

Thanks

 

[pips&peeps]

When a blue is based on gold, they tend to get that rusty appearance and splashes produced can end up leaking red. If they are based on silver most of the leakage problems don't show up.

Some flocks have enough black color modifiers or enhancers and this is not a problem. Some choose to have separate pens for black and the blues.

Generally (not a 100%) if you have a black bird with blue legs it is based on silver and you can used these birds to breed blues. The black birds with black legs are based on gold.

Yes, oversize is better than under. It is a general rule of thumb not to use an undersize hen. You can use an undersize cock bird on a large hen, but not the other way around. But if it is all you have, you go with it. Sometimes we don't have options and sometimes things will work out. And if you get larger offspring you replace your breeders with the bigger birds.

 

[jajeanpierre]

When a blue is based on gold, they tend to get that rusty appearance and splashes produced can end up leaking red. If they are based on silver most of the leakage problems don't show up.

Some flocks have enough black color modifiers or enhancers and this is not a problem. Some choose to have separate pens for black and the blues.

Generally (not a 100%) if you have a black bird with blue legs it is based on silver and you can used these birds to breed blues. The black birds with black legs are based on gold.

Yes, oversize is better than under. It is a general rule of thumb not to use an undersize hen. You can use an undersize cock bird on a large hen, but not the other way around. But if it is all you have, you go with it. Sometimes we don't have options and sometimes things will work out. And if you get larger offspring you replace your breeders with the bigger birds.

Thank you.

If you are breeding lavenders, do you want black based on gold or silver? What about blacks?

I need to get a basic color genetic book for chickens. Can anyone recommend one for me?

Thanks.

 

[ChickNmamma]

When a blue is based on gold, they tend to get that rusty appearance and splashes produced can end up leaking red. If they are based on silver most of the leakage problems don't show up.

Some flocks have enough black color modifiers or enhancers and this is not a problem. Some choose to have separate pens for black and the blues.

Generally (not a 100%) if you have a black bird with blue legs it is based on silver and you can used these birds to breed blues. The black birds with black legs are based on gold.

Yes, oversize is better than under. It is a general rule of thumb not to use an undersize hen. You can use an undersize cock bird on a large hen, but not the other way around. But if it is all you have, you go with it. Sometimes we don't have options and sometimes things will work out. And if you get larger offspring you replace your breeders with the bigger birds.

Thank you for this information. I was always told the best Blacks are based on Gold (for the best green sheen) - so they would not work well in a Blue pen because of the gold leakage? Hence your comment on keeping the Blue separate from Black, even though the color CAN be bred together (B/B/S)? Fascinating!

On the Lavenders I would guess Silver based would be best - the Gold base can lead to brassiness there as well and serious leakage problems - and it would be very noticeable! Silver leakage almost disappears, unless you have one with and one without you might not see it.

The best book on chicken feather color genetics is still out of my price range, I just research online and use the information I find here.

 

[pips&peeps]

Thank you for this information. I was always told the best Blacks are based on Gold (for the best green sheen) - so they would not work well in a Blue pen because of the gold leakage? Hence your comment on keeping the Blue separate from Black, even though the color CAN be bred together (B/B/S)? Fascinating!

I've had excellent blacks with green sheen based on silver too, the ones with the slate blue legs.

Like, I said, it depends on the color modifiers your line carries. Some breeders have stated that birds based on silver are better for breeding lavenders. I didn't start that way and haven't really had any issues because of the modifiers my flock has. I have had birds with lots of silver leakage and cull them, but never have had any gold or red leakage in my lavender flock.

 

[Julsnpat]

I have four 5 week old Americanas I have fallen in love! First time I had chickens so far I love them. Do you think they are to young for raw veggies? I tried to give them carrots and spinach today and they were affraid of it, very funny!

 

[minihorse927]

This is my opinion and why I didn't post:

I don't like the color of the bird.  She has poor lacing, black spots here and there in the feathers and her eyes are not correct.  She also looks to be based on gold as she has the rusty feathers already.

As for body type, she is ok.  Just make sure and weigh her; you never want to use an undersized hen.

Thanks, i don't mind the truth. You guys know more about what you're looking at than me, that's why i asked. God, bad, ugly. Thanks