Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[jajeanpierre]

I'm building up my Ameraucana stock I'm working on blue, and I was wondering if I should put a splash in my pen, I have one but I heard they can cause your blue to have ticking? Right now I have a blue cock and a black hen (silver based) and 2 blues should I put the splash in their too?

How do you know, definitively, that your black is silver based?

 

[magdelaine]

So I sit down in the run to take a closer look at something and the next thing I knew there were two girls in my lap. I had to take a selfie!

Love these girls!

 

[hotlipshens]

I was told that gold based black birds have a beetle green sheen while silver based black birds have a purple sheen. Males, however can be golden (carry 1 gold and 1 silver) - no idea how to tell them.

 

[maryhysong]

Did you see that a black cockerel was Show Champion of the APA National this weekend? Bred by Tom Kernan and owned by Jan Geis.

 

[FVRM]

So I sit down in the run to take a closer look at something and the next thing I knew there were two girls in my lap. I had to take a selfie!

Love these girls!

wow the look so nice. where you get em? and what variey are they?

 

[magdelaine]

I got them from a lady with several different breeds of chickens, ducks, and even quail in Riverside, CA. She's a backyard breeder but I picked up a Blue Copper Marans rooster from her that is very promising and I'm really happy with the way these girls are growing out, so I'll be visiting her again. They are White Ameraucanas. Someone on this forum saw my post regarding a White Am cockerel and I'm hoping to get one this January! So excited.

Found her on Craigslist.

wow the look so nice. where you get em? and what variey are they?

 

[MrsBachbach]

I was told that gold based black birds have a beetle green sheen while silver based black birds have a purple sheen.  Males, however can be golden (carry 1 gold and 1 silver) - no idea how to tell them.

Well, there are other opinions on that. I've read a university study that said the purple and green sheen on feathers is based on feather structure, not whether the bird carries gold or silver. The way the feather is structured to reflect the light determines whether you see a green or purple sheen. I really think there is something to that. I've also seen birds display green in some light and purple in lower lights. Look at hummingbirds. They display purple and green. Are they all carrying gold and silver or is it just the way their feathers are structured to reflect light?

 

[dstokely]

Did you see that a black cockerel was Show Champion of the APA National this weekend? Bred by Tom Kernan and owned by Jan Geis.

He is really beautiful!

 

[chickiegal]

Your birds are beautiful. I'm thinking of getting some. I have Marens, a Brabanter, and a Buff Orpington. What is the temperament of this breed?

 

[magdelaine]

Your birds are beautiful. I'm thinking of getting some. I have Marens, a Brabanter, and a Buff Orpington. What is the temperament of this breed?

I only have experience with the two so far, but they are very sweet. They always come up looking for a treat as soon as I come near and they will hop into my lap and onto the shoulder or back of anyone available. I love their cooing, peeping noises, too...different than other chickens. They allow my kids to pet them and carry them all over the place without much in the way of complaining. I think that is pretty standard from what I've seen described here.