Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[FVRM]

I have a breeding/hatching question:

I have lavs, blacks and blues from P. Smith. One black hen and one lav. The rest were Roos. One of the hens started laying about 6 weeks ago. They were great looking from day one but very small. I assumed they were from the lav b/c she is very petite and I beleive smith lavs have bantam in the background.

We set 8 of her eggs Nov 25th. I had one pip but in the middle of the egg and turned almost 180 degrees from the air cell. I wasn't home to help and we lost it. This was day 23. The other one to pip only made it internally, in the same malposition and the others died very soon before that.

It was my first incubation so very sad and demoralizing. I checked the two that pipped, which is how I know the positions were oriented wrong. However the chicks were in the right placement body wise with head tucked under the wing and ready to pip.

Both chicks were perfectly formed, absorbed the yolk and the external pipped one was ready to come out, with blood veins not visible etc only had a slightly large naval still (not sure if this is deformity?)

My questions are this:

1: did the small egg size prevent proper positioning to air cell? Membranes were not shrink wrapped and air cells were proper size.

2: Both chicks were dark black/blue feathers with yellow feather spots... So, according to black x lav breeding this should not be possible. Were they blue x lav? Or must these eggs be from the black hen? Splits black x blue are supposed to be all yellow at hatch, correct?

Thanks for any advice or ideas!!!

Yes, egg size matters sometimes. But this could also have happens from high humidity or rotating the eggs a day or two before the hatch day.

 

[magdelaine]

I've heard you should wait for your pullets to lay 20 eggs before setting any to hatch. It sounds like this might have been possible for as long as these pullets were laying. Should you wait longer in the case of Ameraucanas? I have pullets that have yet to lay their first egg but it would be good to know how long to give them before setting their eggs.

 

[DonumDei]

Hi all,

I'm new to Ameraucanas. I have blues and blacks from different lines. I've read enough about the pros and cons of breeding blues to blacks to make my head spin.

I have a question regarding the appropriate color of the blacks under feathers. Are they supposed to be jet black like the outer feathers or is a lighter brownish black acceptable?

 

[simon7mm]

I have a very docile Black Ameraucana Cockerel - he is about 8-9 months old. He lives with 1 Barnevelder, 4 Leghorn production and 4 Red production hens. They are about 8 months older than him, but he is significantly larger.
I want to cross him with these hens and hatch some eggs with my kids.
He will not go near the White Leghorns (They picked on him (a bit)when he was younger). There is one Red production he takes a liking to but when he gets near her the other Reds drive him away. I have seen him mate with the Barnevelder at times.

They are allowed to free range all day, I have never observed any fighting.

My question is will he ever get the nerve to mate with these hens? He is the only rooster. I am thinking he should be mature as he will get at this point. He has been crowing for at least 5 months.


Thanks so much for any opinion or advice anyone might have.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I have a very docile Black Ameraucana Cockerel - he is about 8-9 months old.  He lives with 1 Barnevelder, 4 Leghorn production and 4 Red production hens.  They are about 8 months older than him, but he is significantly larger.
I want to cross him with these hens and hatch some eggs with my kids.
He will not go near the White Leghorns (They picked on him (a bit)when he was younger).  There is one Red production he takes a liking to but when he gets near her the other Reds drive him away. I have seen him mate with the Barnevelder at times.

They are allowed to free range all day, I have never observed any fighting.

My question is will he ever get the nerve to mate with these hens?  He is the only rooster.  I am thinking he should be mature as he will get at this point.  He has been crowing for at least 5 months. 


Thanks so much for any opinion or advice anyone might have.

Well, that could be a drawback of a very docile male, but I would give him a few more months. Some lines are slow to mature. Some roosters do tend to stick with the easy lays though. If you have a separate pen, I would lock him up with a hen or two that he is not as familiar with for a few weeks. Sometimes it takes a while for a hen to warm up to a rooster. It helps if there is not a whole lot of running room too. A small pen like a 4x8 would work well for getting acquainted.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Hi all, I'm new to Ameraucanas. I have blues and blacks from different lines. I've read enough about the pros and cons of breeding blues to blacks to make my head spin. I have a question regarding the appropriate color of the blacks under feathers. Are they supposed to be jet black like the outer feathers or is a lighter brownish black acceptable?

Not sure what you mean by brownish black or under feathers. I've seen some beard feathers look kind of brownish black at times but that is generally on older hens where the feathers are getting worn and dirty before they molt. I haven't seen any brownish feathers under a black hen. Now, you generally don't see the beetle green sheen all over the hen if that is what you are asking. The fluff of a hen tends to be a flat black if that helps. Your picture looks like a black Ameraucana to me.

 

[OnceInaBlueMoon]

Our Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Ameraucana hens that we purchased from Paul Smith back in April recently started laying eggs. We are thrilled! I can't wait to hatch chicks in Spring! Our Ameraucanas are so sweet and docile. I love this breed!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

When do Ameraucanas/EEs, on average, begin to lay?
I have a brown-red who, like her 2 different breed coop sisters will be 8 months old at Christmas. One coop sister, an Australorp, has been consistently laying for about 6 weeks and the other coop sister, a Sicilian Buttercup, has not yet begun even though she's been exhibiting mating behavior and other symptoms occasionally since she was about 5 months.
Where I live in Northern California the winters are rather mild with no snow, but lots of sunshine compared to other parts of the country.
Any insight? Thanx in advance!

mine are laying well with no light in my winter hatch runs, i have had luck staggering my hatches. it snows out here but does not get bitter cold. I also use open coops which may help as its not as dark on clear nights

 

[Hangtown Farms]

well morning...it snowed so I hope I can still dig in the ground for the last few coops...got a bunch of eggs this morning heres some pics....17 eggs today

nice set up

 

[birdman55]

that's only four of the 17 coops that I have ....hope everyone had a great new year