Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[scflock]

I kinda think the thread is funny most of the time, almost posted a couple of times. Don

You should post on there. There are a lot of different personalities on that thread. I'm by far the most obnoxious, but only on that thread. I've mentioned you by name many times, and everyone knows I respect you. There are a lot of people that ask SQ type questions, and I am not qualified to answer.
If you ever see me reference the "eat'emup thread", that would be Black Copper Marans Discussion

So, anyway, these AMs are a much better start than I had with the BCM, so I'll just keep watching, posting pics, and asking advice

 

[snowbird]

SC, will go into more detail here for the Green Sheen, I usually try and keep the info. in check so everyone can understand what I am saying. You can use the Purple Sheen to make Green Sheen. Find birds with least amount of Purple and breed them together. You will get some Green and some Purple. Breed the Green together and you will get mostly Green. Then you need to check the intensification of Black by using a Standard colored Black with a dull colored Black. If two Jet black birds are mated , further intensification of Black seem to bring it to disintegration , and brings out the Purple Barring.

High Protein feed has nothing to do with Purple Sheen or stress. Don

 

[scflock]

SC, will go into more detail here for the Green Sheen, I usually try and keep the info. in check so everyone can understand what I am saying. You can use the Purple Sheen to make Green Sheen. Find birds with least amount of Purple and breed them together. You will get some Green and some Purple. Breed the Green together and you will get mostly Green.  Then you need to check the intensification of Black by  using a Standard colored Black with a dull colored Black. If two Jet black birds are mated , further intensification of Black seem to bring it to disintegration , and brings out the Purple Barring.

High Protein feed has nothing to do with Purple Sheen or stress. Don

Thanks Don. Is that kind of crossing and breeding information in the standard? If not, where do you find it? I will never show, but I would like to breed to SOP

 

[snowbird]

SC, The Old poultry books that were used in the Colleges many year ago. Plus I have always kept a lot of records of what will work and will not. Been involved with chickens my whole life and I am 73. I have breeding records from 30-40 years ago. I toe Punch every chick that hatches and band them also after the first main cull. I do cull very hard .

 

[snowbird]

SC, The Old poultry books that were used in the Colleges many year ago. Plus I have always kept a lot of records of what will work and will not. Been involved with chickens my whole life and I am 73. I have breeding records from 30-40 years ago. I toe Punch every chick that hatches and band them also after the first main cull. I do cull very hard .

The Books by Morley A. JUll can still be found. abe books has some.

 

[scflock]

SC, The Old poultry books that were used in the Colleges many year ago. Plus I have always kept a lot of records of what will work and will not. Been involved with chickens my whole life and I am 73. I have breeding records from 30-40 years ago. I toe Punch every chick that hatches and band  them also after the first main cull. I do cull very hard .

I have only kept chickens for 7 years and I'm 42. They have been pets until this year. I attempted to start a pure bred line with the BCMs, but as you saw, I started way behind. I'm hoping I have a better start with the AMs. I have no problem culling, whether selling or eating, but I don't want to have to cull 99% of my birds, which is where I am with the BCM.
I really do put a lot of stock in your criticisms, and appreciate the advice. I'm only a raving lunatic on the other thread

 

[MrsBachbach]

I had heard of the purple, but not seen it...

x2

I'm curious... do you know what causes it?

Some say it's because the black is based on silver instead of gold. I've read from a university study that it is the construct of the feather that determines the color sheen. The way the light is reflected off of it. I think that makes more sense to me. Maybe birds based on silver have a different feather structure than those based on gold? It has to be more than just gold or silver based. Look at a hummingbird. They have both green and purple sheen on different parts of the body. Has to be the way the feathers lay and how the light is reflected.

 

[magdelaine]

Some say it's because the black is based on silver instead of gold. I've read from a university study that it is the construct of the feather that determines the color sheen. The way the light is reflected off of it. I think that makes more sense to me. Maybe birds based on silver have a different feather structure than those based on gold? It has to be more than just gold or silver based. Look at a hummingbird. They have both green and purple sheen on different parts of the body. Has to be the way the feathers lay and how the light is reflected.

I have Olive Eggers that are from white Ameraucana x Welsummer/BCM. They turned out silver birchen or all black, which led me to believe that my white was split to silver based black. However, the feathers have a green sheen, and not purple. I do think that nutrition can make a difference...but I'm not sure how!

 

[ChuskaMtns]

From my understanding with Black poultry showing purple or red, it is caused by one of the parent birds has recessive white OR too much breeding of black with green sheen and the fix is to breed a black with green sheen to a flat black.
As far as nutrition, I start all of my English Orpingtons on turkey starter which is higher in protein than chick starter. My BOs all have either green sheen or flat black and I continue mixing higher protein meatbird feed with their regular chicken crumble.
I don't have black AMs, only silver and whites.

 

[scflock]

I really appreciate all these replies, and enjoy reading posts from the experienced breeders. I have had pet chickens for years, but this is the first year I have tried to have a few breeds closer to SOP. I know I could look up faults and what to cull for, but breeding forward I will need advice. Hearing from you guys is invaluable