Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Ravynscroft]

Thanks Ravyn. I didn't notice he was pointing out the simplest punches. I only need 2 right now

The tip I loved was the panty hose. I would have never thought of that, and would be perfect for the small Octagon

No snag ones... they won't catch their toenails as easy...

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Hey, guys. I have a question. I have a wheaten roo over some bbs ameraucanas and a mixed flock.

I'm having a curious situation. My roo is larger than my other birds (though not by a massive amount) and my bbs seem fairly large and are comparable in size to my golden buffs, maybe even a bit larger. They lay normal sized eggs (large to extra jumbo). So do my buffs.

I've been hatching out eggs from this group and the chicks are just TINY. I had a pair of adults that were pretty small too. They lay medium sized eggs, not the big eggs all my other birds lay.

I'm thinking this is coming from my roo since I've hatched with two different incubators and several different hens. But he seems normal sized to me.

Any idea what's going on there? Here's a photo of some of my flock.



And one of him right next to the same golden buffs.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Hi (removed

), 12-15-15

Thanks for sharing this info with us. My advice would be to do what we do-so I'm not one of those preachers who should say do what I say, not what I do!

Assign the breeding pens a number from 1 to 15. Write the number on the eggs. Sort them by the number before going into the incubator. When the eggs are taken out of the turner racks-partition them so the chicks will be contained. Then toe punch the chicks their number. The code is 1, 2, 4 and 8. I'll have Angela attach a toe punch chart. Keep records on how all the birds are bred. If you are hatching in a small Styrofoam incubator, the eggs can be contained by putting them inside pantyhose.

Keep us informed how this poultry project works out for you! If we can help, we are only an e-mail away.

Thanks again,

Paul & Angela

P.S. One more thing. Get a Standard of Perfection and study what the birds are suppose to be like.

Pantyhose? You hatch the chicks in pantyhose? I use wire fences in my small incubators. Hardwire cloth cut to size. I can get anywhere from 4 to 6 compartments in my small foam incubators. Works great and chicks aren't constricted.

 

[scflock]

Pantyhose?  You hatch the chicks in pantyhose?   I use wire fences in my small incubators.  Hardwire cloth cut to size.  I can get anywhere from 4 to 6 compartments in my small foam incubators.  Works great and chicks aren't constricted.

That was an email to me from Paul Smith I copied and posted. I had asked if he had any advice for a small scale breeder. I've never tried it, but I think I might

 

[Miss Ameraucana]

[COLOR=000000]Hi (removed[/COLOR] )[COLOR=000000], 12-15-15 [COLOR=000000] Thanks for sharing this info with us. My advice would be to do what we do-so I'm not one of those preachers who should say do what I say, not what I do! Assign the breeding pens a number from 1 to 15. Write the number on the eggs. Sort them by the number before going into the incubator. When the eggs are taken out of the turner racks-partition them so the chicks will be contained. Then toe punch the chicks their number. The code is 1, 2, 4 and 8. I'll have Angela attach a toe punch chart. Keep records on how all the birds are bred. If you are hatching in a small Styrofoam incubator, the eggs can be contained by putting them inside pantyhose. Keep us informed how this poultry project works out for you! If we can help, we are only an e-mail away. Thanks again, Paul & Angela P.S. One more thing. Get a Standard of Perfection and study what the birds are suppose to be like.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

When you bought your chicks from Paul did they come toe punched?

 

[Saris]

Is a toe punch a special thing, or is it just a sanitized hole puncher?

 

[Miss Ameraucana]

That was an email to me from Paul Smith I copied and posted. I had asked if he had any advice for a small scale breeder. I've never tried it, but I think I might

Do you know if each of your color groups are related? With or without the toe punch?

 

[scflock]

Do you know if each of your color groups are related? With or without the toe punch?

Yes, they were punched, and the 2 keeper cockerels were from different pens. Paul sends an email with the order explain which pattern correlates to which pen

 

[jerryse]

Is a toe punch a special thing, or is it just a sanitized hole puncher?

You can buy them but they are small . I lose them easily . I use a ear notcher for this . It is larger and I painted it orange . These are sold at farm stores for notching ears on hogs .

 

[scflock]

Is a toe punch a special thing, or is it just a sanitized hole puncher?

Just more simple and permanent than bands.
Even if the were, or are siblings with the hens, I still wouldn't hesitate to breed sideways for one generation. I would rather do that than bring in outside blood at this point