Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Miss Ameraucana]

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

I was just wondering if you knew and how your babies came. That's good. I just emailed Max and asked him the same questions about the birds I ordered so I'll see what he says about how he does things.

 

[greenleaf]

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

Toe Punch
http://AmeraucanaAlliance.org/forum/index.php?topic=31.msg183#msg183

 

[marchick]

Just wanted to tell you guys, I emailed Paul Smith last night just to tell him how happy I was with the birds, and asked if he had any advice for a new breeder. I didn't expect a reply any time soon, but he sent back a long email last night with some great tips for breeding on a small scale, along with instructions and a chart for toe punches. What a nice guy

I thought he was a nice guy also! He sent me info. about his breeding pens. I changed my order twice and he was very nice about it! It takes alot to put up with me!

 

[marchick]

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

Well there goes all the wives panty hose!

 

[scflock]

I thought he was a nice guy also! He sent me info. about his breeding pens. I changed my order twice and he was very nice about it! It takes alot to put up with me!

The thing that impressed me was I wasn't buying anything. All I said in the email was how happy I was with the birds, and asked if he had any advice for a new breeder. I'm a novice, asking one of the most well known names in the country for beginner advice, and he took the time the same day to answer my email and offer advice. I like that he even said he'd love to hear updates on the project, and if I needed help he was only an email away. That's more than you get from some breeders on BYC

(I'm not talking about this thread, BTW

)

 

[scflock]

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 .

Thanks Jerry. I'm just learning as I go

 

[marchick]

The thing that impressed me was I wasn't buying anything. All I said in the email was how happy I was with the birds, and asked if he had any advice for a new breeder. I'm a novice, asking one of the most well known names in the country for beginner advice, and he took the time the same day to answer my email and offer advice. I like that he even said he'd love to hear updates on the project, and if I needed help he was only an email away. That's more than you get from some breeders on BYC

(I'm not talking about this thread, BTW

)

Nice save!!!!

 

[scflock]

Nice save!!!!

No edit, either

 

[samouw]

I took that to mean the combination of how many punches on which feet, but maybe samouw or someone could explain it better

Well, I'll try

This next year is actually the first year I'll be using toe punches, as it is the first year I've had more than just the wheaten/blue wheaten pens.

\1| / \ | / (those are chicken's feet without using graphics. lol). If you're holding the chicken in your lap, reading left to right, each web is a number - 1 (left foot, outer web), 2 (left foot, inner web) and 4 (right foot, inner web),8 (right foot,outer web)
\ |2/ \ | /
\ | / \4| /
\ | / \ |8/

So, if I punch only the outer web, left foot, that is a 1. If I punch only the inner web of the same foot, that is a 2.

Now, if I punch both the outer and inner web of the left foot, that is 1 + 2 = 3, or third breeding pen.
If I punch the outer web of the left foot (1) and the outer web of the right foot (8), then 1 + 8 = 9, or ninth breeding pen.

As the chart from Paul shows, these four punches will get you up to 15 breeding pens. Then some folks add a slash \'| / to add even more distinguishing marks. the slash is a + sign, but I'm not sure how that works.

This is where I will be ordering my toe punches (I will order a couple, just to have a backup). http://www.poultrysupplies.com/index_files/Page723.htm

Hope this helps

 

[Ravynscroft]

Well, I'll try

This next year is actually the first year I'll be using toe punches, as it is the first year I've had more than just the wheaten/blue wheaten pens.

\1| /   \ | / (those are chicken's feet without using graphics. lol).  If you're holding the chicken in your lap, reading left to right, each web is a number - 1 (left foot, outer web), 2 (left foot, inner web) and 4 (right foot, inner web),8 (right foot,outer web)
\ |2/   \ | /
\ | /    \4| /
\ | /    \ |8/

So, if I punch only the outer web, left foot, that is a 1. If I punch only the inner web of the same foot, that is a 2.

Now, if I punch both the outer and inner web of the left foot, that is 1 + 2 = 3, or third breeding pen.
If I punch the outer web of the left foot (1) and the outer web of the right foot (8), then 1 + 8 = 9, or ninth breeding pen.

As the chart from Paul shows, these four punches will get you up to 15 breeding pens.  Then some folks add a slash \'| / to add even more distinguishing marks.  the slash is a + sign, but I'm not sure how that works.

This is where I will be ordering my toe punches (I will order a couple, just to have a backup). http://www.poultrysupplies.com/index_files/Page723.htm

Hope this helps

Thank you... much more in depth and better than I could explain on my phone, lol...