Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[kjscortez]

We can be each other's cheering squads!  Just don't ask me to do any cartwheels.

So...who else is planning to make that brave advance into the show venues?

Don't know if I'll show anything yet, but sure would like to see the process and maybe pick a brain or 2!

That's what I need to do this fall, too!

 

[samouw]

That's what I need to do this fall, too!

Yeah! We'll just have our own little cheering section!

 

[Ravynscroft]

I'm a backyard keeper only. Not into showing. My kids are older and such. But intrigued by quality birds and the process of selection for quality birds. I've been trying to add Ameraucanas to my flock for the last year or two. A few tries with a favorite breeder. But then happened to find another that has a cabin near us! I'm thrilled to add these two blue and one lavender Ameraucanas. We're in love and excited for their potential.

Pretty blues... is one beardless? Absolutely adore your Lavender girl!!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thank you Ravyn. Yes. The one girl does seem to not have a beard or its not going to come in full at all like her sister. They are as you can see in their gangly teenager phase. I took these pics about 3 weeks ago. They are Already showing more big girl tail feathers and just a few of the adolescent tail feathers remaining right now. Regardless and for my set up the beard missing is okay.

The lavender just glows down there at the coop and on the green lawn. She is adorable. Her disposition is brave, curious. The two blues...although obviously bigger and from a different original brood have taken her on as sister with their group. Sort of endearing. She's charmed us all apparently. We were on a camping trip last weekend and had some friends who are chicken keepers sit for us. They fell in love with 'Pearl' as well.

 

[Renee97038]

I am new to breeding Ameraucanas. I have 2 color groups, Blue/Black in one group and a blue wheaten/wheaten group. My problem is in one group I have only 2 blue wheaten pullets and 1 wheaten cockerel. I was told that a group with only 2 hens with 1 cock will beat up the hens too badly. I have a seperate coop with large run for them but not sure I should try keeping them with only 2 pullets.

 

[Melissa Sakata]

I am new to breeding Ameraucanas. I have 2 color groups, Blue/Black in one group and a blue wheaten/wheaten group. My problem is in one group I have only 2 blue wheaten pullets and 1 wheaten cockerel. I was told that a group with only 2 hens with 1 cock will beat up the hens too badly. I have a seperate coop with large run for them but not sure I should try keeping them with only 2 pullets.

Pearl is absolutely adorable!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you Ravyn. Yes.  The one girl does seem to not have a beard or its not going to come in full at all like her sister.  They are as you can see in their gangly teenager phase. I took these pics about 3 weeks ago.  They are Already showing more big girl tail feathers and just a few of the adolescent tail feathers remaining right now.  Regardless and for my set up the beard missing is okay. 

The lavender just glows down there at the coop and on the green lawn.  She is adorable.  Her disposition is brave, curious.  The two blues...although obviously bigger and from a different original brood have taken her on as sister with their group.  Sort of endearing.  She's charmed us all apparently.  We were on a camping trip last weekend and had some friends who are chicken keepers sit for us.  They fell in love with 'Pearl' as well.

For a backyard flock, nothing wrong with a beardless at all... I was just curious if I was seeing her correctly... good to hear that they took to Pearl so well... she does look like a sweet girl...

 

[Ravynscroft]

I am new to breeding Ameraucanas. I have 2 color groups, Blue/Black in one group and a blue wheaten/wheaten group. My problem is in one group I have only 2 blue wheaten pullets and 1 wheaten cockerel. I was told that a group with only 2 hens with 1 cock will beat up the hens too badly. I have a seperate coop with large run for them but not sure I should try keeping them with only 2 pullets.

There really is no 'it will happen every time' scenario... having trios or quads in peaceful, injury free success can hinge on many factors, but it certainly can be done...

First, make sure they have the biggest pen and coop possible, not just what is 'acceptable'... more space equals less stress... place roosting and obstacles around so hens can get away from the cock once in a while...

Individual temperament plays a big factor as well... I prefer to raise my cockerels up with older hens that teach them proper manners and also keeps them from harassing young pullets needlessly...

Other factors are if the cock is much bigger than the hens/pullets, he could wear them down too much... and sometimes the hens feathers are just so soft they tear up no matter what... just keep an eye on them for signs of damage, separate occasionally to give the girls a break and you could also get some aprons/saddles for them to protect their backs as well...

 

[samouw]

I am new to breeding Ameraucanas. I have 2 color groups, Blue/Black in one group and a blue wheaten/wheaten group. My problem is in one group I have only 2 blue wheaten pullets and 1 wheaten cockerel. I was told that a group with only 2 hens with 1 cock will beat up the hens too badly. I have a seperate coop with large run for them but not sure I should try keeping them with only 2 pullets.

RavynFallen has given a great response to this, so I just want to add that it is recommended that you know your cockbird or watch how he interacts with the hens/pullets in the coop. If he is constantly after them, they will hide away from him and not to come out - even to eat or drink.

Raising a young cockerel with older hens is an excellent idea. My foundation wheaten cockbird was my "go-to" trainer for young cockerels - he would teach them how to behave. Sadly, I lost him last year and haven't yet had his replacement, at least temperament-wise.

Edited to add: My breeding pens are set up for trios or quads, with an occasional exception of 4 hens/1 cockbird. That has, for the most part, worked very well. But I had a disastrous result in one pen this year - mainly because I didn't follow my own advice above. We live and learn.

 

[Renee97038]

Thanks so much for sharing your breeding pen experiences. From your ideas I decided to raise the wheaten trio in with my older layers and my BBS splash group all together until I am ready to hatch eggs, then put the wheaten trio in their own area and wait a couple months before hatching eggs to make sure they are pure breed. Is 2 months long enough?

They are free range on 2 acres all day with a very large coop secured at night. I will have several cockerels in that group until I decide which one I want to keep.

The run is 26' X 20' for the 3 wheatens attached to a 6' X 6' coop.

Maybe I can try aprons if the hens need a rest.

And I Love the advise about adding roosting bars out in the run so the hens can get away. I can build lots of climbing roosts.

Thanks again. I will post some pics soon.