Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Goose and Fig]

Well- it's not easy starting a flock of the "real thing" either. Most breeders only sell eggs or straight run chicks. You have to get lucky with that occasional roo here, pullet there. I can't even mention the number of miles I have driven to get a diverse-bloodline flock put together. I'm not doing it for the money or the ribbons. I'm doing it because I love the breed, and there seemed to be a need for them in my area. Not going to sell anything less than good, culls are given away with full disclosure, or put in an EE/OE pen.

I've had plenty of people drive quite a distance to come to me for an extra roo so they can make thier own EEs. Having the EEs in my flock has brought as much joy as the pure birds- and they are much cheaper! If you just want a colorful egg basket and some pretty, friendly birds - why not?

I agree though- the mis-information has to stop. I always feel like a smartypants trying to explain to people that they were duped. We shouldn't have to be the ones breaking it to everybody. Hatcheries have their place, and I have nothing against them (I still order utility birds on occasion) , but they need to set the record straight.

 

[dak]

Quote:
I thought it was much easier getting Ameraucanas then Cochin. Within a couple of months, I had eggs from Ribbeck, Shaffer, Cree, and chicks from the Smiths. In what other breed are the top breeder so helpful???

 

[mmfarm]

Didn't mean to imply you could buy a "ready made" flock - just that, w/regard to the question of trying to breed true Ameraucanas from EEs, there's no point trying to reinvent the wheel.

Best to start with stock breeders have spent years developing and go from there.

Dak: I agree - this is the only breed I raise, so I don't have anyone to compare them with, but the ABC guys are just awesome!

 

[josh44]

Quote:
He is very pretty. What lines is he? I just love the blues.

Here Is a full body shot of the same cockerel, I believe he was about 6 months old or so at the time, when I owned him.

This pic however, did not make it to feathersite. He comes from, a friend, who bought him from the eastcoast.

If you think this roo is nice you should have seen his Bro, unfortunately his bro died, on the way back from a show. It was our TX weather.

His Brother won us BEST OF BREED, BEST OF VARIETY & few other awards also. His brothers death was very unfortunate.

I never even got to take a pic of his big bro .

The roo in the pic did some show damage also , by winning BB, BV, & a few other awards too.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
I thought it was much easier getting Ameraucanas then Cochin. Within a couple of months, I had eggs from Ribbeck, Shaffer, Cree, and chicks from the Smiths. In what other breed are the top breeder so helpful???

Sure- spend $200 on straight run chicks and end up with 90% roosters. Not as simple as it sounds. They are so hard to sex when they're young, you have to grow them out sometimes for months before you know what you have. It's a longer investment time. My cochins were easy- I guess it depends on where you live and how active area breeders are. It took me over a year to put a small flock of welsummers together for the same reason- I wanted different bloodlines and kept getting tons of roosters. Then you finally get girls to grow out- and they have crappy egg color. Try, try again!


What is up with the ABC? I know they got my money a long time ago, and never heard back. I emailed as well- no response.

 

[TK Poultry]

I agree putting together an ameraucana flock is ten times harder than any flock I've ever strarted. It's been a year and I only have 5 chickens total! Hopefully some of mine will start hatching today or tomorrow

so I can add some more hens to my flock!

 

[BWKatz]

Educate me please... what is considered the most "True" genetic, Ameraucana or Araucana? Also does one have an advantage over the other?

 

[mmfarm]

Quote:
I know Michael has had some computer problems due to a lightening strike. May want to call instead of e-mail.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
It took them a couple of months for me.

You may want to volunteer to be an officer... they are looking for new blood.

I got eggs from Ribbeck, Parkers, LaDue and Meredith for my W/BWs... and like Jean has said, you only get one spectacular bird for every thirty that hatch.

We currently have 21 hens/pullets but we are picking the four wheatens that we will sell.
One has one feather on one of it's legs so that's one. I like lighter hackle feathers as a personal choice, so we'll probably pick the ones with the darkest hackles...
Then come November we start figuring out who is laying the bluest eggs.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Yes- I remember everyone waiting to hear back from the ABC. Thought they would have had that cleared up by now.

I have one Meredith BW girl- LOVE HER! Even though she has a gimpy foot- but it was an incubating thing, not genetic. I'm downsizing on the wheaten girls too, and might get some new lav blood as soon as Blehm starts offering them again. I have 3 lines so far of the lavs, don't know how much more diversity I can add there without having to add another huge coop for grow-outs. I can only build so fast!

I cannot wait until it cools off enough to seperate everyone again, and maybe hatch some eggs