Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Muggsmagee]

Quote:
BUT it's the APA judges that are doing this. Both at the APA show AND our county fair this went on. Doug Connolly From Amarillo TX was the APA judge who judged our County fair. There were roughly 5 EE's entered as Ameraucanas. I asked him why they weren't DQ'd. He said if he DQ'd everything that needed to be he would have nothing left to judge. The judge at the APA show did not have this excuse, and didn't DQ either. That's why I have to wonder who oversees these judges. It seems they do whatever they feel like with no repercussions.

Seems to be an perpetual excuse. We've heard it here in NY, too. Kind of sad.

 

[TK Poultry]

A county fair is a county fair. Its always going to bring out the weird true and freaky birds no matter where you live. I've brought EE's to a county fair. I understand the difference and have SQ Ameraucanas. Did they get DQ'ed no. Did they win no. They got a 2nd place (the default place for the birds that aren't good at all) and we moved on. The purebred birds get a bit heated in our county but we all remember that is a COUNTY FAIR. Most county fairs aren't even sanctioned shows. Its pointless really to worry about it. The thing that needs to happen is people need to be more educated and steered away from big hatcheries and steered more toward small breeders. The APA/ABA sanctioned shows need to be strict with the EE policy. These people that show in these have an idea of what is an EE and what is not. If they don't then a DQ will open their eyes to what is going on. I don't care how old you are. DO YOUR RESEARCH. I do research for months before I even think about getting a new VARIETY!

Its not really a good debate topic because its like throwing salt into a cut. The only thing that any of us can do is to EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE. Hold spur of the moment seminars. Make educational posters. Do what you can to tell people the difference. I LOVE to talk anyway so anytime I can sit or stand (lol) and explain the difference I do. That is what needs to happen other wise we can all talk about this until we are blue in the face. Education of exhibitors and judges and reformation of the hatcheries is the only way to change the frustration.


Standards usually wear #11 leg bands

edited for spelling errors

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
This is the age of "everyone deserves to win" which I totally disagree with. Kids feel entitled to always get something as a reward just for showing up.

Kids learn how to handle disappointment by experiencing some while they are young. If they are always rewarded, even for poor performance, they grow up thinking they are entitled to everything, even if they didn't earn it.

 

[TK Poultry]

I understand that but EDUCATION is the key! If we just place them badly or DQ them that only sends the first message that says "Hey, what did I do wrong". We as Ameraucana fanciers need to swoop in and say "You did XYZ wrong, and your bird has XYZ wrong". Not only do the 4H leaders need to do this (which ours does a good job of) we need to do this as peers (in some cases), and as Ameraucana Fanciers. Without EDUCATION and REFORMATION of ideas than we are just going to keep arguing about this. We need to be proactive. We also need to take steps to distance ourselves from looking like snobby know-it-alls to educators of the Ameraucana Fancy. We need to send a message that EE's are ok, just not in the context of Exhibition Poultry.

I feel as though some people bark at the newbies and say thats not an Ameraucana and then never educate that person that now is probably offended as to why we say this about the said bird. If we can get the Hatcheries to change then that is half of our battle. Like I said EDUCATION and REFORMATION of ideas is what we have to do to change this problem.

 

[Illia]

Consider this - What's sad is that if someone made the same mistake with another breed, it would be DQ'ed. Only in Ameraucanas, people. Only with Ameraucanas

- Can you get away with entering the wrong breed or a mutt and not be disqualified.

If I entered a Brahma with white legs, it would be DQ'ed.

If I entered an Andalusian as a Leghorn, pretty sure it would be DQ'ed.

In both cases, someone would educate me why and what was wrong, and I'd deal with it, learn, and move on.

To me it isn't really the "kids wanna have fun" part that is important here, it is the fact that the parents and adults see this, and they too believe the EE's are still Ameraucanas, then they too breed, show, and tell others about the false Ameraucanas. . . Really sad.

Someone was telling me how a lady who sold chicks at a feedstore claimed to breed and show Ameraucanas for 15 years, and she surely because of this knew all about true Ameraucanas.

. . . . She was breeding and showing Easter Eggers. And her "showing" was at local fairs.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
Like anything else, it all rests on the determination of the individual.

I've had some kids that wanted to improve their breeds, not only Ameraucanas, but the parents poo pooed that. If the parents don't want to help out, the kids are stuck.
Mostly, I found that I got Dairy kids that had a few "mutt" chickesn that wanted to show, and could do well in showmanship, but the parents didn't want to spend the money to "upgrade" the kids birds.

HOnestly, its was the kids I liked to deal with, the parents, not so much....

At the last 4h POULTRY SHOW that I was responsible for, I had to send home a bird that belonged to one of the most prolific of 4Hers in Poultry that was obvbivously sick.
They were :issed with me, but I stuck to my guns. I heard that they didn't continue with 4H POULTRY after that. poor parent attitude.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
Like anything else, it all rests on the determination of the individual.

I've had some kids that wanted to improve their breeds, not only Ameraucanas, but the parents poo pooed that. If the parents don't want to help out, the kids are stuck.
Mostly, I found that I got Dairy kids that had a few "mutt" chickesn that wanted to show, and could do well in showmanship, but the parents didn't want to spend the money to "upgrade" the kids birds.

HOnestly, its was the kids I liked to deal with, the parents, not so much....

At the last 4h POULTRY SHOW that I was responsible for, I had to send home a bird that belonged to one of the most prolific of 4Hers in Poultry that was obvbivously sick.
They were :issed with me, but I stuck to my guns. I heard that they didn't continue with 4H POULTRY after that. poor parent attitude.

I was the President of our Poultry Club and they had me take home a bird with mites that I missed! It happens. I didn't get mad. I ended up winning Reserve Grand Champion Bantam, Champion Senior showman, Champion AOCCL and beat some other Ameraucana breeder plus what I won with my ducks. Its not about offended. Its EDUCATION!!! I learned how to better spot mites. I knew how to look for them and what they looked like, but I learned the best spots to look.

I have half a mind to send out a letter to the hatcheries asking them to change their naming policies for their Ameraucana/Araucana. We need to reform and educate. Young or Old we need to educate.

 

[TK Poultry]

Ok I'm being a productive advocate for Ameraucanas and Araucanas. I am in the process as I type of emailing all of the major hatcheries to change the Marketing of their Ameraucana/Araucana chickens! If more than one of us pursues this we can start to change the cycle of misinformation!

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
That is a REALLY good idea. I'm with you

 

[dak]

I have noticed that several breed clubs have an article in each issue of the Poultry Press. Perhaps an article regarding Ameraucanas periodically would raise awareness.