Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[aceschix]

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You have to breed from a bird that has the lavender gene. That is where it starts.

You take that bird and offspring and cross back. Crystal Creek gave a perfect example of what to expect when breeding lavs, blacks and splits. It would be much easier finding a Lav Am or Split Lav Am then say starting with a Lavender Orpington to introduce lav into your flock. There are breeders that have done YEARS of legwork to get these Lav Ams to where they are. No sense in starting from the bottom.

Have you checked the Ameraucana Breeder's Club for a breeder near you? www.ameraucana.org

If you can't find birds for sale, maybe you can hatch some Lav Am eggs?

Great advise!!

 

[EweSheep]

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I'm just across the border in WV, are you near any of your border states?

I would love to have some of the Lavs girls along with your Wellies. I have a friend here that wants a Lav cockeral for his black Am girl and not sure what the other color was.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I am very concerned that we are seeing the beginning of the failure of the lavender variety. I hate to sound like a snob, but I am very protective of these birds, and I hate that they have fallen into the hands of opportunists. I realize that evrybody has a right to breed and sell whatever they please, but I feel like walmart just joined the ameraucana breeders club.

(I am NOT referring to anybody on this thread, but some of you do know what I am talking about)

 

[aceschix]

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You hit the nail right on the head with things I have seen recently. Many of us share your concerns (and not just on this breed) with some over breeding and exploiting them for $$.

I have wondered if there is anything to be done. But all I have come up with is being true to the breed and color improvement ourselves and hope that the others are purhcased by folks that just want pretty birds who lay pretty eggs in their layer flocks.

 

[Shaffer]

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I have not seen it in the Ameraucanas anywhere. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place. PM me where this is happening. They are still a project type bird but most of what I have seen resemble an Ameraucana and not any other breed.

 

[CRYSTALCREEK]

The lavender variety is still early in its development. It is clear to anyone who has been working for any length of time to improve the color that there are still many issues to be worked out and improvements to be made. People have to know, going in, that it is not for the faint at heart. Problems I personally have produced and had to cull for include:

crossbeak/scissorsbeak
feather stubs on shanks/toes
undersize birds
birds with poor combs
lack of muff/beard
low wingset
light eyes
varying amount of white showing up on the wing primaries
uneven color
tendency for brassiness in hackle/saddle area (perhaps this is red leakage)
presence of "ticking"

I personally want to figure out also why some lav males grow their tail feathers in slowly and if whether we should be trying to "fix" this issue.

It is doubtful to me that many would be willing to admit they have dealt with these issues, much less discuss them on a public forum. I just hatched 40 chicks last week; 23 of those were lav. When I look down into the brooder at those chicks, I can see there is a lot of variability among them. I am in a position to cull hard and keep the best couple from that group, or perhaps just one from that group, and then again, perhaps none from that group. Hopefully with each generation, the brooder will look a little more consistent. The best advice anyone ever gave me when I began this project was to obtain good blacks to improve them; thank you HARRY, for that!!!! I started this with the specific intent to produce some classy birds for my young daughter to show when she is old enough to enter the 4H arena. I thought it would be nice to have something a little different than what everyone else had. I am glad it will still be a few years before she is old enough, because I still believe they need that much work!

Having said all that brings me to my point. I have a goal in mind, and am taking drastic culling measures to reach that goal. If I'm producing birds will the problems listed above, and a brooder-full of variable chicks, what do you think is going to happen when someone gets their hands on just a pair or trio without any goals in mind and begins sending those offspring out?

HappyMtn, you are right. The variety will fall apart. BUT, if you are diligent to your goal, YOU will continue to produce something nice, and worthy of taking to a show, or sending with an excited kid to the 4H arena, or giving to the precious little retired lady who walks around attached to her oxygen tank and wants a gorgeous specimen to look at in her backyard because she showed dogs for 40 years and has gotten a taste for quality, even if it is "just a chicken".

There will always be people that want the good stuff. And they will know, instinctively, where to get it. Stay the course.

 

[pips&peeps]

I see alot of that stuff in my other varieties too.......................

genetics and mother nature are fickle

 

[Goose and Fig]

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My thoughts exactly. I have one of those roos right now- lol!

 

[DMRippy]

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My thoughts exactly. I have one of those roos right now- lol!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/28521_newlavsbirds_065.jpg

I am getting more Lav and Lav splits so you will be my go to person for help! I do want to breed the best I can.

 

[EweSheep]

I love the honesty of the breeders who are working on the Lav variety and it takes dedication, blood, sweat, tears and MONEY to keep the project going.

I will NOT be one of the breeders, I don't have the time or space to devote into this color but love to have an eye candy, lay me some pretty eggs and have a good bird that is not hatchery bred. Same for the Coro Sussex, as much I like the looks but again same reason.