Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[fowlman01]

When you see a good pea comb there is no doubt about why it is called that. There will be three rows of peas that are not glopped together. Cornish bantams many times have almost perfect pea combs.

Walt

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
That's great! I'd love to see a photo of all of them if you ever take some...My white Ameraucana's and the lav and splits have the best temperament I have ever seen ( besides my brahmas) My split lav girl runs to my feet everytime I enter her pen...little scratch on her back..she shakes it off and my job is done

 

[CRYSTALCREEK]

Quote:
Thanks!
I just pick them up at the hardware store or TSC. They are cheap, easy to put on, stay on, last forever, and have worked for me so far. I usually have one that designates parentage and then another that allows me to tell the girls apart in a pen. I don't keep that many so a couple of colored zip ties has worked well for me so far. I tried 1/4" spiral bands on a batch of chicks and tossed those immediately. They were horrible! I couldn't figure out how to hold the chick and apply that thing, twisting it on, without breaking a leg. Maybe a good idea for older birds, but not good for chicks. I also toe punch, but you have to make sure the punch makes a complete hole in the web. If it leaves a bit of tissue attached in one spot, they tend to heal closed. You can use a 4" standard zip tie on a day old chick no problem. Leave a little slack, but not so much it'll slide off. They must be changed frequently during periods of rapid growth or the leg will grow around it like a tree with barbed wire, especially the cockerels, which seem to grow huge legs overnight.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
What comb?

~Aspen

See how it has lost its definition? Instead of 3 defined rows. It looks so from the pics anyway. I had that happen with a bunch of boys when they hit around 4-5 months. What started out to be good pea combs suddenly turned to blobs, or almost rose-comb looking.

I hadn't ever looked at it that closely. What do y'all think of the 1st one?

~Aspen

 

[CRYSTALCREEK]

Clean him up a bit and post another picture, if you can.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I like the zip ties too. I get the big jug of multi-colored ones from the auto department at wally world- its like $6. Easy to remove with some toenail clippers when they start to get tight, too.
I bought a bunch of bands that I can't use because you need some kind of device. If anybody wants them send me a big SASE

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I will try.

~Aspen

 

[aceschix]

I am loving the vet wrap idea. You cut a little strip. Wrap it around the chicks leg and it makes a little tiny flag as it sticks to itself.

This will be so much better for me as it stretches as the leg grows. I hear you replace it at about a month. You can use more that one color as your tagging system as I plan to. Seems like an awesome plan! Thanks PinkChick!

I have missed those zip ties a time or two and I feel so bad when they start to squeeze into the leg!

 

[janchilds]

So many cool ideas on here! You guys are awesome!

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Nice combs!