Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[flower]

Yeah !!! Hatching is soooooo much fun !

I just hatched my very first Ameraucana chick from my own eggs!! I think it is a blue (hard to tell when it is still wet).

I have 15 more eggs in the incubator, I can't wait to see them all fluffed up!

 

[ChickenLeg]

Im soooo jealous, I hope to be in your shoes by the end of this year!

 

[DMRippy]

I got a little Blue Wheaten Roo at Newnan... he looks pretty good to me. No fluff at his tail nice color and over all pretty good. He has a white beard but at least he has a beard LOL... I think I may have something to work with now!

I will get pics.... I know that is coming.

 

[collaire]

To get larger eggs and better production you may have just look for a different line of birds from another breeder. It's easier than spending several generations culling what you have. I depend on my egg production for income, since I sell a couple of cases of colored eggs a week at the local farmers markets, but I am also a perfectionist when it comes to standard bred birds. For example I have a lot of Buff Ameraucanas from Gary Ramey. They lay a large to X-large egg that are some of the bluest eggs I get, plus they produce very well. It's not Leghorn production, but it's enough to make them profitable. Also for the most part I would not be ashamed to put any one of the bulk of the laying hens in a show coop. They definitely would not embarass me. Therefore I recommend doing some research into who has the best production and size along with good breed type and go from there.

 

[Christie Rhae]

To get larger eggs and better production you may have just look for a different line of birds from another breeder. It's easier than spending several generations culling what you have. I depend on my egg production for income, since I sell a couple of cases of colored eggs a week at the local farmers markets, but I am also a perfectionist when it comes to standard bred birds. For example I have a lot of Buff Ameraucanas from Gary Ramey. They lay a large to X-large egg that are some of the bluest eggs I get, plus they produce very well. It's not Leghorn production, but it's enough to make them profitable. Also for the most part I would not be ashamed to put any one of the bulk of the laying hens in a show coop. They definitely would not embarass me. Therefore I recommend doing some research into who has the best production and size along with good breed type and go from there.

My ameraucanas have only just started laying so it is not really an issue that I am dealing with yet. I am curious how Tailfeathers breeds for larger eggs. And I wonder how breeders like... Wayne Meredith breed for larger eggs. I have a wheaten pullet who's genetics I believe came from his efforts. Of my pullet eggs she is laying the biggest one so far. My goofy brain isn't satisfied with just getting new birds... I need to know HOW. lol... like I said.. goofy brain.

 

[ChickenLeg]

Once I finished work, and farm work I went and sat with my chickens. Yesterday was the first day 1 or 2 of them jumped in my lap.
But they were no strangers today, as soon as I went inside the coop 4 of the 6 started jumping all over me so i just sat there and continued to pet them! One pullet and one cockerel are still kinda skittish and don't enjoy being touched or picked up, but hopefully they'll come to their senses after seeing how much fun the others had! The cockerel did seem curious and looked as if he wanted to hop in my lap, but he was too scared. Maybe they'll open up to me some more tomorrow!

 

[Tailfeathers]

My ameraucanas have only just started laying so it is not really an issue that I am dealing with yet. I am curious how Tailfeathers breeds for larger eggs. And I wonder how breeders like... Wayne Meredith breed for larger eggs. I have a wheaten pullet who's genetics I believe came from his efforts. Of my pullet eggs she is laying the biggest one so far. My goofy brain isn't satisfied with just getting new birds... I need to know HOW. lol... like I said.. goofy brain.

To get larger eggs and better production you may have just look for a different line of birds from another breeder. It's easier than spending several generations culling what you have. I depend on my egg production for income, since I sell a couple of cases of colored eggs a week at the local farmers markets, but I am also a perfectionist when it comes to standard bred birds. For example I have a lot of Buff Ameraucanas from Gary Ramey. They lay a large to X-large egg that are some of the bluest eggs I get, plus they produce very well. It's not Leghorn production, but it's enough to make them profitable. Also for the most part I would not be ashamed to put any one of the bulk of the laying hens in a show coop. They definitely would not embarass me. Therefore I recommend doing some research into who has the best production and size along with good breed type and go from there.

To be completely honest, it's by trial and error. As I've stated many times, I'm not anywhere close to being a geneticist so my method is: #1 - If it works, keep doing it. #2 - If it don't work, stop doing it.

Right now I am taking a page from Kenny Troiano and breeding from my 2-3.5 year olds and stop using pullets. I don't have time to go into the why of it all but if you get the Poultry Press (PP), his numerous articles will explain it. Second to that is obviously breeding the hens that lay the largest eggs. I am also going to try and see if the males have any influence on egg size by adding some experimental lines to the ones I have. In other words, using a good male over some poorer females that I wouldn't normally use and some poorer males over some good females.

Btw Christie, most, if not all, W & BWs can be traced back to Wayne.

With regard to Collaire's comments about "outcrossing", I would agree but would emphasize the word "may". I just went thru a long drawn out debate on this subject over in the Welsummers thread and don't wish to do it again here so let me just say this. If you are looking for an "easier" and quicker way to achieve one particular trait - such as egg size - then by all means, outcross. But if you plan to show your birds, remember that egg size (or color for that matter) is not a trait that is judged (exception being egg contests held). Keeping that in mind, anytime you bring in someone else's birds, you are bring in a host of unknown factors.

In other words, going for the easy, quick fix may set you back several years on improvements you've already made. My advice is to maintain a closed flock of two lines and outcross to your other line when needed - unless absolutely necessary to do otherwise. And then, if you must outcross, do exactly as Collaire stated - research, research, and research some more. Ask a lot of questions and then ask some more.

God Bless,

 

[Lark Rise]

Got some blue eggs today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are they blue enough???

 

[Christie Rhae]

Got some blue eggs today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are they blue enough???

Love them! I am having new pullets lay every day this week! I love spring! lol
Ok... I love egg sleuthing... Here are pullet eggs I collected today.

W is from my blue wheaten, #1 is from my black pullet that has laid a few already. #2 & #3....quite a bit greener aren't they? The only other girls I saw hanging out in the nest box was another black Am pullet and and a naked neck green egger. I am thinking # 3 is from the NN. #2 could be from a black ameraucana. If so that is pretty green for an ameraucana. I do have two NN green eggers so it is possible they are both from the NNs, just never saw the other NN in the nest box or anything. So hard to tell unless you actually see the egg pop out. lol
If #2 is from a black am then she is probably from the same pen that your girls came out of.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Yay blue!

Listen to Christie talking about spring- in Hawaii!