Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[Christie Rhae]

I am making progress with my buff Ameraucana egg color improvement project. The first generation Meredith buff hens (hatched from green eggs) x Pips & Peeps wheaten rooster (hatched from a blue egg) have started laying and the egg color is a gorgeous Turquoise blue. About 85% of the pullets have hatched out with the solid buff color. Now I need to find a buff rooster that hatched from a blue egg to continue my project

 

[chicknadventure]

Hi all. Found a very pretty white rooster. Owner was told ameraucana of course but I am waiting to find out where she got him. He is solid white. Do ameraucana Roos have really red combs and waddles? His comb seems to be pretty small. Also she described his as blue/free . I cant tell in pics. Also since I am getting bbs chicks is there anything I can do with him wight hose colors? Or is there just no reason to get him?

 

[Cats Cradle]

Hi!

I want to introduce myself since we are going to be getting Ameraucanas! All three of my kids have decided to raise and show poultry through our local 4H club. I am super excited myself as I did the same thing when I was their age many years ago.

The journey to pick breeds has been an interesting one, and I'm not sure all the dust has settled yet. One of my girls was the first to want to get show quality chickens. We've had a laying flock for a couple of years now and she just did a great chicken embryology project at school complete with hatching eggs in the classroom. Doing the research for the project brought to her attention the many breeds and suddenly she has a huge interest and reads all she can find! It didn't take long for her twin sister to want in on the fun too. Younger brother didn't show much interest at first because the girls mostly were talking about cute bantam breeds and he is just a practical kind of kid. But his ears perked up when they mentioned blue eggs. Luckily, I heard his comment about how neat he thought blue eggs would be IF ONLY they weren't so small. He was instantly excited when I told him that there are chickens that lay full sized blue eggs too!!!

My son and I sat down right then and looked up blue egg laying chicken breeds. We quickly eliminated Easter Eggers (not purebred) and Araucanas (didn't care for the rumpless look.) Then to pick the color... We looked at all 8 varieties of Ameraucana and he quickly picked black "because they look the coolest!" (He's 9)

The girls are still going back and forth... they both like several of the Ameraucana bantam varieties. They are just not sure if they want to both have the same breed. They have a special relationship as twins and I've learned to just let them work these things out and all will be well in the end.

I've decided I might do a little dabbling myself. I didn't want to be left out! And, we've all thoughtfully included Dad as well... he will be our chief coop builder! Good thing he likes making stuff!!!

So... that's a bit (OK maybe a tad more than a bit) about us! I look forward to getting to know all of you and your birds!

Karen

 

[Cats Cradle]

I...now...own...John Blehm ameraucanas!!!

They are freakin awesome!!! Seriously... I had no idea there would be such a difference. Cannot express how happy I am to have them!
I ended up with 18 blacks and 8 wheaten.

All I can say is WOW!!!

I wrote John, but we are too late for the large fowl blacks this year.

But, since you clearly got an extra by mistake you can send one of those blacks to me!

Actually... they look a tad crowded so send as many as you like!

 

[chicknadventure]

Ok got more info on the rooster. He is from mcmuuray and is supposed to be N ameraucana. Obviously hatcheries in general don't tell the truth. It I wondered of mcmurray might be legit? Again I know probably not but just wanted to ask.

 

[Cats Cradle]

Ok got more info on the rooster. He is from mcmuuray and is supposed to be N ameraucana. Obviously hatcheries in general don't tell the truth. It I wondered of mcmurray might be legit? Again I know probably not but just wanted to ask.

First, I want to say "Hi" from one newbie to another! I was just reading some recent posts and saw your intro!

Second... even though I don't like waiting myself, I think I'd pass on the rooster. You are looking to get quality stock right? The rooster is just hatchery stock that most likely isn't even pure. The other big problem is the whole issue of bringing home disease. Last night I was reading up on quarantining new stock and there is some scary stuff on those threads! Chickens can appear healthy and still be carriers of disease. So if it were me I'd weigh the value to your flock that the rooster brings against the potential risk of disease. Hope that helps!

I know it's hard to wait (I'm no good at it either) but soon we'll be admiring each others awesome birds!

 

[jerryse]

Jerry,
The truth of the lavender that was used was an EE type bird carrying the blue egg gene. This bird was the real foundation bird used in the Lavender Ameraucana, Lavender Araucana and the american Lavender Orpington (Now we have imports which have a much overall superior quality available but I did not add them to my Lavender Orpington stock perhaps eventually). I have lavender Orpingtons but they were created from the original EE bird.

I was just taking a guess.I had seen some pics of some of Jeans orp crosses in the past and thought that might have been done with the lav also.The shared EE ancestry would explain it also.I love the pics I have seen of your lavs.No offence was intended.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Quote: Haha! Yeah you have to get on his list the year before. I was afraid I would have to wait till 2013 even tho I sent my order in at the end of last year.
I know I will have extra blacks.. wish there was a way to spread them around to those in need. lol!! But for now I cannot wait to see how they mature. Actually the brooder box stage is boring. When they finally get to go out into my "chick" pen is when I will really be able to admire them. I sit outside with my cup of coffee (or glass of wine depending on the time of day..ha!) and study my birds. 3 more weeks and these kiddos get to go outside!

 

[ashandvine]

I appreciated the info on both fronts as I have two Shaffer hens and a great eye but not enough language or historical information to go by. They are only slightly more Orpy than my Cree/Ramey/Smith Ams. Their color is wonderful though, as well as their temperment. New enough to admit I could see it but not know what to attribute it to. On a funny note the Roo was an anomaly. He was aggressive and small and ended up making great stew.

 

[chicknadventure]

Do you guys prefer to order hatching eggs or day olds? Why or why not?