Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[heatherscooby77]

Black=pullet, Blue=Cockerel

Could I get some help sexing these two? I think the black one is a pullet...but I'm not sure on the blue. They are 9 weeks old. I appreciate any help =)


The black




The blue

 

[heatherscooby77]

Worst traffic in the country??! Where do they come up with this stuff? Maybe they meant Honolulu... Which is about 5 islands and hundreds of miles away from me. Lol. I can drive for 1 1/2 hours and only see 20 cars on the road. The Big Island is twice the size of all the other islands put together with only fraction of population. It would take all day to drive around the island. I live in the couNTREEE. Lol

I think it was Honolulu. LOL So you mean the whole state isn't a tourist attraction???

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I am new to this but I will give it a go.... his back is too long, his tail has a sharp break at the back and it looks like he might have split wings.

 

[Flowerbh]

Quick Question for all you who hatch eggs. I was reading a book about incubating eggs. The man who wrote it said he would never hatch eggs after July because the chicks don't do well during the winter and never are as strong or healthy as chicks born in the early spring. Now, I do have to mention that this book was written by a man in England. So, I was planning on getting some chicks late September. Should I go ahead and get them or wait until the spring. What is your experience with raising chicks during the winter months here in the states. I live in NW Georgia. Thanks for any advise.

 

[DMRippy]

This is only my first year but I started hatching in September. I didn't get them out in the weather early enough and kept them inside most of the winter. BIG mistake I will not repeat. I am going to stop hatching MOSTLY now. I will pick back up in late Dec or January so I can have some layers in the spring.

 

[NoseyChickens]

Quick Question for all you who hatch eggs. I was reading a book about incubating eggs. The man who wrote it said he would never hatch eggs after July because the chicks don't do well during the winter and never are as strong or healthy as chicks born in the early spring. Now, I do have to mention that this book was written by a man in England. So, I was planning on getting some chicks late September. Should I go ahead and get them or wait until the spring. What is your experience with raising chicks during the winter months here in the states. I live in NW Georgia. Thanks for any advise.

I hatch almost all year long. As long as you have room to brood them and keep them warm until they are fully feathered and can regulate their body temps you should be fine

 

[Nicole01]

I heat my coop with a radiator heater, so I imagine they should be fine. I have a batch in the incubator now and just hatched a set last week. I never thought of timing before my obsession with this breed. I cover my run in plastic, so this really gives me a lot of space all year. They use the run all winter and the ground never freezes in there.

I don't mind, I'll know by spring who I want and who I'll rehome if I can't rehome now. . I'll have a bit more work on my hands, but I should have an easier time rehoming a brand new laying pullet then a baby I'd imagine. Or, hubby will have to build another coop to keep them all since I'll be very attached to them.

The heater is for me, so I can take my chair and sit with my flock everyday.

 

[Flowerbh]

This is only my first year but I started hatching in September. I didn't get them out in the weather early enough and kept them inside most of the winter. BIG mistake I will not repeat. I am going to stop hatching MOSTLY now. I will pick back up in late Dec or January so I can have some layers in the spring.

Did you feel the mistake was because you had to raise them indoors (messy) or was it because the chickens didn't thrive in the winter?

 

[sager:)silkies]

Quick Question for all you who hatch eggs. I was reading a book about incubating eggs. The man who wrote it said he would never hatch eggs after July because the chicks don't do well during the winter and never are as strong or healthy as chicks born in the early spring. Now, I do have to mention that this book was written by a man in England. So, I was planning on getting some chicks late September. Should I go ahead and get them or wait until the spring. What is your experience with raising chicks during the winter months here in the states. I live in NW Georgia. Thanks for any advise.

it all depends i hatch chicks in the winter with no problems i dont let my chicks outside there in a warm coop if there over 2 months old if there under 2 months old then there in my brooder box that has a eco glow 50 to keep them nice and warm and to tell u the truth halve the time there not under it as my coop there in is warm anyways to tell u the truth i lose more chicks in the summer then winter

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quick Question for all you who hatch eggs. I was reading a book about incubating eggs. The man who wrote it said he would never hatch eggs after July because the chicks don't do well during the winter and never are as strong or healthy as chicks born in the early spring. Now, I do have to mention that this book was written by a man in England. So, I was planning on getting some chicks late September. Should I go ahead and get them or wait until the spring. What is your experience with raising chicks during the winter months here in the states. I live in NW Georgia. Thanks for any advise.

I hatch all year round and I'm in Canada! I definitely don't notice a difference in the health of the birds but I do find those hatched in the fall tend to start to lay earlier. I assume because the increasing daylight and warmth of spring stimulate their systems?

(Comes in handy with Marans and Ameraucanas who can take their sweet time getting started with laying!!)