Anybody who has Ameraucanas...

[B. Saffles Farms]

klf73, yeah I havent ever asked any questions about them, but I have seen sevarl people that have and get very little help, other than being told the question has been answered before, go to the website.

If you help others when they PM you questions that is great and thank you, maybe ameraucana breeders need to be more like you.

 

[sugarbush]

My new goal is to re-educate the educated.

 

[wilds of pa]

if its something other than APA standards for showing, just show in AOV... ee, americana, ameraucana
The rest is up to the judges to decide..

We see people pull this off all the time with araucana in the AOV Class, they show birds that don't have standard leg color, bad combs that don't resemble a good pea comb at all, even plumage color that may not fit the large or bantam version..But with all that said they are still winning in that class..

Charlie

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

americana--relating to American history, folklore, or geography or considered to be typical of American culture [as defined by several online dicionaries]

Yes, it is a word the dictionary recognises, but not as a breed of chicken. For that matter the dictionary doesn't list wyandotte, sussex or d'uccles as a breeds of chicken--does that mean they aren't.

Hatcheries breed do not breed to the standard for any breed; they focus on production, and by and large their customers are not looking for exhibition birds. Hatcheries breed EEs for egg colour (usually aiming for a variety, not for pure blue), not for the conformation of the birds.

The reason ameraucana breeders are picky about spelling is because hatcheries often spell the name of their birds with an i, not au. And gee, that is a way out of them being considered fraudulent in their listing of EEs.

Personally, I am a good speller, but a fumble fingered typist who frequently doesn't do an adequate job of proofing my writings. So there are often typos: incorrect spellings. If someone doesn't know how to correctly spell a breed they have chosen to raise, it is considered a red flag that they are uninformed about the breed.

 

[geareduplyn]

What is even worse than the hatcheries misrepresenting the Araucana and Ameraucana breeds are the susposedly knowledgeable poultry beeders who sell hatching eggs for other purebred breeds and who are members of BYC. I've been correcting people for over 40 years on what is a true Araucana and will continue to so even though sugarbush thinks it's a lost cause. Iposted basically the same post on the MCA forum and was hammered with the same lost cause theme from someone that should know better. I just put these people on my never do business with list.

 

[dave_Cash69]

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
I can understand about false advertising the hatcheries do. No prob there. But I honestly dont hold it against someone for not being able to spell. I really think it judgemental to say oh you cant spell that breed that you have, then you are uninformed and dont know what you are talking about. That is wrong to do that. You are saying that anyone who misspells a breed they have then they are uninformed,

Ive been quilty of it before. But Im sure you havent because you are more informed than I am.

My point is worry more and be more picky about educating people on the breed and dont waste all your time making sure they spell it right wethere they now anything about the breed or not. I would rather buy from a breeder that knows alot about the breed but misspells the name, than I would a breeder that dont know anything about the breed but can spell it frontwards, backwards, up and down and every right way imaginable.

 

[cottagegarden]

Well you know what they say about opinions and....everyone has one. The sad thing is you arent gonna change anyones mind if they dont want to open it. But never give up. Its only a lost cause when you do give up. You have amazing birds and the people who have them and take the time to learn will hopefully see the integrity maintained. Its never a bad thing to have standards or be optimistic.


Quote:

 

[Felicia]

I am new at this whole chicken thing. But this thread has taught me a lot! I now know that when I had chickens 3 years ago that they actually weren't ameraucana, they were easter eggers. I would have never known the difference if it weren't for me reading all this...

I used to look at pictures of ameraucanas online, and I started to figure out they probably weren't purebred. But they all were great chickens that layed lots of eggs, and they were beautiful (to me at least...I know a breeder of ameraucanas wouldn't have liked their looks)

I guess its just important to educate. I personally really like it when someone takes a specimen and picks it apart and says what is good and what is bad, and what would be something good to breed it to. I have someone who is my mentor for dogs, and she will even show me her own dogs and pick them apart for me. Its extremely helpful!

 

[monarc23]

Yes people should be educated about Ameraucanas and other breeds however what bsaffles is getting at is that what IS REALLY more important here?


THE SPELLING....


OR IDing birds for what they truely are? I learned the spelling "Ameraucanas" right off the bat because someone was told me i'd get stalked down by the "ameraucana police" if I didn't spell it correctly. So I looked up the correct spelling and spelled it right and kept spelling it right. However at that time I STILL had no clue how to tell an EE apart from an Ameraucana.

So those of you who are willing ot help others learn the differences without telling them to look at a website I bow downto you. YOU are the breeders we need more of out there and I respect you fully...and hope that you'll be there for newbies when they need you. There were SOME helpful souls that were wonderful enough to teach me how to tell them apart and FINNALLY now im pretty much IN THE KNOW. But to newbies who got from hatcheries, they're NOT going to care if they're spelling it wrong if they dont see the difference in their EEs and your SQ Ameraucanas. YES you breeders see a difference because you're educated now into them to do so...however newbies arent so they dont as easily see the difference.

When I bred holland lops, when I first got into them, it took me FOREVER to tell the difference between different breeds of lopped rabbits, and now looking back on that I laugh because they look SOO totally different it's a wonder i was ever confused....but i was because I didnt know what to look for

So...

spelling.... or educating ABOUT IDing the breed to a standard? What's more important...really? Sure they should know the correct spelling if they're going to show and stuff...but most show breeders won't buy from people who aren't showing their true EEs themselves as americanas (LOL), because you'll ID the differences right away...that's great but those poor souls out there who WANT the best, should be helped to learn the best. I cannot wait until I know more than I have learned now about ameraucanas to help others..because I wil in no way shape or form point them to a website. A website that you cannot ask questions on the spot to isnt helpful in the least bit. Heck, I made a huge post about coturnix info, sure it' has great info, but people STILL have questions, and I am happy to answer ALL of them, take my time out to...because I care about my birds, and want others to raise healthy and happy stock, and understand why this or that happens, and be able to sex them so they dont get into fights.

THAT Is how i judge character....if you help and take time out to help that's a great person. OR if you waste yoru time just teling someone their spelling is wrong and insinuate that that alone hurts the breed that's pretty wrong of you...without explaining WHY and doing it in a friendly mannor that doesnt make the poor soul feel stupid. I am NOT pointing out anyone...no one has called anyone stupid im just saying. I was made ot feel stupid on here when i asked how to ID them...and it really hurt my feelings because I wanted to be dedicated to this breed and I am working on it. Getting from great breeders, and plan to keep doing so and breeding on the small scale to get qualitiy birds and be there to help others undersatnd that EEs have green legs, EEs have this or that, and Ameraucanas are only those birds that have correct leg color and come in ONLY the standard colors and are shaped and tuffed and bearded to the standard la la la....

What gets me is people insinuate they dont have time to help others on how to ID the breeds...but yet they have time to belittle someone of their spelling? Think about that.

This wasnt posted to be a debate just to make you think.

I was always taught, if you care about something, fight for it... it doesnt say "if you care about something..SPELL IT RIGHT!" LOL Fight for it being.... make sure people know the breed and are able to tell OOH i have EEs not Amers!!! And do it in a polite mannor. I know enough to know when you're less than nice to someone, they shut out usually and are less likely to learn the truth... be nice...be curtious....you love your breed right? Then accept others and help them when you can and have time. Those of you who already do...you have my up most respect you know who you are