Bantam Ameraucana

[romea]

Thank you, NagemTX, you Dragon Chicken!

The chart that I found from the "Ameraucana Allegiance" (link above) appears to be beyond outdated. Most people listed under the bantam section have either stopped breeding or have simply vanished altogether. At least, I couldn't find them.

Following that, it seems that (re: bantam Ameraucanas), GypsyHen is the last 1 standing. At least according to that chart. If you know of others, please share them with me, because when you are lauding her exhibition victories, it does make me wonder how large the competition is and whether 1 breeder dominating the market is... oh well, I don't know... a good thing? But since I have never been to the large shows I really have no knowledge on the size of the gene-pool re: the bantam Ameraucana variety.

You say that things are in flux and, yes, they totally are. Our DNA isn't written in stone either...
Breeding programs progress and have setbacks, SoPs shift (sometimes to catch up with new trends and or simply reality [like inbreeding or a woefully limited gene-pool leading to congenital defects etc.]) and so everything swings back & forth. All totally cool. However, dear commercial breeders, when you have a bantam that doesn't lay 'pretty blue eggs' and that looks like a Belgian - for the love of the breed you are trying to foster, do not call them by a name whose (current) SoP they are not (yet) representing. It just muddles the water for other (often hobby) breeders IMO. Maybe call that bantam a Work-in-process-Ameraucana, or an I-am-almost-there-Ameraucana or, what knitters call a UFO (UnFinished Object) Ameraucana. As the one on the receiving end (the buyer/customer of a 'product' from your commercial hatchery), I just want clarity.

​

 

[NagemTX]

Thank you, NagemTX, you Dragon Chicken!

The chart that I found from the "Ameraucana Allegiance" (link above) appears to be beyond outdated. Most people listed under the bantam section have either stopped breeding or have simply vanished altogether. At least, I couldn't find them.

Following that, it seems that (re: bantam Ameraucanas), GypsyHen is the last 1 standing. At least according to that chart. If you know of others, please share them with me, because when you are lauding her exhibition victories, it does make me wonder how large the competition is and whether 1 breeder dominating the market is... oh well, I don't know... a good thing? But since I have never been to the large shows I really have no knowledge on the size of the gene-pool re: the bantam Ameraucana variety.

You say that things are in flux and, yes, they totally are. Our DNA isn't written in stone either...
Breeding programs progress and have setbacks, SoPs shift (sometimes to catch up with new trends and or simply reality [like inbreeding or a woefully limited gene-pool leading to congenital defects etc.]) and so everything swings back & forth. All totally cool. However, dear commercial breeders, when you have a bantam that doesn't lay 'pretty blue eggs' and that looks like a Belgian - for the love of the breed you are trying to foster, do not call them by a name whose (current) SoP they are not (yet) representing. It just muddles the water for other (often hobby) breeders IMO. Maybe call that bantam a Work-in-process-Ameraucana, or an I-am-almost-there-Ameraucana or, what knitters call a UFO (UnFinished Object) Ameraucana. As the one on the receiving end (the buyer/customer of a 'product' from your commercial hatchery), I just want clarity.

​

Check out Facebook Ameraucana Bantams as another source.

Might try contacting Russell Blair, Blair Bantams.

TarBox Hollow is another one.

I'm looking through my list as well. They really need to update it badly for both clubs.

Take a look at Brad Stonebarger Triplesfarm. They have been consistently winning with the black verity. There are good pictures and videos of his birds on Facebook.

 

[romea]

Check out Facebook Ameraucana Bantams as another source.

Might try contacting Russell Blair, Blair Bantams.

TarBox Hollow is another one.

I'm looking through my list as well. They really need to update it badly for both clubs.

Take a look at Brad Stonebarger Triplesfarm. They have been consistently winning with the black verity. There are good pictures and videos of his birds on Facebook.

Awesome! That is really helpful!
Good to know about the chart - I wasn't sure if it's just me...
Regarding the FB suggestion, I looked into this and it dawned on me that the contact listed on top of the directory chart might be the same person who is the admin of the (private) FB page you suggested: Rebecca Howie. That page had 5 posts in the last month. I don't know if that means a lot of activity for that group or not.
Her name sounds familiar to me. I might have read it on here in the last few days - maybe in connection with a hatchery. Is she the former owner of Gypsy Hen?

 

[NagemTX]

Awesome! That is really helpful!
Good to know about the chart - I wasn't sure if it's just me...
Regarding the FB suggestion, I looked into this and it dawned on me that the contact listed on top of the directory chart might be the same person who is the admin of the (private) FB page you suggested: Rebecca Howie. That page had 5 posts in the last month. I don't know if that means a lot of activity for that group or not.
Her name sounds familiar to me. I might have read it on here in the last few days - maybe in connection with a hatchery. Is she the former owner of Gypsy Hen?

She was interviewed by GypsyHen before going to a big show. Rebecca is a council member of one othe Clubs. She does head up that Facebook group. There will be more activity on the page as shows ramp up. That traffic is about right, the bantams just arn't as popular as the LF or the Belgiums they resemble.

Getting Ameraucana bantams is an adventure all on its own. I don't know where you are but if there are APA and ABA sponsored shows in your area go to them if you can. It's just better to talk to the people showing the Ameraucana Bantams. They will have insite and maybe birds for sell at the shows. Or they know who is currently selling chicks or eggs.

I hope you find what you are looking for. It's work tracking them down.

 

[romea]

She was interviewed by GypsyHen before going to a big show. Rebecca is a council member of one othe Clubs. She does head up that Facebook group. There will be more activity on the page as shows ramp up. That traffic is about right, the bantams just arn't as popular as the LF or the Belgiums they resemble.

Getting Ameraucana bantams is an adventure all on its own. I don't know where you are but if there are APA and ABA sponsored shows in your area go to them if you can. It's just better to talk to the people showing the Ameraucana Bantams. They will have insite and maybe birds for sell at the shows. Or they know who is currently selling chicks or eggs.

I hope you find what you are looking for. It's work tracking them down.

What can I say... I do like a challenge...
I will continue my hunt and, once successful, shall name 1 chick Nagem and another T[-re]X in your honor.

 

[NagemTX]

I found a good guide on purchasing quality Ameraucana from Once in a Blue Moon farm. I believe she only does LF but they are good rules.

 

[romea]

I found a good guide on purchasing quality Ameraucana from Once in a Blue Moon farm. I believe she only does LF but they are good rules.

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This is a great guide! I have run into snags when trying to solicit pictures from the commercial folks and was told to consult the storefront/website/FBpage/whatever. So there’s that. I also don't know about asking a large breeder for further, inconveniencing (?) information this time of year where they are swamped with email/messages/etc. - such as the setup of his/her (breeding) pens which is something we should definitely be concerned about...

So this might be more geared towards people on the hobbyist spectrum who are often not just willing to share additional pictures/information but do so quite enthusiastically.

BTW, in case you have any inroads to Once in the Blue Moon Farm, maybe you can suggest adding the warning to also be “leery" of a seller NOT asking me, the buyer, a few questions... Especially about the living condition and space allocation to which I subject my birds and, ideally, also checking up on my knowledge in keeping them - and whether I am willing to learn (and/or join the BackyardChickens community ).