Blue Ameraucana thread!

[PapaChaz]

We'll I guess we'll know if ours are AM. or EE in about 8 weeks hoping for early pol
We'll take new pics of our sweeties tomorrow

go to the ABA site and read up on the standards, you should be able to tell pretty quick if they're true bred AMs or easter eggers. or go over to the ameraucana thread and post some pics there. There are several people there who are very knowledgeable and will be able to tell you right off

 

[DanielJZ]

My Blue Ameracauna





We got her with the Easter Egger next to her. That one has turned out to be a rooster. We're hoping that will not be the case with the Blue Ameracauna. I think she looks like she would be a hen, but can anyone else confirm this? She is supposed to be 17 weeks old by this coming saturday.
Thanks.

 

[PapaChaz]

My Blue Ameracauna





We got her with the Easter Egger next to her. That one has turned out to be a rooster. We're hoping that will not be the case with the Blue Ameracauna. I think she looks like she would be a hen, but can anyone else confirm this? She is supposed to be 17 weeks old by this coming saturday.
Thanks.

by 17 weeks old, my blues had distinctive sickle feathers (tails) and no doubts about their combs. Hard to say from the angles on the tail, I'm saying you have a hen there

 

[DanielJZ]

Thank you for your insight, I also get the feeling the she will be a hen.
Here are a few more photos from the tail feathers and other views.

 

[saltandpepper2]

Sorry, but that's a rooster's tail.

 

[PapaChaz]

Sorry, but that's a rooster's tail.

yeah, now that I see that angle, definitely a rooster. Those 2 are the sickle feathers I was talking about. Google blue ameraucana rooster and look at some of the pictures. Sorry but that she's really a he. Mine started crowing at 17 weeks, you'll have proof soon

 

[DanielJZ]

Well if so, that is indeed a shame. Is there a significant difference in the physical characteristics of a blue ameracauna rooster and an Easter egger rooster if they're both around the same age? We got both of ours when they were supposed to be 8 weeks old. Since then now they would be coming on 17 weeks, and my Easter egger is about a head or more taller than the ameracauna, has a much larger darker red comb and its legs are big with large claws. It also seems to have those long sweeping hackles down the neck. While my ameracauna seems to have none of that going on. A small light pink pea comb, skinny little legs and claws and stands maybe slightly shorter if not as tall as my RIR hens. I just figured it would look more rooster-like at this age, or are they just slow growers?

 

[PapaChaz]

Well if so, that is indeed a shame. Is there a significant difference in the physical characteristics of a blue ameracauna rooster and an Easter egger rooster if they're both around the same age? We got both of ours when they were supposed to be 8 weeks old. Since then now they would be coming on 17 weeks, and my Easter egger is about a head or more taller than the ameracauna, has a much larger darker red comb and its legs are big with large claws. It also seems to have those long sweeping hackles down the neck. While my ameracauna seems to have none of that going on. A small light pink pea comb, skinny little legs and claws and stands maybe slightly shorter if not as tall as my RIR hens. I just figured it would look more rooster-like at this age, or are they just slow growers?

a lot of it depends really on what the EE was cross bred to get to be an EE....I'd guess it has some larger breed somewhere up the bloodline.

Of my 4 blue ameraucana roosters, one of them is significantly bigger than the other three, and one is a good bit smaller. I had one start crowing about 16 1/2 weeks, and at 19 weeks, is trying to mount the hens, who are having none of that, 'but thanks for the offer' LOL two of the others have just started crowing in the last couple of days, the smallest isn't even trying yet. And at 19 weeks, he doesn't have much more sickle feathers than yours does. I'd guess it depends on the breeding stock they come from, although the breeder I bought from said all his breeding stock came from Paul Smith, and he was assured his all came from different pens, so I guess that could be part of it.

It does make something he said mean more, as he told me that breeders will close down the genetic lines when they get the birds they want, and not bring in any outside bloodlines for a few years just to keep from monkeying it up.......

 

[DanielJZ]

Right, yeah I was also going to add, my Easter egger just started trying to mount my RIR hens about a week ago,
and they just end up chasing him away. I have yet to hear him crow. Still no such behavior from the ameracauna though.

 

[PapaChaz]

Right, yeah I was also going to add, my Easter egger just started trying to mount my RIR hens about a week ago,
and they just end up chasing him away. I have yet to hear him crow. Still no such behavior from the ameracauna though.

how old are the RIR hens? and what does "not tonight I have a headache" sound like in chicken?