Can I tell if my nearly 2 week old Ameraucanas are going to be black, blue, or splash?

[Amelise]

Looks about right. Only one I'm not sure on is the first blue you posted. That one might be a black in disguise

That one was what you could call a very very dark blue or a blueish black? I’m not sure what to call him, lol

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That one was what you could call a very very dark blue or a blueish black? I’m not sure what to call him, lol

Looks dark blue. Blacks will be a completely solid black and have black fluff. Any blue to it and it's a blue

 

[Amelise]

Looks dark blue. Blacks will be a completely solid black and have black fluff. Any blue to it and it's a blue

if you were to show a color like this, would he show as a bad black but a good blue, or both a bad black and a bad blue?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

if you were to show a color like this, would he show as a bad black but a good blue, or both a bad black and a bad blue?

He wouldn't do well at all for black because he's not black. Blue, I think he's too dark to be preferable, but I'm not sure how much emphasis is placed on color since I don't show birds

 

[3KillerBs]

He wouldn't do well at all for black because he's not black. Blue, I think he's too dark to be preferable, but I'm not sure how much emphasis is placed on color since I don't show birds

I haven't shown, but I have been told that the desired color for blues is quite dark but with strong lacing.

 

[Amelise]

I haven't shown, but I have been told that the desired color for blues is quite dark but with strong lacing.

I kept three pullets out of the 11 chicks I raised. (Splash, blue, and black). I will be showing this girl here, as well as the only black pullet I raised. I’m not sure about how great her coloring is. She’s not perfect, but we’ll see how she does for my first show! I’m excited

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Above is what you want to see. Pullet on the right has good lacing and is pigeon blue. It's about as dark as you'd want to go. There is a range to personal preference and could be a lighter base blue but must still be pigeon blue.

Below is another good example of lacing. You want this in your flock. The darker base blue can be lightened in offspring but it's hard to gain lacing so don't dismiss this bird.

And this below is definitely not what you want. Sell this bird. The Splash I'd sell too. It should have more blue to it and doubt it has much lacing to pass on. Hatching from these birds would be a mistake.

The cockerels are still growing out and will need time. You want to get the best lacing with the best body type and other features to the breed. Mottling on wings and such will work itself out as they age. It's the chest lacing and base color you're going to be looking at.

And these are some of the reasons why it's preferred to only breed blue to blue though a very good representation of Splash or Black should not be overlooked. Once of the parents certainly should be blue in every mating of this variety.

 

[Amelise]

Above is what you want to see. Pullet on the right has good lacing and is pigeon blue.

Below is another good example of lacing. You want this in your flock. The darker base blue can be lightened in offspring but it's hard to gain lacing so don't dismiss this bird.

And this below is definitely not what you want. Sell this bird. The Splash I'd sell too. It should have more blue to it and doubt it has much lacing to pass on. Hatching from these birds would be a mistake.

The cockerels are still growing out and will need time. You want to get the best lacing with the best body type and other features to the breed. Mottling on wings and such will work itself out as they age. It's the chest lacing and base color you're going to be looking at.

And these are some of the reasons why it's preferred to only breed blue to blue though a very good representation of Splash or Black should not be overlooked. Once of the parents certainly should be blue in every mating of this variety.

Ah, well, I chose to keep a bad colored one. Showing her should still be a good experience ( or practice, maybe,) for me.

 

[Amelise]

Above is what you want to see. Pullet on the right has good lacing and is pigeon blue. It's about as dark as you'd want to go. There is a range to personal preference and could be a lighter base blue but must still be pigeon blue.

Below is another good example of lacing. You want this in your flock. The darker base blue can be lightened in offspring but it's hard to gain lacing so don't dismiss this bird.

And this below is definitely not what you want. Sell this bird. The Splash I'd sell too. It should have more blue to it and doubt it has much lacing to pass on. Hatching from these birds would be a mistake.

The cockerels are still growing out and will need time. You want to get the best lacing with the best body type and other features to the breed. Mottling on wings and such will work itself out as they age. It's the chest lacing and base color you're going to be looking at.

And these are some of the reasons why it's preferred to only breed blue to blue though a very good representation of Splash or Black should not be overlooked. Once of the parents certainly should be blue in every mating of this variety.

Also, I’m not showing the splash. She was the only one I got so I kept her for fun

 

[Egghead_Jr]

They're your birds and your preference. I was merely trying to show you some things to look for in the future when you start mating birds. Lacing is extremely important in all blue varieties. The quality and even quantity will quickly decline over generations if not carefully protected and selected for.