Do I want to learn about genetics? Yes. Is it very intimidating and scary? Yes.

[HeatherKellyB]

That's good to know. Thank you! What about self blue? My only self blue is my OEGB pullet but I'm curious about that now.
Is my SH/SBH cockerel fertile at 17 weeks? He is trying to mate with his hatchmate pullet, but she's not laying yet (they're being separated so she doesn't have to deal with his unwelcome advances). He is very lightweight and he is larger bodied than my Bantams but he is comparable in weight. I believe they're supposed to be on the smaller side for LF, but we all know that they can surprise us. The Isbar was hatched on the same day and he is significantly larger than the SH/SBH. The Isbar is going through his awkward stage right now and is large but narrow and thin.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How do you know they’re dwarves? They look pretty normal to me, even if a bit small.

They're extra, extra tiny. I'll have to get a comparison photo to help explain.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How do you know they’re dwarves? They look pretty normal to me, even if a bit small.

Did you see my white silkies girl?

 

[MysteryChicken]

@RoostersAreAwesome

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Did you see my white silkies girl?

She did look odd, but I wouldn’t be able to tell if she was a dwarf or not. You could message the maker of that article, I believe they’re still active on here.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

That's good to know. Thank you! What about self blue? My only self blue is my OEGB pullet but I'm curious about that now.
Is my SH/SBH cockerel fertile at 17 weeks? He is trying to mate with his hatchmate pullet, but she's not laying yet (they're being separated so she doesn't have to deal with his unwelcome advances). He is very lightweight and he is larger bodied than my Bantams but he is comparable in weight. I believe they're supposed to be on the smaller side for LF, but we all know that they can surprise us. The Isbar was hatched on the same day and he is significantly larger than the SH/SBH. The Isbar is going through his awkward stage right now and is large but narrow and thin.

Lavender (self blue) like mottling, is a recessive gene that requires two copies to show. Lavender dilutes black and gold, but doesn’t effect silver.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I keep finding contradicting information. According to the Ameraucana Alliance Self Blue (lavender) was recently approved as a color, but everywhere else I look says it hasn't been, and a lav ameraucana would be considered an EE even though they breed true. Does everywhere else just have outdated information? Or am I missunderstanding what the Ameraucana Alliance is saying?

 

[Amer]

I keep finding contradicting information. According to the Ameraucana Alliance Self Blue (lavender) was recently approved as a color, but everywhere else I look says it hasn't been, and a lav ameraucana would be considered an EE even though they breed true. Does everywhere else just have outdated information? Or am I missunderstanding what the Ameraucana Alliance is saying?

Ameraucanas are weird. Because of the EE confusion you have to call them by the Standard color or they’re “technically” an EE.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Ameraucanas are weird. Because of the EE confusion you have to call them by the Standard color or they’re “technically” an EE.

So Self Blue isn't an approved color yet? There would still only be 8 colors of Ameraucana?

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Here is what it said:

"The APA now recognizes nine varieties of large fowl: black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, self blue (1/24/20202), silver, wheaten, and white. What they call "self blue" is really the lavender variety, but the APA officers refuse to use the proper name. The lavender variety is the result of the lavender gene that was identified and termed "lavender" (lav) by poultry scientists back in 1972. "

http://www.ameraucana.org/Ameraucana Chickens#:~:text=The APA now recognizes nine,silver, wheaten, and white.