EE, Ameraucana, Auracana

[wyliefarms]

We bought chicks from a ABC breeder last year. We ended up with some that did not make the SOP. It was a very interesting learning experience for us since we were trying to get show quality birds. The judges told all the kids to purchase from a breeder not the hatchery if they wanted to place better.

We spent $70 for 25 chicks and they were only sold as straight run. Half of them were roosters, and most didn't meet the SOP, so we lost money selling them at an auction.
We also wanted some hens so we would have eggs to eat. We ened up with 11 LF hens and 8 meet the breed standards.

So from now on we plan on purchasing older pullets or hens. This way I know what I am purchasing and it will be cheaper in too!

On a side note at last years county fair my daughters hatchery hens won best production hens (second year in a row), one of those hens was the best bird in the barn, and another hatchery hen won best LF show hen. They are Black Australorps.

Just my 2 cents.

Sarah

 

[klf73]

well, I do know when you buy eggs from breeder stock, they are not all show quality. You can buy silkie eggs from show stock and have them hatch with single combs(I did). I also bought araucana eggs from a very well known person and also ended up with a single comb that I can't use. There will be *faults* in any breed.....jmo

 

[speckledhen]

There are surely plenty of true Ameraucanas and other breeds that do not perfectly meet the standard of perfection. Breeders cull relentlessly to get just a handful of show quality birds, even from great stock. So, a bird can qualify as an Ameraucana, but have minor faults that keep the quality away from the standard. All three, Ameraucana, Araucana and Easter Egger 'mutts' are terrific birds. For egglaying, doesn't matter which you have, but if you want to breed them well and/or show them, you should know what you have.

 

[klf73]

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you said it so much better

 

[speckledhen]

 

[herechickchick]

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This is really the best option for those wanting to get into showing. Also if you attend shows many times you can buy birds that are being shown from the breeders.

 

[Tailfeathers]

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Actually, if you read the History of Ameraucanas, you will find that's not true - at least as far as referring to the "Araucana" known today. In fact, as far as I've been able to determine, the actually genetic history of Ameraucanas remains unknown.

One of these days I hope to be able to sit down with Don Cable, John Blehm, and Mike Gilbert and have a long talk with them about this very thing. My guess is that those three probably have the fullest knowledge on the origins of the Ameraucana as anyone.

God Bless,

 

[Tailfeathers]

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This should probably go without saying but I have found that there are a whole lot of folks who haven't thought about the fact that you simply cannot guarantee that buying a chick will result in a SQ adult - much less a Show Winner. Buying hatching eggs results in even less probability because you can at least cull chicks with known DQ's and faults. The best anyone can do is increase the probability of getting a SQ adult and that is done by buying from stock coming from known winning breeders. It's no different with chickens than it is with any other kind of animal. The more you want to increase your probability (and it will ALWAYS remain a "probability") for a SQ bird, the more you will have to pay for it.

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Again, this is not directed toward Wyliefarms and may go without saying, but when ordering "Straight Run" you should expect at least 50% cockerels. Sometimes more and sometimes less but it averages 50%. By keeping your expectations low, you aren't as likely to be disappointed.

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If you know what you're looking for and are definitely wanting SOP birds, then this is the best way to go. You're going to pay more for adult birds because they've been fed and cared for longer and you'll pay more for a Show Winner as well but if you want all SOP birds in your flock, it's a good way to go.

One final word on Ameraucanas and Wheatens/Blue Wheatens in particular. There are still a lot of faults and DQ's being worked out. Stubs and light egg color being two in particular. Just because one runs a risk of those showing up, does not lessen the fact that they could have come from an otherwise terrific looking matching pair of birds - even show winners.

Hope that helps.

God Bless,

 

[cubalaya]

at the time i bought the hatching eggs i didnt know there was a standard or that certain colors made your chickens a purer breed than mine. from what i have read on here and history on this breed they are all mutts. my chickens came from blue eggs, they were sold to me as ameraucanas and i like them. i will not refer to them as ee. i dont plan on showing them anyway. i will sell them as ameraucana and i will sell their blue and green eggs as ameraucana.

 

[turtleblossom]

If you have birds that you know are not Ameraucanas, and you sell them or their eggs as such, you are being dishonest. A blue egg does not an Ameraucana make. Just like any big yellow dog is not a Labrador.