Help On Choosing Good Breeding Stock

[Welshies]

So I'll be replacing my rooster with an Ameraucana rooster. What are the qualities I want to look for? I want a colorful layer, as that's in demand. He will be breeding my 3 Marans and my Australorp, and I will be adding 2-5 Ameraucana hens later on.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Sounds good... In the rooster you should look for, a young rooster which has good fertility, has a bright red comb, the feather quality is high, no signs of lameness, look for an active and healthy rooster and also a friendly one would be great.

 

[Gray Farms]

#1 Study the APA standard
#2 Buy from a reputable breeder
#3 Buy the best bird you can afford

The basics in looking for an Ameraucana would be...
Is it an APA accepted color?
Look for any incorrect color leakage.
Ask about the breeding behind him?
Look for a properly shaped pea comb.
Look for properly shaped muffs and beard.
Look for dark slate colored legs.
Look for a broad chest and a straight keel bone.
Avoid a bird with crocked toes.

Know what your looking for before you go looking. Don't just by the first pretty bird that comes along. Take your time, do your research, but the bird that's right for your breeding program.

 

[Sagey_7878]

#1 Study the APA standard
#2 Buy from a reputable breeder
#3 But the best bird you can afford

The basics in looking for an Ameraucana would be...
Is it an APA accepted color?
Look for any incorrect color leakage.
Ask about the breeding behind him?
Look for a properly shaped pea comb.
Look for properly shaped muffs and beard.
Look for dark slate colored legs.
Look for a broad chest and a straight keel bone.
Avoid a bird with crocked toes.

Know what your looking for before you go looking. Don't just by the first pretty bird that comes along. Take your time, do your research, but the bird that's right for your breeding program.

Could you take a look at my recent thread (post) about cross breds?

 

[Gray Farms]

Could you take a look at my recent thread (post) about cross breds?

Will do.

 

[Welshies]

#1 Study the APA standard
#2 Buy from a reputable breeder
#3 Buy the best bird you can afford

The basics in looking for an Ameraucana would be...
Is it an APA accepted color?
Look for any incorrect color leakage.
Ask about the breeding behind him?
Look for a properly shaped pea comb.
Look for properly shaped muffs and beard.
Look for dark slate colored legs.
Look for a broad chest and a straight keel bone.
Avoid a bird with crocked toes.

Know what your looking for before you go looking. Don't just by the first pretty bird that comes along. Take your time, do your research, but the bird that's right for your breeding program.

Will do! Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

A high quality rooster can add quite a bit to your future flock. Do pick the bird up and feel the bone structure, feathers can hide quite a bit. Do get familiar with the SOP. ^^ is good.

I would expect colored eggs from the amercauna hens, but not from the cross bred pullets.

Mrs K

 

[Welshies]

A high quality rooster can add quite a bit to your future flock. Do pick the bird up and feel the bone structure, feathers can hide quite a bit. Do get familiar with the SOP. ^^ is good.

I would expect colored eggs from the amercauna hens, but not from the cross bred pullets.

Mrs K

I am sort of thinking of culling my 3 Marans hens and keeping only my reliable broody Australorp.
Easter eggers (Ameraucanas or not) are in higher demand here allowing my chickens to pay for themselves.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have had many EE chickens, and really they are a nice bird in the flock. The best rooster I ever had, I called Captain, such a nice bird, and so alert, dramatically dropped my day time predation.

such a fun hobby

 

[Welshies]

I have had many EE chickens, and really they are a nice bird in the flock. The best rooster I ever had, I called Captain, such a nice bird, and so alert, dramatically dropped my day time predation.

such a fun hobby

Agreed. My favorite hobby.