That would be called a blue mottled. It is technically an EE since, it is a project color, plus it doesn't have slate legs. So yes it is an EE, but some AM breeders are working on the blue/black mottled project. But until they are excepted and all traits are correct they are EEs or nonstandard ameraucanas. Some say one some say another, it is a long confusing (IMO pointless) debate. It can be a very heated topic on which to call it. I don't voice my opinion on that part, rather stay out of it lol!racinchickins ~ Thank you for posting the poultry sales info. Very helpful!
I looked up Mottled Java chickens and they are stunning. I ran across these EE chicken photos online the other day and thought its pattern was pretty-- would it be called mottled? (I'm still on Chicken 101 level!)
They can. And I do understand in a way. I mean I wouldn't use an AM with green legs in my breeding pen, but some would. It has just been blown out of porportion a few times on another thread, making some feel unwelcome. All I am saying is prove your point and state your opinion, but don't shun others because of theirs.
Mine are starting to pick up too. I have a legbar and a legbar mix laying blue/green eggs. My Bresse and SLW are laying various shades of light brown, and one Welsummer has decided to occaisionally lay a dark brown egg. Now if one of my White egg layers would chime in, I'd have all my colors going. Unfortunately I have a lot of hens/pullets not really into the laying thing at the moment.Our 2 Legbars stopped laying months ago. In fact, out of 7 pullets we've only been getting one egg every other day for weeks.
I was surprised when I collected eggs today and found 2 blue ones in addition to my quasi-regular brown one. It's so nice to have some variety and color in the egg carton again. I hope it's a sign the girls are coming out of their winter blues!
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It may just be heart failure. I've heard a lot of folks finding a dead bird in the morning like that with no other symptoms and found that it was just a plain old heart failure issue (rather than a disease). One of the guys here on byc said he found that around the 8 month mark was when his cockerels would die of heart failure if they were going to have it.the leghorn was old! and the Buff was not even 1 yet.
and BTWWelcome to BYC
The only way you could tell is to do a necropsy and see what you find...and I know a lot of folks won't want to do that.
I had never even considered such a thing until "hanging around" with some of the folks here that have kept chickens for years that encouraged us to do it for several reasons. One is to be able to recognize what is healthy and what is not....and to be able to see and learn signs of disease vs. genetic abnormalities.
And I've gained so much knowledge from the photos others have posted when they've done a necropsy - either for others to look at and comment or if they labeled them and commented themselves.
I took both birds in to have that done, just to make sure cause I am bring new birds in this weekend, I will keep them in the basement till I get the results.
well I'm not into all the breading stuff or the show thing, I just like pretty and colorful and boy that really does it for me.
