Lavender Ameraucana Breeders .... UNITE

[Goose and Fig]

We just hatched a few Lav chicks and one has a yellow beak. These are some of
our first Lavs and I'm wondering if that is normal and will it go away? This chick was a late hatcher had to be helped out of the shell and had a bad pasty butt yesterday so I'm wondering if it might be stress. Is that possible?

I have seen that, wouldn't worry too much about it.Sometimes the diet of the parents can lead to funny colored beaks and feet in babies, and its just temporary. If this chick was the result of an accidental cross, it would not be lav unless both parents were carrying the gene.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I'm going to have to get some blacks or splits in the spring. do you think it would be better to get straight blacks or would splits be better? Any recommendations on a breeder? I love your birds happy, but should I get a different line if I get straight blacks?

I have a trio of blacks coming from Donna tomorrow. They are from Citygirlinthecountry I think, right Donna? If so- her blacks were Cree line. I'll be making some splits with them and will definitely share eggs when they start back up.

 

[Shaffer]

Little Wing,
That chick should be culled from your breeding program. They should have dark beaks, legs. And what Jerry said is correct anything with feathers between the toes or on the shanks should be culled and there is only one way to cull so they do not return into the breeding program. Good luck with the others. Make sure you get some blacks, I would suggest Paul Smith but since you are in Tn you should be able to find someone near you with good blacks. There are others with good blacks just check out the breeders list on ABC site.

 

[dak]

I had some Cree Blacks/Blues. They were small and I have eliminated them and now have only Smith Blacks.

 

[Little Wing]

Thanks Shaffer,
I will cull that one. these chicks are from a pure lavender roo (Shaffer) and a black split (Ribbeck/Shaffer-Smith) hen. I do have a Paul Smith pure black roo that is almost breeding. I just got 2 Blehm pure black hens and have 8 pure lav and 7 pure black coming from Paul in February. Im new to this (I do know that if you put the best in you get the best out) so any suggestions on how to assemble this bunch would be great.
Also, what cull rate should I expect, like how many out of ten?

 

[Goose and Fig]

I've had Smith blacks for a couple years. They helped with egg size, but subsequent layers gave me really green eggs. I also had Garner blacks. They were all around decent birds with good blue egg color, but were flighty. Luckily that wasn't passed on. I think it was from being raised in large groups more than anything though.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
You're definitely on the right track. I never know what my culls are until they are much older unless it something really obvious.

 

[Shaffer]

Thanks Shaffer,
I will cull that one. these chicks are from a pure lavender roo (Shaffer) and a black split (Ribbeck/Shaffer-Smith) hen. I do have a Paul Smith pure black roo that is almost breeding. I just got 2 Blehm pure black hens and have 8 pure lav and 7 pure black coming from Paul in February. Im new to this (I do know that if you put the best in you get the best out) so any suggestions on how to assemble this bunch would be great.
Also, what cull rate should I expect, like how many out of ten?

Little Wing,
Expect 1 out of ten to be of very good quality. After that depends on how many birds you are going to retain for the next year as to how far to cull. Rember there is Show quality and breeder quality. You should get about 25% breeder quality or better if you are lucky. Then there is egg color which you will have to wait and see what pullets produce the color you desire. So keep extra pullets that are nice because the best bird may not lay the best colored egg you will have to even these qualitites out to the best as you facility allows. Good luck you will enjoy them.

 

[Little Wing]

You're definitely on the right track. I never know what my culls are until they are much older unless it something really obvious.

Thanks, I think I'm going to cull this one to the laying pen (hopefully its a girl) since it is our first hatch.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote: I would do the same. Keeping the anomalies around for a while can tell you what genetics your birds might be hiding.