Boy! You guys weren't kidding! You do keep it hoppin in here! Duckies are doing well, pallets are all almost broken down, but we are picking up more today, so I get to start construction today...that's if I can decide on my plans. LOL! We don't do little dog's either! lol! We have our second Great Dane (Brutus) and he is our furbaby... But, anyways...we love our big black boy that we have now. He is the best dog I've ever had....
only down side to Dane's is their life expectancy.
I like my house cows (or as we call them, horses) too! lol! See my top reply!
Would someone PLEASE tell me what the difference between EE, OE, Auracauna's, and Ameracauna's is? They aren't the same with just easier to pronounce names? lol I am still super green to all this.
I have a dane/dobe mix... he is my baby. My son (3) has asked on several occasions if he can ride him!
If I had not seen and read about Turkens before, I would have thought naked necks of any kind were abused!
I was surprised how warm/hot their naked skin is!
EE- easter egger... lays pink, blue, blue/green eggs
OE- olive egger... lays green egg (mix between a brown layer and blue)
FROM BYC BREEDS
Easter Eggers
The Easter Egger is not really a breed. They are relationed to the breeds Ameraucanas and Araucanas, then bred with many different breeds so they no longer fit either breed's standards. They usually have muffs & pea combs, but come in nearly every variety and color, some even have ear tufts or are rumpless. Each EE is different, but overall they are usually a smaller bird that lays pink, green, or blue eggs. They are normally friendly and calm, and their colorful eggs make them a popular choice in backyard flocks.
Ameraucana
The Ameraucana was developed in the 70's by a few people who were trying to standardize the Araucana breed. The Ameraucana is easier to breed as there are no complications due to lethal genes. A very detailed history of the Ameraucana can be read at the Ameraucana Breeders Club website. Besides the above color requirements the following are some of the traits Ameraucanas should possess:
{eyes - bay (reddish brown)}
{shanks & feet - slate (blue grey) black accepted on black birds, bottoms of feet white}
{ear lobes - red, pale on females (no white)}
{comb - pea}
{wattles - very small, absent}
{skin - white}
{toes - four}
{muffs & beard - forming three separate lobes, absence is a DQ}
{egg color - blue, minty green}
{cock weight - 6.5 lbs/cockerel - 5.5 lbs}
{hen weight - 5.5 lbs/pullet - 4.5 lbs}
{full breast, medium back, and tail carried at 45 degrees above horizontal}
{the bird must breed true to color}
Araucana
Araucana is a very rare breed with much controversy and numerous challenges. Hatcheries add to these challenges by misrepresenting their mongrel Easter Eggers as Araucana and Ameraucana chickens. Araucana and Ameraucana chickens are breeds, which are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA). Easter Eggers are not a recognized breed because they are a cross of different breeds to produce various plumage colors and eggshell colors. Easter eggers are a novelty for backyard folks who enjoy pretty chickens that lay various colored eggs. Enthusiasts typically breed Araucana and Ameraucana to a standard of perfection to preserve their historical value.
The origin of the Araucana is still up for debate, however many believe they came to America from South America, sometime during the 1920s or 1930s. The primary reason for breeding Araucana was because of their ability to lay blue eggs. They are often considered dual-purpose fowl and make good table fare. For a smaller standard size breed, hens typically lay nice medium sized eggs.
The Araucana have two distinguishing characteristics that set them apart from the other breeds. They are rumpless (have no tail and the complete absence of a tail bone) and they have tufts (often called earrings), which grow from a protuberance (or fingerlike appendage)called a peduncle around the ear lobes or neck area. Tufts can be bilateral, unilateral and even trilateral.
The tufted trait is a lethal gene on Araucana, which makes it difficult to breed. Two copies of the tuft gene are fatal and results in chicks dead in the shell, typically around days 18-21 in incubation. Even a single copy has been known to reduce hatchability, making this breed very difficult to propagate.
The rumpless trait has produced challenges for breeders as well. This includes backs that get very short, from excessive rumpless to rumpless breeding, which results in future generations being unable to breed naturally. Rumplessness does not occur consistently in breeding Araucana, which results in chicks hatching with partial tails and even full tails. This can make for a lot of culling and very few selections to choose from for the show ring.
Good luck building your coop... remember... Its just for chickens (They don't care if you make it a little crooked
- I had to keep telling myself that)
I've read a little about them in my chicken research but there are only so many hours in the day for reading! lol!
