Need Info on Ameraucana Leghorn Crosses

[ButtonHoarder]

Maybe they just want to experiment a little and have fun, not buy an existing breed

Thank you! That's pretty much exactly the reason.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Don’t let people discourage you! If you want to try this, then I say go for it!! There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun and experimenting and there’s nothing wrong with hatchery birds or mixes. Not everyone wants show birds or super high production. Seems to me you just want to experiment and see what you’ll get which is exactly what I did with my barnyard mixes from my flock and there’s nothing wrong with that!! ❤❤❤

Thanks so much!
Yes that's mostly the reason.
With EE's though, what kind of things would it cause?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you! That's pretty much exactly the reason.

I’m not really sure why people keep trying to discourage you or get you to just buy an existing breed instead. It’s obvious that’s not what you want and there is nothing wrong with experimenting. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work but at least you tried. I bred my Lavender Orpington to my birds just because I liked him and wanted to see what he would produce. I love his chicks and am glad I did. They’re not gonna win any shows but they’re beautiful to me and have so much personality.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks so much!
Yes that's mostly the reason.
With EE's though, what kind of things would it cause?

No problem! And I’m not really sure but I think the issue with EEs is more just that there is such a huge variation within them so you really don’t know what you will get. I’ve had 4 and every single one looks totally different and laid different colors too so I think it’s just not very consistent and harder to predict.

For instance, I bred two of my EEs to my Lavender Orpington and got two totally black chicks my birds are orangey red and black laced and then one kind of lav/blue ish base color with gold on top so I expected at least some red LOL the cockerel did actually end up with a fair amount of red leakage and green tail but still.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I’m not really sure why people keep trying to discourage you or get you to just buy an existing breed instead. It’s obvious that’s not what you want and there is nothing wrong with experimenting. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work but at least you tried. I bred my Lavender Orpington to my birds just because I liked him and wanted to see what he would produce. I love his chicks and am glad I did. They’re not gonna win any shows but they’re beautiful to me and have so much personality.

Thank you. You are making me think I should still do this

 

[OhZark Biddies]

https://www.rochesterhatchery.com/Home

I looked at your link... here’s the thing... those might be Easter Eggers that have been selected over generations to lay only blue/green eggs...

But even if they are aren’t, since crossing to the leghorns is creating a homemade EE even if you were using pure Am’s... I think if you crossed a leghorn rooster with those from that hatchery and hatched only the best blue/green eggs you would get what you’re after... I say go for it!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use Meyer Hatchery, & they have Ameraucanas separate from their EEs. They have both Hatchery Quality Barred Rocks, & Heritage which are typically used in shows. The Heritage is what I meant, are used for shows.


I have a couple useful charts that I found that may help.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you. You are making me think I should still do this

Of course you should if you want to! Don’t listen to those telling you not to even try or that it will instantly fail. It may or may not but only way to find out is to try it. I think it would be fun even if they don’t lay blue or whatever.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

No problem! And I’m not really sure but I think the issue with EEs is more just that there is such a huge variation within them so you really don’t know what you will get. I’ve had 4 and every single one looks totally different and laid different colors too so I think it’s just not very consistent and harder to predict.

For instance, I bred two of my EEs to my Lavender Orpington and got two totally black chicks my birds are orangey red and black laced and then one kind of lav/blue ish base color with gold on top so I expected at least some red LOL the cockerel did actually end up with a fair amount of red leakage and green tail but still.

Oh, ok. If there were Ameraucanas around I would get them, there just isn't.

Aww, they sound beautiful! Do you have any pictures?

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I looked at your link... here’s the thing... those might be Easter Eggers that have been selected over generations to lay only blue/green eggs...

Be even if they are aren’t, since crossing to the leghorns is creating a homemade EE even if you were using pure Am’s... I think if you crossed a leghorn rooster with those from that hatchery and hatched only the best blue/green eggs you would get what you’re after... I say go for it!

Yeah could be, I hope so!
Thanks! I think I still might...