The Ameraucana Thread: Where everything and anything about the breed can be discussed (APA, Non-Stan

[Outrun Acres]

Thank you for this wonderful information. It is a little sad for new comers. I went to a local feed store wanting Ameraucana chicks thinking that is what I would get. Now I'm sure they will be EE and that's OK but they should not sell them as something they are not. Mine are only 3 weeks old. One will be gray, the other two dark brown. How I wished I had researched chicks before buying them. I will love them just the same.

This can definitely be frustrating. A lot of people have a story similar to yours. Your birds will still be great chickens. You just won't be able to show them. It's not just feedstores and hatcheries, some breeders don't even know the standard for Ameraucanas. It can be difficult to find the real deal. That is why I think most people pick a breeder off the ABC website to get their birds from.

 

[Outrun Acres]

Salt and Pepper, how are your birds doing?

 

[salt and pepper]

Salt and Pepper, how are your birds doing?

They're doing well!

My two mystery chicks ended up being a splash pair. I thought they were white, but are now getting grey and black splotches. This will work better anyway, since my other birds are blues. Went through a bout of cocci, and am just now getting it under control. How are your new chicks doing? Oh, my splash chicks had white legs for two weeks before they darkened.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

This can definitely be frustrating. A lot of people have a story similar to yours. Your birds will still be great chickens. You just won't be able to show them. It's not just feedstores and hatcheries, some breeders don't even know the standard for Ameraucanas. It can be difficult to find the real deal. That is why I think most people pick a breeder off the ABC website to get their birds from.

so true. probably most here started that way

 

[delisha]

Quote: lol..thanks for the correction..I appreciate that you pointed it out in bright blue. It will help reduce the possibly of anyone to take my wrong information for fact. Thank you.

 

[K Epp]

This is ok, just make sure to seperate them about three weeks before you start hatching, this makes sure the eggs a fertalized by the right rooster. We have 6 roosters right now, and this number will be getting larger when I start breeding next year lol. Do you plan to breed only ameraucanas, or other breeds as well? We usually free range ours every other day. I plan on breeding blcms, ams, and EEs for starts. I have two ameraucana hens and a roo to start with, and two blcm s and a roo to start with. I also have three ee hens I'll be breeding with. My goal for them is to create astrain that lays only blue eggs, and huge cheeks =)))

How do you keep the Roos from fighting? I only have 3. 1 Brown Leghorn and 2 Americauan/EE. The Leghorn and one of the EE have decided to have a Saturday afternoon fight. Last week I discovered them and broke it up they were still both bloody messes. Today I didn't know it was going on. I went out and the EE in my avatar was unrecognizable. He is my favorite and will be staying. I thought about leaving the other 2 out of the barn tonight, but we have storms coming in so I caved at dark and turned them in. I threatened the Leghorn with freezer camp. I had to assist both of them up on the roost. These 3 grew up together and I like them all, but I don't want them hurting each other. Since They got to finish their fight do you think it is over now? If not does anyone want a beautiful Brown Leghorn?

 

[dcba flock]

so true. probably most here started that way

I just picked up some birds advertised as pure Ameraucanas which I assumed based I what I have learned here over the past few months reading here that they were not! Sure enough when I arrived the lady had all of the running around the yard together! Which was fine I took them anyway ($3 each). She clearly had no clue, she told me they were all hatched from blue eggs ( so in her mind they are pure) and she has both an Ameraucana and Welsummer roo so maybe OE! That would be a fun surprise! I'm very thankful for what I have learned on this and other threads! I do have some pure black and buff Ameraucana too so it's really nice to at least have the basic understanding of the breed to know what you are and are not getting!

 

[Outrun Acres]

How do you keep the Roos from fighting? I only have 3. 1 Brown Leghorn and 2 Americauan/EE. The Leghorn and one of the EE have decided to have a Saturday afternoon fight. Last week I discovered them and broke it up they were still both bloody messes. Today I didn't know it was going on. I went out and the EE in my avatar was unrecognizable. He is my favorite and will be staying. I thought about leaving the other 2 out of the barn tonight, but we have storms coming in so I caved at dark and turned them in. I threatened the Leghorn with freezer camp. I had to assist both of them up on the roost. These 3 grew up together and I like them all, but I don't want them hurting each other. Since They got to finish their fight do you think it is over now? If not does anyone want a beautiful Brown Leghorn?

How old are your chickens? Are they all in a run together or do they free range? Right now we have 13 roosters and 16 hens. A lot of those are juvenilles so we don't really have any problems yet. Even before this years hatching season we had 4 roosters and 10 hens. Everybody gets along even now with all the new comers. But I think certain factors have contributed to this. One is that all the birds free range on our 10 acres all day. Another is having more than one food and water station. We noticed that when we have had fights in the past they have started at the "watering hole." All the hens would gather together in large groups to eat and the roosters would try to give food to the wrong hens and fights would break out (at least I think that is what was happening . Once we added another place to eat and drink, the fights ended and they all live together nicely now. We also get up early to let them out of the coup in the morning so they aren't locked in a confined area together for very long after they wake up. Pretty much at sunrise everyday even on weekends. Generally with males of any species, aggression is caused by sexual frustration which is either relieved by mating or having enough space to get the exercise they need during the day to relieve themselves of the energy they save for mating. I am sure some roosters just want to fight more than others. If you have a rooster that doesn't fit your program and is disrupting the overall harmony of your flock I would get rid of him. Just my 2 cents.

 

[K Epp]

How old are your chickens? Are they all in a run together or do they free range? Right now we have 13 roosters and 16 hens. A lot of those are juvenilles so we don't really have any problems yet. Even before this years hatching season we had 4 roosters and 10 hens. Everybody gets along even now with all the new comers. But I think certain factors have contributed to this. One is that all the birds free range on our 10 acres all day. Another is having more than one food and water station. We noticed that when we have had fights in the past they have started at the "watering hole." All the hens would gather together in large groups to eat and the roosters would try to give food to the wrong hens and fights would break out (at least I think that is what was happening . Once we added another place to eat and drink, the fights ended and they all live together nicely now. We also get up early to let them out of the coup in the morning so they aren't locked in a confined area together for very long after they wake up. Pretty much at sunrise everyday even on weekends. Generally with males of any species, aggression is caused by sexual frustration which is either relieved by mating or having enough space to get the exercise they need during the day to relieve themselves of the energy they save for mating. I am sure some roosters just want to fight more than others. If you have a rooster that doesn't fit your program and is disrupting the overall harmony of your flock I would get rid of him. Just my 2 cents.

The roos were last years chicks that hatched in March so just barely a year old. The hens I got this year point of lay not sure on their exact age. I have 7 hens with them and more in grow out coops. They are in a 320 sqft barn at night and free range during the day. They all stay together and have only been fighting during their time free ranging. That makes me wonder that even if I get a seperate coop for roos will they fight when free ranging. I have other roos chicks I want to work with next year How will I keep them from almost killing each other every time I turn them out.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote:
I have a few roosters running together - the one year old mark seems to be when they are the meanest to each other. Mine finished the fight and now the looser runs when the winner comes around - and the winner doesn't attack the looser any more (I think because he runs). However I don't have leghorns - they may be more like my mother's birds (OEG) - they won't quit until the other rooster is mained or dead (its why they were used as fighting birds). I hope your boys have settled it - let us know how it goes.