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

[cottagegarden]

You can never go wrong with a breed club. Many of the BYC members are part of the Ameraucana Breeders Club. Check out the directory if you havent. Ordering chicks is painless. It costs more than eggs, but you have a sure thing and its way more fun to get them. Id make some calls/emails SOON, though...
I am really lucky there are @12 ABC breeders w/in a two hour drive here in Pa. When we got started in 2004 we got eggs from a couple ABC members, few years later my kids joined 4H and Paul and Angela Smith sent 75 chicks for a "know your breed project." After the project a few of the kids kept theirs and they have always done well at shows.

Another question.

Those of you who have Americaunas that are NOT hatchery stock, how did you acquire your birds?

I am in ND, and as far as I can tell from the research I have done, there is not anyone near me who has any from good lines. I found a gal about 3 hours away, but she just said they are from breeders (no names) but she also has hatchery birds. If I am going to spend some good money on eggs or chicks I want to be sure they are going to be decent.

We are traveling to Iowa at Easter and so I might see if I can find a place out there with some, though I am sure most are probably sold out for the year. :-(

 

[Outrun Acres]

I sell mine to people I know. I have some neighbors, teachers at my daughter's school, my parents and whatnot that like them. In fact, I usually have a waiting list of people who want them so I know that getting more birds will really not hurt.

I had thin eggs earlier this winter and did start adding oyster shell to their food. I also crush up their old egg shells and mix them in with their greens and scraps from the kitchen.

Now I have a question for you... How many birds and what breeds do you have your silkies penned with? I was sort of wondering about trying it... My daughters would love to have a couple of those silkies. I like to stick with big hearty birds, but kids just don't care.

Thanks for the advice. I think I purchase some oyster shell and have it available for them.

The Silkies are in a coop with 10 hens and 2 roosters that are the following breeds: Black Sex-Links, Red Sex-Links, Buff Orpingtons, Columbian Wyandottes, Rhode Island Red, Speckled Sussex, Weslsummer, Buff Laced Polish. Our 2 roosters (which were supposed to be sexed pullets) are a Columbian Wyandotte and a Buff Laced Polish. (We are fairly new to chickens and wanted to try one of everything!) My chickens free range on 10 acres all day (including the Silkies). If they were penned up together all day they would probably get picked on by the bigger birds. Our Columbian Wyandotte rooster will run them off when I throw scatch or other goodies out for them. Otherwise, the other birds leave them alone. They are also pet quality and don't have very large "poofs" on top of theirs heads, so impaired vision is not an issue. When we first purchased them, they slept on the floor at night. After they had spent a few weeks with our flock they started to roost instead. They are great little chickens. Even the roosters are very tame. Mine weren't handled very much at a young age. After a week of owning them they let me walk right up to them and pick them up. I think they are a great breed for children, though I have heard they can be fragile as chicks, especially when brooded with other larger breeds. Also, if you want to try out this breed make sure you get more than one, otherwise it will get picked on. If you have at least two they can "hang-out" together and gradually incorporate themselves into the flock.

 

[Outrun Acres]

Another question.

Those of you who have Americaunas that are NOT hatchery stock, how did you acquire your birds?

I am in ND, and as far as I can tell from the research I have done, there is not anyone near me who has any from good lines. I found a gal about 3 hours away, but she just said they are from breeders (no names) but she also has hatchery birds. If I am going to spend some good money on eggs or chicks I want to be sure they are going to be decent.

We are traveling to Iowa at Easter and so I might see if I can find a place out there with some, though I am sure most are probably sold out for the year. :-(

I would check out the the ABC website and try to contact the breeders listed there. Pips and Peeps who frequents the other Ameraucana thread is the president of the ABC. You might want to send her a PM, she might know of a breeder in your area or be able to point you in the right direction. Or Jerryse on this thread. You could also check out the buy, sell, trade forums on here and search for keyword "Ameraucana." Most people post pictures of their stock in their adds and are open to answering any questions you have about their birds. I haven't purchased any purebred Ameraucanas yet, but I have been doing some research as well. They seem to be a difficult breed to find in certain areas of the country. If you have any chicken shows or county fairs in your area that might be a good place to look around. Even if nobody has birds for sale they might be able to give you some good advice as to where to purchase quality birds. I am having trouble finding somebody local as well. I may have to settle for shipped eggs to get the quality I want. Good luck to you!

 

[Loghousemom]

Thanks all! I have been looking at the ABC breeder list, and no luck there, yet. I also haven't found any shows in this state either, though there must be since we have oodles of 4H'rs. I am going to keep trucking along and searching.... .and maybe just order some eggs in the future. I noticed today that runnings had cheap incubators on sale so I might go get one so when I find some eggs I will be prepared.

i am not in a huge hurry, but I know I want them and I want the blue eggs and not green! My husband has been calling me the chicken fashionista because I am so adamant that this is the ones I want.

Outrun acres, I have a mixed bag of chickens too because I couldn't decide which ones to try!

 

[gypsy5583]

These are my Americaunas, Rusty my roo in the top pic, and bessie my hen in the bottome pic along with rusty and snowball my whiteleghorn, I know they are Amer. but I am just not sure what you would call their colorings and markings?

 

[gypsy5583]

Another pic of rusty, he and bessie both have the black and gold markings. His tail feathers look black but in the sun they look purple and green.

 

[gypsy5583]

better pick of bessie.

 

[Little Wing]

better pick of bessie.

Bessie is a pretty EE. Not sure what Rusty is. That is a strange looking comb on him. He's a good looking fellow though!

 

[jerryse]

Hatcheries focus on making money. They are filling orders. Even the ones that are selling purebred Amers are doing it on a mass production level so there is no selection for correct breed characteristics. And while a step in the right direction as far marketing a purebred product this will cause you see more substandard Ameraucanas. I guess what you have to understand is Amer breed traits, specifically the pea comb and the beard and muff are dominant..and the pea comb is tied to the blue egg gene. Hatcheries just use any random chickens to make "Hatchery Ameraucanas/Easter Eggers". At some point they toss in either a purebred or a mixed peacomb in there, but it is totally random as to the feather colors and egg color. I can pick up a cochin at the feed store, a substandard cochin....no cushion or poor foot feathering....BUT its still genetically a cochin. The problem with selling a mixed breed under an actual breed is its confusing as anything and the poor messenger who has to explain this always gets shot. There is very little Ameraucana in "Hatchery Ameraucanas".

They also contract for eggs.That is they do not own the flock.In some cases they may supply the chicks to start the contractor with the breed.So any loss is the contractors.I assume if production exceeds demand you come up in the red.Windsor Mo. used to have 3 or 4 mail order hatcheries in the 1970's but none now.Allen and Crow and I think Marti.For awhile in the 70"s Wayne Meridiths eggs went to McMurray.He did not sell directly but sold to someone who supplied them.

 

[jerryse]

Ok, I am just full of questions this morning! If you cross a bird with blue/slate colored legs to a bird with yellow legs, would all of the offspring have green legs? Is this why the majority of EE's have green legs? We have 2 chicks in the brooder right now that have green legs and I am trying to determine which rooster is the daddy. Thanks.

Leg color will not help.Slate can hide yellow.Look at the laced project pic.They had a WY sire.Yellow legs but no green leg in his offspring.I will go out on a limb and answer without checking.Legs have 2 layers of skin.Each layer can have a different color.Slate is one layer black one layer white.When crossed to yellow the white layer removes yellow.It is still in the genes and can popup later.I think it takes 2 copies of yellow for that layer to show yellow.When combined with the other layer of skin black you have willow.