Tracy, I have gotten pretty good at guessing by week 2-3, but it really is just an educated guess at that point. It is usually week 6-7 that I am closer to 100% accurate. Plus I seem to have a ton of black hatchlings and I know you are looking for other colors.
What we need is a poultry processor in Middle TN. I always have tons of roosters to dispose of. It would be nice to turn them into dinner (without me actually having to whack off their heads).
So I'm thinking about getting out of the BBS ameraucana world altogether. I LOVE the blue eggs, but the actual hens are freaky wild. The EEs and barred rocks and red stars that I have hand raised have all been super friendly. I have yet to make an AM friendly. They always act like I am killing them! Plus, the whole point of that line was to generate sales of eggs and chicks. I have sold some, but the overall market seems flooded. My local buyers don't seem to want them and the online world has a ton of people selling them. Dunno. I have been pondering it for a while. I'd likely keep a couple of hens in my laying flock and move the rooster and the rest of the hens on. Dunno. I need to figure out what new breed I want to work on.
Choices, choices, choices. They are lovely birds and do lay a beautiful egg.