Whats wrong with his comb please?

[BokBokBeginner]

I hatched what I was told were pure Araucana eggs the problem is I don't know whats wrong with my boys comb, please can anyone tell me if this is normal? I thought true lavender Araucana's had a small pea comb... poor Max has his comb hanging over his left eye!

 

[BokBokBeginner]

 

[BokBokBeginner]

My concern is that I wanted to use Max to breed his blue egg gene but now I'm worried about his comb not being normal. Should I use him for breeding or not? Please help me I am new to all this

 

[nuthatched]

Easter egger. Very washed out easter egger. Arucauna are tail less, Ameracauna have tails, both have pea combs.

 

[RoosterML]

Aren’t they suppose to have no tail?

 

[BokBokBeginner]

Thank you. What do you mean by washed out sorry I am quite uneducated at all this chicken talk but really want to learn

 

[RoosterML]

Easter egger. Very washed out easter egger. Arucauna are tail less, Ameracauna have tails, both have pea combs.

That’s what I was thinking

 

[BokBokBeginner]

He is only 16 weeks old and like I mentioned before I wanted to use him to breed some colour into my egg baskets. I wanted a true araucana though and if he is not then I want to replace him. Thank you for helping me.

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you. What do you mean by washed out sorry I am quite uneducated at all this chicken talk but really want to learn

It's not a chicken term, it's just me. :] I say washed out because I don't believe it to be a first generation Easter egger, one parent Ameraucana/Auracauna crossed with ?. I think it a grandkid or further descendant of a mix.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I hatched what I was told were pure Araucana eggs the problem is I don't know whats wrong with my boys comb, please can anyone tell me if this is normal?

Normal.. yes. Not every chick that hatches will be top quality, EVEN when parent stock is chosen for correct phenotype (looks/physical) that won't account for genotype (hidden/genes).

Correct.. no.. not according to the standard of perfection that I am familiar with in the US.. does the Australian standard call for a pea comb also? Or which standard of perfection are you using? Comb seems like one of those things that translates across all countries' standards...

Looks like it may have had some straight comb popping out.. this CAN happen in pure bred birds.. if one or both are hiding the less dominant gene.. in this case straight comb MAYBE.. when bred together the straight comb may pop out up to 50% of the offspring perhaps..

What I see LOOKS like a straight comb with side sprigs *more* than it looks like a pea comb to ME.. this is just my assessment though, according to what little I do understand about combs and genetics.

Is he rump-less?

Looks like not homozygous for tufting, as far as I can SEE.. meaning he is only carrying a single copy of that lethal gene.. Just discussion and practicing my observational/detective skills and not a comment on quality.. breeding the more rare and difficult genetics.. like Araucana.. present many unique challenges one may never know unless faced themselves.

In other words.. I would breed from him if I had no other option.. knowing that I WILL be selecting a better sire from future generations.. as is the constant case for flocks that breed.. your improving or diminishing in quality.. things never stay the same. So for breeding ALL breeding stock are temporary.. when their time comes.. they find new home or grace freezer camp.