Why? Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? "True Bantam Ameraucana's" 😡🥺

[NagemTX]

I also want to let you know that a breeder may have good lines but not know how to breed and can ruin them really quickly.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Cackle is all John Belehm lines.

Lavender to black all splits.

The other issue with purchasing from cackle is that they will all be day olds and I really just don't want to deal with growing out day olds. I wanted to know what I was getting when I purchased it and not have to wait a yr or more to be able to hatch. Even purchasing day olds from a show breeder is a gamble, honestly. Just because two good birds are paired together does not guarantee that all of the offspring will be good, breeder or show quality. It's always a toss up and I wanted to know what I was investing in before I dumped a yrs worth of time and feed into them. Really it's cheaper in the long run and safer to buy grow outs or mature birds.

 

[RememberTheWay]

I also want to let you know that a breeder may have good lines but not know how to breed and can ruin them really quickly.

Totally agree with this! Supposedly they were still the original birds though, at least some of them. I just can't for the life of me understand how I studied those photos so well and then ended up driving that far for them to look in person so wildly different then what I thought they would And I studied every check point from the photos I had because I didn't want to commit to driving that far for birds that I wasn't sure about. I don't want to publicly post anything because I genuinely really liked the people, I just couldn't start my flock with the birds they were selling. Even though maybe I would like a second opinion on maybe what I might of missed ?

 

[NagemTX]

The other issue with purchasing from cackle is that they will all be day olds and I really just don't want to deal with growing out day olds. I wanted to know what I was getting when I purchased it and not have to wait a yr or more to be able to hatch. Even purchasing day olds from a show breeder is a gamble, honestly. Just because two good birds are paired together does not guarantee that all of the offspring will be good, breeder or show quality. It's always a toss up and I wanted to know what I was investing in before I dumped a yrs worth of time and feed into them. Really it's cheaper in the long run and safer to buy grow outs or mature birds.

Then I would wait till a show comes up and go to that to acquire something. That way you can talk to the person that got best in the breed.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Then I would wait till a show comes up and go to that to acquire something. That way you can talk to the person that got best in the breed.

Here is the "splash" supposed to be self blue pullet. So far even though I know she isn't the right color, I think maybe I may have gotten lucky with her? She is filling in kind of nice at least to me? I know I read advice from Susan Mouw to wait quite a while to evaluate tail sets bc they can change quite drastically as they mature. Can anyone tell me if that holds true for pinched tails? Or is that one of those traits that once you see it, you've pretty much got it?

I know at least to my eye at this time her tablet looks quite pinched. I also think that maybe her wings could be a bit tighter to her, but I don't think they are terrible. Would like to see a more full muff/beard. I think her breast is well formed and has good depth to it and I like the wing set angle too. Maybe her neck transition could be smoother, but that could also happen with growth if her neck lengthens at all.

Lastly - she has quite a nice personality and temperaments. Very laid back and easy to deal with. The type of bird you would enjoy showing and having around kids definitely

Anything I'm missing?

 

[NagemTX]

Do you happen to be on Facebook? If so I'm going to recommend some groups that will help with judging your bird. If you do you should join The Unofficial Ameraucana group, Russell Blair posts to this group quite a bit and it has information about the Ameraucana Alliance club. The other group that has judging posts that are very educational is All About Ameraucana. There are posts from Lindsay Huckaby Helton with photos for proper body, head, tail, wing set, and more. She sets them up as a learning post. Also you can submit pictures for the best to give pointers and info on how this bird measures up. Those two groups are the best in my opinion as far as Facebook goes.

Pinched tail may not resolve its self. It would mean the meat part of the tail where the feathers grow from is narrow or the hips are two narrow.

Something ells of note a lot of breeders do not sell their best stock. They keep back the best to breed with and sell the culls. Its been discussed but quite a few breeders not just Ameraucana breeders. I know you want to buy Juvenal 3 to 6month olds or adult birds so as not to put as much money out. The truth might be unless you go to a show and speak with a reputable breeder there you may not get what you want. Seek out mentor ship with a breeder at a show is your very best bet to get what you are looking for. The expense will then shift to your time put in instead of money spent in some cases.

There is no short cut to get show birds with out spending the money or the time. Most serious breeders want others to breed their own show birds and not buy birds that have been shown already. At least that is the sentiment I get when I've spoken or corresponded with them. The end result of your hard work and money is the bird your are showing. Chicken showing is not like dog or horse showing, the community really likes it when you put the time and effort into breeding your own show birds as it shows your commitment to them. Its how chicken shows came about, to show off that hard work making a living piece of art to other chicken folk.

The two Facebook groups or joining the Ameraucana clubs and finding a mentor is your best bet to cut down on cost of getting into this hobby for showing. Talk to the guys that run this stuff for info on where to get birds in your area. Shows are the very best place to do this.

 

[NagemTX]

Totally agree with this! Supposedly they were still the original birds though, at least some of them. I just can't for the life of me understand how I studied those photos so well and then ended up driving that far for them to look in person so wildly different then what I thought they would And I studied every check point from the photos I had because I didn't want to commit to driving that far for birds that I wasn't sure about. I don't want to publicly post anything because I genuinely really liked the people, I just couldn't start my flock with the birds they were selling. Even though maybe I would like a second opinion on maybe what I might of missed ?

Things can be hidden with camera angles or enhanced in person inspection is the best option.

I really am sorry you where done this way! I still don't trust those who say they are breeders unless I see them at shows. I trust Cackle because of the evaluations I have had on my adult birds from Cackle. I understand not going with them because they don't have bantam Ameraucana, *disappointed face* if they did I would be getting my bantams from there. If that wasn't the problem I would like to say you can do min order of I think 5 birds from them with extra shipping charge.

As I am trying to get Silver Ameraucana going here in my location its been more difficult on me. I have been tracking down every lead I can to get this color and all but one source was unavailable. I had to order hatching eggs to even get them. Lucky a friend from here has found me another source because my total hatch out of Silvers netted me maybe 4 females and all the rest males. More hatching for me in the future that is not from my own flock. **sigh**

You will get there its just going to take more time with the restrictions you have. Go to shows, join the clubs and email or call the guys that run the Ameraucana clubs. They will have the info you need to source the better birds.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Do you happen to be on Facebook? If so I'm going to recommend some groups that will help with judging your bird. If you do you should join The Unofficial Ameraucana group, Russell Blair posts to this group quite a bit and it has information about the Ameraucana Alliance club. The other group that has judging posts that are very educational is All About Ameraucana. There are posts from Lindsay Huckaby Helton with photos for proper body, head, tail, wing set, and more. She sets them up as a learning post. Also you can submit pictures for the best to give pointers and info on how this bird measures up. Those two groups are the best in my opinion as far as Facebook goes.

Pinched tail may not resolve its self. It would mean the meat part of the tail where the feathers grow from is narrow or the hips are two narrow.

Something ells of note a lot of breeders do not sell their best stock. They keep back the best to breed with and sell the culls. Its been discussed but quite a few breeders not just Ameraucana breeders. I know you want to buy Juvenal 3 to 6month olds or adult birds so as not to put as much money out. The truth might be unless you go to a show and speak with a reputable breeder there you may not get what you want. Seek out mentor ship with a breeder at a show is your very best bet to get what you are looking for. The expense will then shift to your time put in instead of money spent in some cases.

There is no short cut to get show birds with out spending the money or the time. Most serious breeders want others to breed their own show birds and not buy birds that have been shown already. At least that is the sentiment I get when I've spoken or corresponded with them. The end result of your hard work and money is the bird your are showing. Chicken showing is not like dog or horse showing, the community really likes it when you put the time and effort into breeding your own show birds as it shows your commitment to them. Its how chicken shows came about, to show off that hard work making a living piece of art to other chicken folk.

The two Facebook groups or joining the Ameraucana clubs and finding a mentor is your best bet to cut down on cost of getting into this hobby for showing. Talk to the guys that run this stuff for info on where to get birds in your area. Shows are the very best place to do this.

I am actually doing all of this already. I'm just that kind of personality when I get into something, I'm ALL in, and completely immersed in it.

I have started relationships with several breeders. Most of them don't even live in the same state as me though. Which makes things challenging.

I was not aware of the Unofficial group though so I will join that one as well. I am very aware of Lindsay and all her work and admire and respect her greatly. I would like to get birds from her one.

Let me expand on the evaluation of the bird- I am very aware that this bird is not a show bird. I more was giving my evaluation for educational purposes not because I think this bird is special. Well she is, I quite like her, but she isnt show bird material. I know her flock isn't because he has serious tail issues and I'm not even sure what to do with him. A female having a defect isn't as detrimental as a male in the flock.

I was also advised not to purchase from shows by breeders themselves. That most of the birds at those auctions are culls, of course. But that brings me to another point- one breeders culls can very well be perfect birds for another breeder. Meaning 1- that someone who has been breeding for 25 yrs is going to be culling for specific things, but those very culls could still be very nice birds especially for someone who is just starting or even 10 yrs in if that makes sense.

I know when I looked, the shows in my state were going to be in Knoxville which is quite far from me. Do you know how I would find out about smaller shows? Maybe I should just ask Lindsay that since she isnt too far from me.

I have found the atmosphere here at least to be much more welcoming then some of the FB groups I'm in though. But that's just my personal observations. But I have to say that many of the breeders I personally correspond with in private are very nice people, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. And I have very much enjoyed my conversations with them.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Lucky a friend from here has found me another source because my total hatch out of Silvers netted me maybe 4 females and all the rest males. More hatching for me in the future that is not from my own flock

I will have to look up this color. I think I know what your talking about but my focus thus far has been on self blue, ermine, and blacks so my memory is a bit fuzzy. Were none of those 4 suitable for use?

 

[Bean1028]

As far as camera angles go...these are all of the same bird, same day. Yes, I'm obsessed with her. I call these "the many faces of Silvara" lol. Even her leg color appears to change given the right angle! And no, I absolutely did not change any camera settings or use any filters...these are raw pics, not even cropped. Just thought they were a great example of camera angles!