The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding

Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

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Holiday Hatch:
Mike - Thanks for offering the suggestion of developing Brown Reds.  I do like the looks of the pullets you mentioned, but I'm in an urban neighborhood where I have to keep the roosters to a minimum out of respect for my neighbors.  LF Wheatens are my favorite and I'm going to concentrate on them.  I always appreciate your insight.  Linda

Lee G:
Hi Linda, I hope you don’t mind if I add my thoughts...
 
I really like your cockerel’s shape… and his feather width and sheen! Wow. Do you mind if I ask what you feed your birds?  :) He has a nice shaped head as well from what I can see. Comb is a bit bulky…does it have an S curve? I have a few hens like that, and their sons always seem to inherit the S. His tail set could be slightly lower to my eye too, but not much. (could also be the angle of the pic)
And please feel free to tell me I’m out to lunch.  :P

Holiday Hatch:
Lee - Your comments are very much appreciated.  Thanks for commenting on his shape, I like that about him also.  I get their feed direct from a local mill in Modesto, California.  modestomilling.com  They sell only organic feed.  I raise all chicks on "Organic Chick Starter & Poultry Grower Crumbles" and then switch to "Organic Layer Pellets" when pullets are of laying age.  The Cockerels continue to get supplemental "Organic Scratch".    It's excellent quality feed, a little pricey but well worth it to me.

--- Quote ---Comb is a bit bulky…does it have an S curve? I have a few hens like that, and their sons always seem to inherit the S
--- End quote ---
I agree it's a bit bulky.  'S Curve' is a new term to me but I have another Cockerel that probably has a slight S comb now that you mention it.  This 6 month old we're talking about I wouldn't consider to have an S Comb, but his comb takes a slight turn to one side at the tail end of his comb.  Maybe that is an S Comb.
You may be right about the tail set could be a bit lower. 
He's a good sized male.  So far he's the best one I've grown out this year.  There's a dozen more in the process of maturing.  Last year I didn't have any  Wheaten Cockerels I liked.  This year I'm pleased to have this one and plan to keep at least one more out of the younger ones. 
Thanks again for the comments; this is a great learning experience for me.  Linda

Tailfeathers:
Linda, for a 6mo old bird, I think he's showing a LOT of promise. 

Starting from the head and working down and back, here are my thoughts.

Yes, as already stated the comb is a bit bulky but given the hole bird, that is such a minor deduction, I wouldn't be too overly concerned with it.  Especially since you have nice full muffs & beard and it's almost full-colored already.  I still have yet to get a full-colored bearded bird.

Hackles are looking pretty clean already too.  Nice length of back.  Nice wide feathering as someone already stated.  He's carrying his wings pretty good in most of the pics.  And I can't quite tell but it looks like his upper primaries are lacking any brown to complete the wing bay?

Legs have nice color and thickness and station.  The tail is just a little too hard to tell yet.  It's still a bit sparse and the sickles aren't formed well enough to see how much it'll put them tail down which will help with the white fluff that's showing and making for the obvious break in the topline.  Also seeing very little red in the tail which is something I personally don't like to see at all. 

God Bless,

Lee G:
Well, the high quality food (and care) are definitely showing. He really is lovely… and oh so shiny. Lol

Linda, I am learning too.  :) The S curve is not an official term to my knowledge, but something I noticed within my flock and have been trying to breed away from. I like a nice, tight pea comb, low to the head and straight as a board. Unfortunately, the hens do not agree with me. They seem to be most attracted to males with the biggest, reddest headgear….who usually turn out to be the most hardy and vigorous of specimens. Hence why I’m still dealing with the S curve, lol…

Here is one of my breeders with the S in her blob of a comb. She has other obvious faults, but don’t tell her that. She is top hen and coveted by ALL the roosters, so probably wouldn't believe us anyway.  ::) She’s also a good layer, extremely fertile and has wonderful hatchability in her offspring.


Some of her blue split sons, showing the S curve to varying degrees.




But as Tailfeathers said, combs really are a minor point in the end. Especially considering your cockerels other attributes.

I can't wait to see him again around 12 months, all grown up and filled out!  ;D

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