Thank you, Mike! I can see I'm going to have to start treating this hobby with the same seriousness of intent as I did the horse and dog breeding!
So, if I'm understanding you correctly, then if I want my pullets to be in prime show condition for when the shows are here (usually Sept/Oct in the fall and starting in Mar in the spring), then I want to time their hatch so they have not hit their first molt yet, right?
Therefore, if my pullets are hitting that first molt in the 6 month range, and given my show dates, then I don't want them hatching before April-May?
Is that a general rule - they hit that first molt around 6 months of age?
I also agree with what you said about choosing the most amenable for your show stock. One of the traits of the Ameraucanas that I first fell in love with is that wonderful personality and something I will definitely be looking to maintain in my breeding stock.
Any other breeders in the southeast area (NC, SC, GA) that can share their timetables for hatching/molting/showing?
Thanks, everyone - I'm really learning from this.