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Buff Ameraucana Large Fowl
philipu:
Since I have decided on concentrating on the Buff Variety of
Ameraucana, I have been reading, information on the Ameraucana.
I have some questions if there is anyone who is willing to enlighten
me, I will appreciate it.
On the Large Fowl Buff, what are the biggest challenges,
is it size (are they larger or smaller than the other varieties), eye color, shank color, feathers...undercoat?
What should I look for in the positive and in the negative, of
this variety?
Thanks for any information.
phil
philipu:
--- Quote from: John ---Yes, yes and yes. By the way, the buffs whether LF or bantams make the best setting hens of all the Ameraucana varieties.
An even buff color without shafting is always a primary goal. The eye color tends to be too dark when mine have dark slate legs. Because of the other breeds I used to develop my LF buffs the combs may need some improvement along with the egg color. They are very docile and beautiful birds, but you already knew that.
--- End quote ---
Thanks John,
when you are talking about shafting, am I hearing right,
the shaft of the feather is the same shade as the feather? Can it be a little darker?
On breeding of birds with combs less than what one wants,
do you use them, or try to find male with the correct comb.
I have heard that the female gives type and the male color,
does this hold true?
Also how much sun can a buff take before the color starts fading?
I don\'t want to make the birds a \"hot house\" bird.
I like to see the birds being chickens, dusting, scratching, digging in the dirt, and even mud, and listening to their chatter.
Thanks again, phil
Mike Gilbert:
Hi Phil,
If I may interject here, shafting is when the shaft of the feather is lighter in color than the webbing. I don\'t think a darker shaft is discriminated against. I raise my buff bantams in the shade mostly. The sun can bleach out the buff color, especially in females. I think it is extra damaging when the birds are left out in the sun after they get wet from a heavy dew or the rain. In general terms, a little sun won\'t hurt them, but shady conditions are best. With regard to comb selection, try using females with combs as small as possible to correct oversized combs in the males. It may take more than one generation inasmuch as there are a multitude of factors to select for besides the combs.
Mike
philipu:
--- Quote from: Mike Gilbert ---Hi Phil,
If I may interject here, shafting is when the shaft of the feather is lighter in color than the webbing. I don\'t think a darker shaft is discriminated against. I raise my buff bantams in the shade mostly. The sun can bleach out the buff color, especially in females. I think it is extra damaging when the birds are left out in the sun after they get wet from a heavy dew or the rain. In general terms, a little sun won\'t hurt them, but shady conditions are best. With regard to comb selection, try using females with combs as small as possible to correct oversized combs in the males. It may take more than one generation inasmuch as there are a multitude of factors to select for besides the combs.
Mike
--- End quote ---
Hi Mike,
My little shed is inbetween to rows of trees and stays pretty shaded, I was thinking of stretching some of that shade cloth over the top, especially for the summer sun, to block that out.
It will be a new experience showing a variety that has this demand on them to keep them in feather color.
I was wondering on the shafting just how hard judges were on that, especially since its in the same shade as the feathers.
If it were black then I could see the problem :)
Thanks for the tip on the combs. The combs on these males that I got from John B are really nice, a good number of the pea combs I\'ve seen on birds is irregular, oversized, just not there.
Susie\'s birds have really nice combs too.
I hope to be getting some of the FOR SALE birds this coming week weather permitting. It\'s suppose to cool down into the low 80\'s to mid 80\'s.
The 4 males I have in bantams are looking pretty good, still need to get feathers in hopefully by October or November.
I separated them today, they were wanting to fight, of course, I still had them in with the females...and I guess they are getting to that age......
Females are my favorite\'s, they seem to manage to get along, or get their pecking order real fast, and no damage done.
Males another story, as you well know.
Thanks again for the information you and John give to us here on the board. phil
Guest:
Hi, Phil!
I just want to ask/mention as to your altitude there in Jerome? We\'re at 7,000 ft. elevation here in Flagstaff and most any buff color will bleach out tremendously due to the sun effects at this altitude. When I did have buffs (Ameraucanas and Orpingtons) I did have to use a shade cloth indeed to keep them at their best for showing.
We even get sunburns through t-shirts here and have to be careful in the sun.
Good luck with your new birds. I ordered from John as well and love the birds I received!
Take care,
Kathy
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