Messages

16

Breeding / HerSHE

« on: January 31, 2012, 04:11:49 PM »

What is \"true slate\"?  That is a good question.

Are buffs true slate if they are not slate at hatching, but darken later?  This is a recognized variety, but the slate looks different to me.

Are slate spots on a barred or mottled bird true slate (with color inhibitors)?

Are black legs truly slate (slate with black extenders causing the legs to be black)?

Is the chocolate dilution of black that causes the slate leg to have a chocolate cast, still slate?

What about lavender that dilutes the slate to light slate?

17

Breeding / HerSHE

« on: January 26, 2012, 01:42:20 PM »

Look at this hen.  Is this the mottled gene?  The legs sure look slate.

18

Breeding / HerSHE

« on: January 25, 2012, 01:04:36 PM »

Thinking about mottled... aren\'t there some white spotted birds with dark legs - like the hamburg?  Is there more than one gene for white spots?  I also saw some barred birds that had dark spots on their legs - so they might be slate with color inhibitors... slate genetically perhaps?

This is great to discuss this stuff.  It is also good to be reminded that the existing varieties need support.  Hmmm.  A new member lured to the Ameraucana ranks with a fad variety will eventually add more varieties to their coop.  It\'s inescapable!  ^_^

19

Breeding / HerSHE

« on: January 24, 2012, 02:37:05 PM »

I agree with the embarrassing circus atmosphere, but think we might be able to use a little of it.

I also agree with not wanting an endless parade of new colors... sort of like some other breeds, especially in bantam.  How has this affected Old English?  I seem to see a new variety every year, it seems.

I also think that if some colors remain unpopular and it\'s a struggle to maintain them, perhaps that\'s where they should remain - a minor variety.  If you can\'t sell the birds to new customers, why keep raising them?

Black gold appears to be fading away before it really got started.   Perhaps the color is too boring to attract new breeders.  Maybe it needs to be more different than brown/red... another boring color?

I\'m not pretending to have answers.  I just think the questions need to be asked.

20

Breeding / HerSHE

« on: January 24, 2012, 11:25:34 AM »

Don\'t other breeds have varieties with different leg color for a specific variety?  I think we might re-visit this issue.  The barred project is in a similar spot, with the genetics for the color not allowing true slate legs.  We already allow black legs on black.

I truly believe that the growth of the Ameraucana breed lies in taking away part of the HUGE customer base and popularity of the Easter Egger market.  Having exciting colors to go with the egg color should entice folks over to the breed.

21

Housing, Health & Hatching / Automatic Watering Systems

« on: January 22, 2012, 02:15:11 AM »

I like the dog water bowl style.  They are easy to clean out and inexpensive.  If chicks have access to it I put a rock in it to make sure they can get out if they fall in.  I don\'t normally use it for the brooder pen.

I do have an automatic waterer with a shallow dish that I bought at a poultry show, but it seems to clog up all the time.

22

Breeding / Erminett genetics question

« on: January 10, 2012, 08:59:33 AM »

I lifted this from a discussion on BYC:

Actually the colors Light, Columbian, and Ermine get mixed up.  It depends on the breed.  Ermine on any breed is the same however, the same with columbians.  Before I confuse you further, let me explain.  Ermine is different than columbian in that the saddle on ermines lack the black stipes.  Columbians on any breed have black striping in the saddle.  Light is more confusing because Light Sussex is refering to the Ermine color, and Light Brahmas refer to the columbian color.  (although the columbian color name didn\'t come around until long after the light brahmas).  If I confused anyone, let me know and I\'ll try to restate it more clearly.

David

Is Erminette the same gene as Ermine?

23

Breeding / Erminett genetics question

« on: January 10, 2012, 08:56:16 AM »

This might be a good article, but you have to pay to view the whole thing.
http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/5/200.extract

Also at the bottom of this very long page is a genetics chart.  I don\'t see Ermine, but then I really don\'t know what it is or what else it could be called.
http://kippenjungle.nl/Overzicht.htm#kippengenen

24

Breeding / Suggestion for Sustainable Meat Birds

« on: January 09, 2012, 09:52:55 PM »

I\'ve been hearing a lot about Freedom Rangers.  They walk around like normal chickens.  Check them out.

25

Ameraucana Marketplace / LF black pullets wanted

« on: December 23, 2010, 01:50:57 PM »

Oh yeah, I suspect your bantam lav egg carries brown also.  Just don\'t be too quick to throw the baby out with the bath water.

26

Ameraucana Marketplace / LF black pullets wanted

« on: December 23, 2010, 01:49:10 PM »

Your black pullet\'s egg is the same color as mine.  You can work on getting rid of the green color later.  At any time, you can stop hatching the green eggs.  The blue egg layers do not have any brown genes to transmit (they can\'t hide it), so it\'s an easy solution.

This \"work\" is what makes it FUN!

27

Ameraucana Marketplace / LF black pullets wanted

« on: December 23, 2010, 09:29:20 AM »

I am keeping my black hen that lays green eggs.  I know that she carries the gene for blue, but also carries a light brown to make green.  Since my roos come from blue eggs, she should produce some pullets that lay blue eggs.  I am keeping her because she is outstanding in type and size and I need that.  In fact, I put her in my black gold pen for a year to improve type and size - knowing I would get some green eggs in my all blue pen.

From what I\'ve heard there is a lot of green eggs in the blacks.  It\'s something to work on, not necessarily throw away.  ...just something to think about...

28

Ameraucana Marketplace / Stockton Show premium list is out. Who\'s coming?

« on: December 22, 2010, 05:13:30 PM »

Thanks everyone - for making me feel a lot better about being so confused by the entry form.  ^_^

29

Ameraucana Marketplace / Stockton Show premium list is out. Who\'s coming?

« on: December 22, 2010, 03:25:27 PM »

Oh!  I thought OT and YT were Old Trio and Young Trio.  

There definitely were turkeys last year... but there is no mention of prizes for turkeys.  There are prizes for trios, though.  It still might be trios.

30

Ameraucana Marketplace / Stockton Show premium list is out. Who\'s coming?

« on: December 22, 2010, 03:22:30 PM »

Double coop makes sense.  They have a $3 charge for that.  

I sure hope I\'m not the only one there.  I guess I can read a book and try to stay the heck out of the sale barn.