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Messages - Don

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481
Ameraucana Marketplace / Re: ISO Bantam Black Cockerel/Cock
« on: December 03, 2015, 10:24:07 PM »
Temple,  Many folks have thinned down to breeders at this point.  I'd get on someone's wait list for chicks or eggs for the spring.  Another option is to get someone to sell you a male after they've finished hatching in the spring.  Your hatches might be late but at least you won't miss a whole season.  Birds are going to be scarce until folks have filled their own brooders in the spring.  Many bantam breeders start hatching in March/April  Folks will be wanting stock after the first of the year and wonder why there are none to be found.  Plan ahead now and take advantage of those who are offering chicks for the spring.

But your search for black bantams brings up point.  It seems that bantams are falling out of popularity through out the country.  Blue Wheatens almost went by the wayside until thankfully a few folks picked up this baton. Its hard to believe that Blacks are not that available now.  Keep looking and keep some of those other bantams going, pass them on to some others.  And raise a bunch of the whites too.  Folks are trying to find sources for this great variety.  If we have blacks and whites, we can reinforce many of the other colors as needed.       

482
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Show Prep and Conditioning - what do you do?
« on: November 19, 2015, 11:12:23 AM »
Dixie Classic website has a very simple show prep article with a few pictures.  I am sure there are others

http://www.tnvpoultryclub.com/index.php/show-chicken-tips

483
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Show Prep and Conditioning - what do you do?
« on: November 18, 2015, 02:05:33 PM »
You can find anything on line, wow.  the single trim across the front would be fine if they were going back into the coop.  The sharp edges on the sides would wear smooth.  But if you are taking them directly to a show I would even it out a little on the corner just to make it look more natural.  But three clips should do the trick.

  ( There is no blood unless you get into the quick of the beck, just like your dogs toenails.  You are         trimming the beak not trying to debeak them! )

I am sure that Jeff would be glad to help out at the show.  He has already told you what he thought about doing to the tail feathers.   

484
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Show Prep and Conditioning - what do you do?
« on: November 17, 2015, 08:35:56 PM »
I don't have any videos.  Maybe search on line, you can find almost anything these days.  If the upper beak is grown down over the lower beak, they can be trimmed to match each other when the beak is closed.  I do not think the closed dog trimmer will work as well, maybe I am thinking of something different.  But I use a regular pair of finger nail clips, toe nail clips max.  You will probably have to trim both sides, and probably the front, to get it to form and match the lower beak.  You can get someone at the show to help hold the bird and show you how.  It just takes a minute.     

485
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Another new Master Exhibitor!
« on: November 16, 2015, 09:48:22 PM »
Kudos Max!  Keep up the good work promoting the breed. 
Hope to see you out east sometime with some of those bantams too

486
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: South East District Meet Dec 5, 2015
« on: November 16, 2015, 02:19:53 PM »
Gordon,  I appreciate your interest and I understand your decision to not be on the road for 2 full days.  We will miss you for sure.  I looked at one show that I would love to attend and it was Only 34 hrs drive for us. It really is a Big country when you start to look at driving.  So I keep hoping that they will come up with the transporter we've seen in Star Trek for about 30 years now.  Come on Apple or Google, stop worrying with the self driving car, and lets get some serious transportation going.

Regarding the good birds in SC, there are a few more after last weeks National.  I hear that that male unfolded from that cat crate nicely and is doing quite good.  I expect he might just be good competition at the show.  I threatened to sell him to make some money.  But I thought the new owner was going to cry, so I had to assure them safe passage.   

487
Exhibiting & Promoting / South East District Meet Dec 5, 2015
« on: November 16, 2015, 12:26:24 PM »
There is still plenty of time for entry and reservations into the SE District meet the first Saturday of December.  This is a double show which also includes the South Carolina State meet so there will be plenty of chances for point winnings.  Susan has confirmed that we can P/T test at the door for anyone that has not completed NPIP for the year.  And there are not requirements for AI testing.  There is a $50 cash award for Champion Ameraucana and hopefully there will be both bantam and LF in various classes.   

Its a great place to show your birds, lots closer than the National in Arkansas.  So plan your entries and come on up/down to the South state and enjoy some good competition and fellowship.  We look forward to seeing you there.   

The show catalog can be found at this link
                http://www.spba.club/

488
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: National Meet - Nov 7-8, 2015
« on: November 15, 2015, 07:51:50 PM »
A good summary for the show, I agree with Jeff and Cheryl.
Paul and Angela did a great job.  And it was great how everyone worked together. 
And I am really glad that Matthew was there to help Jerry carry out all those awards.  Not sure he could have done it by himself.  Lol   

489
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Dec. 5 & 6 Dixie Classic (Knoxville, TN)
« on: November 12, 2015, 05:36:32 PM »
Spencer you have to begin somewhere and its best to jump in.  You can learn a lot more during the process of showing and talking to others than to read up until you feel you know all about it.  Read what you can, but more importantly just start.  I think its great to hold your best breeders back like Susan said.  You will learn that the best show birds are not always the best breeders.  But you still have to make that judgement call.  As Gordon said, you will get to know your birds better that any judge that spends a few minutes with them.  So learn as much as you can at the show and you will learn to judge your birds and trust your judgement. 

I hope the Knoxville show is a good show and I hope there will be some nice AMs there.  I've heard that they are requiring AI tests for each entry and sales bird.  You might get by with less with an in-state flock.  This is similar to Arkansas this year except for the Vet Certificate.  I hope that it does not hamper the entries.  Our SE District meet is the same weekend in South Carolina.  And they allow PT testing at the door this year, no AI testing.  Come on down if you change your mind.  We will try to show you some real Southern Hospitality.   

490
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Overdue Meet Reports
« on: November 11, 2015, 02:08:13 PM »
Thanks Susan,  I had kind of written that one off.  I had emailed several times and he said that he had sent it.  I figured it went to the wrong address.   

BTW, can we fill these out before we leave the show maybe and save some time/confusion?  Those who request the meets often are there for photos etc.  We might have the secretary sign the report just to make sure its correct and fair?    Just trying to make things easier.

491
Breeding / Re: Another rookie question
« on: October 16, 2015, 02:12:58 PM »
Art,   The egg color of the birds vary with variety and family strain.  Probably the best eggs come from the Black Blue, splash and white varieties.  I have heard that some of the Silvers and Brown Reds lay a good colored egg too.  Buffs on the other hand are still trying to recoup from all the Buff Orp blood that was used to create the color.  Somewhere in the middle is probably the Wheatens.  I have seen some good colored eggs but not to match the Blacks.   So I would agree with Susan that sometimes the egg color of pullets will bounce around a bit for a few weeks, but then settle down to a pretty even color.  Then as the season continues, the tinting will probably lighten as the hens/pullets continue to produce. 

Here are discussions about egg color but there are many others that have been posted over the years.
http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=1476.msg9478#msg9478
http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=748.msg4732#msg4732

I am sure that some of the others will jump in with better answers later this weekend.   

492
Breeding / Re: Rookie question
« on: October 15, 2015, 11:59:00 AM »
Hi Art, Glad to see you on the forum.  I hope you have enjoyed the Wheatens and blue wheatens.

Some of the wheaten females don't show as much black or blue color in their tails as the standard lists.  Sometimes the color is broken in these areas with more light tan where the solid black or greyish blue should be.  But sometimes you can see the color on the bottom section of the wing primaries.  Spread the wings and you might be able to tell the difference in the solid black color and bluish colors.   

This might help         http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=2139.msg15538#msg15538

I hope that you raised some good birds out of the chicks.  List any that you don't want to keep on the forum. I am sure that you will find someone that will be willing to take them off your hands.  Or take them to the national.  I expect there will be people looking for stock there.     

493
We are planning to make the trip and can take a turn at the table as needed.  Also might have someone that can take some photos if that helps.   

I will offer an APA 1910 Standard of perfection for the silent auction if you are including materials in addition to birds.

494
Breeding / Re: Blue Wheaten cockerel...with issues
« on: October 02, 2015, 10:53:23 AM »
Susan,   IMO I would use him if he has all of the other attributes that you need in your matings.   Definitely keep his offspring toe punched and be aware during culling youngsters.  In searching the duckfoot it seems like most agree that its a recessive gene.  Strange that you did not have any females show it at all?  It might not be very prolific in the line.  You might want to try him in a cross to another line to compare offspring too.

The enamel is a problem with several of the Wheaten lines.  Just be aware that its there, choose your best females that do not have any evidence of the problem.  And track it to the end. 

I can't tell in the picture much else about his type.  But he seems to have lots of others things going for him.  How is the lacing in the breast?  Look like he has some stripping in the hackle which is very normal in the wheatens.  But his color muff and beard look from what I can see in the picture.  Do you have females with a very nice comb?

495
Breeding / Re: Splash wheaten variety APA recognition
« on: September 28, 2015, 09:35:01 AM »
I will get some pictures of our Splash Wheaten males once this monsoon clears.  But I did find a couple of pictures on the forum of a couple SW males that are pretty well grown.  They are not showing well in the middle of winter, but the pics are easily accessible and shows the head and lacing on the breast.

http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=1469.msg9753#msg9753

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Thanks Susan for reworking and posting the pictures!

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