Ameraucana Breeders Club
The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club => Breeding => Topic started by: Lindsay Helton on November 17, 2020, 10:08:44 AM
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If you are interested in breeding towards the standard and do not already do so, I highly recommend weighing your Ameraucanas!
The standard weights for large fowl Ameraucanas are:
Cock: 6.5 lbs (5.2 lbs - 7.8 lbs)
Hen: 5.5 lbs (4.4 lbs - 6.6 lbs)
Cockerel: 5.5 lbs (4.4 lbs - 6.6 lbs)
Pullet: 4.5 lbs (3.6 lbs - 5.4 lbs)
The standard weights for bantam Ameraucanas are:
Cock: 30 oz (24 oz - 36 oz)
Hen: 26 oz (20.8 oz - 31.2 oz)
Cockerel: 26 oz (20.8 oz - 31.2 oz)
Pullet: 24 oz (19.2 oz - 28.8 oz)
*The A.P.A. allows up to 20% deviation from standard weights so I included those calculations in parenthesis.
One of my Ameraucana mentors encouraged me to buy a scale for years. I finally bought one and was surprised at my findings when weighing the birds. A cockerel I assumed was slightly undersized weighed 6 lbs 11 oz! A cockerel I assumed was larger than the first cockerel weighed 5 lbs 11 oz! Appearance and feel are not accurate indicators of weight. Factors such as feathering can give the false impression of heavier weight.
I use an affordable postal scale that I bought on Amazon. There are several options available out there.
https://www.amazon.com/ACCUTECK-W-8250-50bs-Digital-Adapter-Silver/dp/B00SMHWZ42/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=postal+scale&qid=1605565766&sr=8-3
You can also purchase an American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection book via the following link:
http://amerpoultryassn.com/sample-page/apa-store/