Messages

616

Breeding / Yellow skin- A disqualification for Ameraucanas

« on: September 30, 2020, 01:05:00 PM »

I often see posts from folks asking if the birds they have purchased are Ameraucanas or EE’s.

One disqualification (a deformity or defect serious enough to debar a fowl) that you can watch for to quickly identify an EE/mixed bird is yellow skin. Ameraucanas should have white skin, not yellow skin.

The gene that is responsible for white skin is dominant and wild type. The yellow skin gene is recessive to white skin. Both white skin and yellow skin can affect the epidermal layer of skin.

To double check the skin color of your birds, take a close look at their foot pads. The foot pads on an Ameraucana should be white. You can also take a look at the beak and shanks. Yellow, willow or green tints in these areas are indicative of yellow skin which is a disqualification.

617

News and Information / Splash standard for large fowl

« on: September 26, 2020, 01:41:09 PM »

We have put together our first draft for the splash variety in large fowl.

We referenced the breeds that currently have the splash color variety approved in the most current American Standard of Perfection book (44th edition). The Splash Modern Game can be referenced on page 231. The Splash Cochin Bantam can be referenced on page 316. The Bearded Splash Silkie can be referenced on page 319.

We also referenced the color description for the splash color in the ABA Bantam Standard.

SPLASH AMERAUCANA:

MALE:

COMB, FACE AND EAR-LOBES: Red
BEAK: Horn to black.
EYES: Reddish bay.
BEARD AND MUFFS: White to sooty white with blue splashes.
HEAD: Blue and white with faint bluish-gray tinge.
NECK: Hackle- Blue and white with faint bluish-gray tinge. Front of neck- Sooty white with blue splashes.
BACK: Blue and white with faint bluish-gray tinge.
SADDLE: Blue and white with faint bluish-gray tinge.
TAIL: Sooty white with blue splashes.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows, and Coverts- Sooty white with blue splashes.
Primaries- Sooty white with blue splashes.
Secondaries- Sooty white with blue splashes.
BREAST: Sooty white with blue splashes.
BODY AND STERN: Sooty white with blue splashes.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs- Sooty white with blue splashes. Shanks and toes- Bluish slate, bottoms of feet and toes white.

FEMALE:

COMB, FACE AND EAR-LOBES: Very pale, matching color of the skin.
BEAK: Horn to black.
EYES: Reddish bay.
BEARD AND MUFFS: White to sooty white with blue splashes.
HEAD: Sooty white with blue splashes.
NECK: Sooty white with blue splashes.
BACK: Sooty white with blue splashes.
TAIL: Sooty white with blue splashes.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows, and Coverts- Sooty white with blue splashes.
Primaries- Sooty white with blue splashes.
Secondaries- Sooty white with blue splashes.
BREAST: Sooty white with blue splashes.
BODY AND STERN: Sooty white with blue splashes.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs- Sooty white with blue splashes. Shanks and toes- Bluish slate, bottoms of feet and toes white.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: Any appearance of rust in plumage.  More than 50% blue in the plumage.

We welcome feedback from our members. I can be reached via email at abcsecretaryhelton@gmail.com.

618

News and Information / ABC Board of Directors election results

« on: September 20, 2020, 09:42:16 PM »

The incoming Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 term are:

President: Paul Smith
Western District Director: Jean Ribbeck
South Central District Director: Kris Dossey
North Central District Director: Gordon Gilliam
North East District Director: Rob Sando
Secretary/Treasurer: Lindsay Helton

The election for South East District Director ended in a tie.

The constitution states that a district director must be elected by a majority vote of the membership within their district. Since neither candidate received a majority vote, incoming President Paul Smith can nominate someone for the position when it becomes open on 1/1/2021 and the Board will vote.

619

Breeding / The price of day old Ameraucana chicks

« on: September 10, 2020, 10:32:22 PM »

Just a quick reminder that you should be able to find Ameraucana chicks from a reputable seller for an affordable price.

Sometimes it may involve being on a waiting list. A lot of breeders have a “hatching season” that runs from Feb-May and then they have started birds and adult birds for sale in the late summer and early fall.

Keep in mind that a high list price is not necessarily indicative of high quality. I recently came across a post where a buyer purchased Ameraucana chicks for $49 each. Many reputable sellers that are breeding their birds towards the standard and actively showing their birds have day old Ameraucana chicks priced at $8-$15 each.

If you are interested in raising good quality birds, familiarize yourself with the breed standard. One way you can do this is by purchasing an American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection book at http://amerpoultryassn.com/sample-page/apa-store/ or by looking around the ABC website.

I made a post about purchasing quality Ameraucanas a while back and included a list of potential questions to ask sellers if quality is important to you. I’ll repost those questions below.

1. What color varieties are you raising?

2. Do you own a copy of the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection book?

3. Are you breeding your birds towards the standard?

4. How do you have your breeding pens set up?

5. Can I see pictures of your breeding stock?

6. Are you showing your birds and having them evaluated by a licensed poultry judge?

7. How are your birds performing in poultry shows?

8. How long have you been a breeder?

9. What are some things you are working on in your pens?

Serious breeders will be able to quickly answer the aforementioned questions.

Hopefully this post will help you as you search for good quality Ameraucanas. Good luck! The Ameraucana Breeders Club Breeder’s Directory is a great place to start your search.

http://www.ameraucanabreedersclub.org/docs/breedersdirectory_state.pdf

620

Upcoming Meets / Forsyth Fowl Fancier Show, 11/28/2020, Winston-Salem, NC - CANCELLED

« on: September 09, 2020, 04:36:06 PM »

Show Name: Forsyth Fowl Fancier Show
Meet Type: Club
Single Show
Show Start - End Dates: 11/28/2020 - 11/28/2020
Host Club: Forsyth Fowl Fancier
Show Facility: Dixie Classic Fairgrounds
Show Address: 421 27th St NW
Show City, St, Zip: Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Show Secretary: Mark East
Show Secretary's Email: Statefan10@yahoo.com

621

Upcoming Meets / Anderson Poultry Club Fall Classic, SE District Meet, 11/21/2020, Pendleton, SC

« on: September 09, 2020, 04:32:15 PM »

Show Name: Anderson Poultry Club Fall Classic
Meet Type: District
Single Show
Show Start - End Dates: 11/21/2020 - 11/21/2020
Host Club: Anderson Poultry Club
Show Facility: T. Ed Garrison Cattle Complex
Show Address: 1101 W. Queen St.
Show City, St, Zip: Pendleton, SC 29670
Show Secretary: Chadwick Satterfield
Show Secretary's Email: andersonbantamclub@gmail.com

622

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / Raffle: $200 Tractor Supply Gift Card

« on: September 07, 2020, 02:02:24 PM »

Please join us as we raise funds for our 2021 national meet!

Raffle- $200 Tractor Supply Gift Card

1 ticket: $5
3 tickets: $10

To purchase raffle tickets, please send payment via PayPal to info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org!

I will send you a confirmation email with your ticket numbers when your payment has been received and you will be automatically entered in the drawing! The drawing will take place at our 2020 national meet at the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Mega Show in Norman, OK on 11/7/2020. You do not have to be present to win!

Thank you for supporting the Ameraucana Breeders Club!

623

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / The 2020 ABC silent auction is LIVE!

« on: September 02, 2020, 09:40:12 AM »

It's time for the Ameraucana Breeders Club 2020 national meet off-site silent auction to begin! A special thank you to everyone that contributed items for the auction.

To place a bid on an item, send an email to abcsecretaryhelton@gmail.com with “Silent Auction Bid” as the subject. Please include details regarding the item you are bidding on, your bid amount and your contact information.

You can bid as many times as you would like! I am also accepting “maximum bids.”

Off-site bidding will close on 11/6/2020 at 5 PM CST.

Paul and Angela Smith- 10 large fowl self blue Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid, with the option of Mareks Disease vaccination to be hatched and shipped March through May 2021 (buyer's choice of ship date).

Lindsay Helton- 10 large fowl wheaten, blue wheaten and splash wheaten Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021.

Lindsay Helton- 10 large fowl blue, black and splash Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021.

Jean Ribbeck- 1 dozen large fowl black Ameraucana hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jean Ribbeck- 4 Sebastopol hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Christine Kitsch- 10 large fowl buff Ameraucana chicks to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jeff and Sherry Vance- 1 dozen bantam Ameraucana hatching eggs, choice of black or wheaten to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jeff and Sherry Vance- 1 dozen large fowl black Ameraucana hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Thank you for supporting the Ameraucana Breeders Club!!!

624

News and Information / Re: 2020 Board of Directors Election

« on: August 31, 2020, 10:38:01 AM »

Good luck to the candidates running for South East District Director!

The other board members for the 2021-2022 term are:

President: Paul Smith

Western District Director: Jean Ribbeck

South Central District Director: Kris Dossey 

North Central District Director: Gordon Gilliam

North East District Director: Rob Sando

Secretary/Treasurer: Lindsay Helton

Thank you to everyone that volunteers their time for the Ameraucana Breeders Club.

625

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / Show Catalog

« on: August 29, 2020, 07:07:06 PM »

The show catalog for the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Mega Show has been released! It can be accessed here:

https://poultryshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/a.FINAL_.MEGA_.Show_.11.7.20-1.pdf

626

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / 2020 ABC National Egg Contest

« on: August 24, 2020, 12:07:57 AM »

Don't forget about the 2020 ABC National Egg Contest! It is FREE to enter and prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

There are four classes for the egg contest:

1. Bantam pullet eggs
2. Bantam hen eggs
3. Large Fowl pullet eggs
4. Large Fowl hen eggs

Bring a minimum of 6 eggs for each entry in a suitable container of your choice. Sign up at the ABC table at the show to enter the contest. Egg entries will be judged after judging is complete for the National meet. Our illustrious judges are TBA.

Exhibitors may enter the same class more than once only if each entry represents a different Ameraucana variety. Egg entries that consist of multiple varieties shall be limited to one per class, and shall be designated “Various” on the entry form.

No unsolicited remarks by any exhibitor may be made within hearing distance of the judge during the judging process.

All egg entries become the property of the Ameraucana Breeders Club at the time of entry.

Two out of each entry of six eggs will be opened by the judge or the clerk to facilitate the judging of interior qualities and coloring.

The Judging Scale will be as follows:
   
1. Shell Texture 10   
2. Shell Quality 10   
3. Shell Shape 10
4. Size 10   
5. Cleanliness 10   
6. Shell Color 30
7. Freshness 10   
8. Interior Qualities 10

Total Points Possible:    100   

Disqualifications:
1. Evidence of faking including artificial coloring
2. Eggs having been boiled or otherwise preserved
3. No evidence of blue shell pigmentation
4. Eggs that are not from Ameraucanas

627

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / 2020 ABC National Meet Silent Auction Donations

« on: August 20, 2020, 04:58:06 PM »

The ABC is currently accepting donations to be used in our 2020 ABC national meet silent auction. The proceeds earned during our silent auction will be put towards our 2021 ABC national meet. To donate hatching eggs, chicks or another item for the silent auction, please send an email to abcsecretaryhelton@gmail.com or psmith@ntin.net.

I will gradually update this post until the list of silent auction items are finalized and then we will open up bidding on them!

2020 ABC NATIONAL SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS:

Paul and Angela Smith- 10 large fowl self blue Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid, with the option of Mareks Disease vaccination to be hatched and shipped March through May 2021 (buyer's choice of ship date).

Lindsay Helton- 10 large fowl wheaten, blue wheaten and splash wheaten Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021.

Lindsay Helton- 10 large fowl blue, black and splash Ameraucana chicks priority mail paid to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021.

Jean Ribbeck- 1 dozen large fowl black Ameraucana hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jean Ribbeck- 4 Sebastopol hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Christine Kitsch- 10 large fowl buff Ameraucana chicks to be hatched and shipped during spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jeff and Sherry Vance- 1 dozen bantam Ameraucana hatching eggs, choice of black or wheaten to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

Jeff and Sherry Vance- 1 dozen large fowl black Ameraucana hatching eggs to be mailed spring 2021. The winning bidder will be responsible for the shipping cost.

$200 Tractor Supply gift card

Brinsea Ecoglow 600 brooder

44th Edition American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection book

Meyer Hatchery gift basket

628

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / 2020 ABC National Meet Hotel Information

« on: August 20, 2020, 04:42:33 PM »

The host hotel information for our 2020 ABC national meet can be accessed here:

http://poultryshowcase.com/hotel-info-mega-show-2020/

Be sure to book your hotel via the following link in order to have access to the discount:

https://book.passkey.com/event/50122501/owner/10582799/home

629

2020 ABC Nationals Norman, OK / 2020 ABC National Meet

« on: August 20, 2020, 04:37:26 PM »

Our 2020 Ameraucana Breeders Club national meet will be held at the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Show in Norman, Oklahoma on 11/7/2020.

For more information on the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Show, click the following link:
https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/

Richard Peters can be reached via email at sqbpdl@aol.com and South Central District Director Paul Smith can be reached via email at psmith@ntin.net! I am also available to assist you with any questions you may have. I can be reached via email at abcsecretaryhelton@gmail.com.

630

Exhibiting & Promoting / Ameraucana Breeders Club National Meet

« on: August 19, 2020, 05:46:09 PM »

Our 2020 Ameraucana Breeders Club national meet will be here before we know it! Our national meet will be held at the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Show in Norman, Oklahoma on November 7th.

For more information on the Canadian Valley Poultry Club Show, click the following link:
https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Canadian_Valley_Poultry_Club_Show.html

The host hotel information can be accessed via the following link:
http://poultryshowcase.com/hotel-info-mega-show-2020/

For more information on the show, Richard Peters can be reached via email at sqbpdl@aol.com or I can be reached via email at abcsecretaryhelton@gmail.com. South Central District Director Paul Smith can be reached via email at psmith@ntin.net!