Topics

61

ABCs 40th (Ruby) Anniversary / Ameraucana Breeders Club 40th Anniversary! Part IV

« on: July 16, 2018, 03:13:29 PM »

Progress on acceptance of the Ameraucana continues in 1980!  In May 1980, the ABA Board of Directors voted to accept the proposed Standard of Perfection for white and wheaten bantam Ameraucanas.(A History of the Ameraucana Breed and the Ameraucana Breeders Club, compiled by Richard A. Orr, Eastern District Director)

Then, on Oct 4-5. 1980, the first show where Ameraucana bantams were entered as an accepted variety took place at the Viroqua, Wisconsin show with Mike Gilbert, Bernard Kellogg, and Jerry Segler exhibiting. (A History of the Ameraucana Breed and the Ameraucana Breeders Club, compiled by Richard A. Orr, Eastern District Director)


Nov 28-30, 1980 - First ABC National held at the Eastern Iowa Poultry Association show in Bluegrass, Iowa, with Jerry Segler and Ron Klemmedson  taking top honors. (Ameraucana Bantam Club Winter Bulletin, 1980)

To put the finishing touches on a successful year for the ABC, the first ABC National was held at the Eastern Iowa Poultry Association show in Bluegrass, Iowa, with Jerry Segler and Ron Klemmedson taking top honors. (Ameraucana Bantam Club Winter Bulletin, 1980)



(Pictures shown are from our gallery, not the winning birds at either show mentioned)

62

ABCs 40th (Ruby) Anniversary / Ameraucana Breeders Club 40th Anniversary! Part II

« on: June 30, 2018, 01:58:07 PM »

2018 is a hallmark year for the Ameraucana Breeders Club! It is our 40th Anniversary!

The ABC has grown considerably since we were first formed in 1978 and we're still growing! From 11 charter members and 3 states in the US in 1978, we have spread to all 50 US states, including the territory of Puerto Rico and 6 foreign countries. By the end of 2017, the ABC had over 300 active members. Attached is the membership growth chart since the beginning (taken from bulletins and both old and current membership rosters)

Are you interested in learning more about our club, its achievements, challenges, and experiences? Stay tuned!

More will be coming in the days and weeks ahead as we prepare to celebrate our 40th (Ruby) Anniversary National at the Dayton Fancy Feathers show, Greenville OH, October 6th-7th, 2018.

63

ABCs 40th (Ruby) Anniversary / Ameraucana Breeders Club 40th Anniversary! Part I

« on: June 30, 2018, 01:55:58 PM »

2018 is a hallmark year for the Ameraucana Breeders Club! It is our 40th Anniversary!

The ABC was formed in 1978 and has grown, strengthened, and educated many about our beloved breed, Ameraucanas, in both large fowl and bantams for all these years.

Are you interested in learning more about our club, its achievements, challenges, and experiences? Stay tuned!

Did you know the first ABC Nationals was held Nov 28-30, 1980 at the Eastern Iowa Poultry Association show in Bluegrass, Iowa, with Jerry Segler and Ron Klemmedson taking top honors? (Ameraucana Bantam Club Winter Bulletin, 1980)
ABC Bulletin Winter, 1980

More will be coming in the days and weeks ahead as we prepare to celebrate our 40th (Ruby) Anniversary National at the Dayton Fancy Feathers show, Greenville OH, October 6th-7th, 2018.

64

Past Meets / West Central Ohio Poultry Show, 3-17-18, Lima, OH

« on: June 29, 2018, 06:27:06 PM »

The meet report for this show is published and uploaded to the website:

3-17-18 WCOPC Lima OH.pdf

65

News and Information / Please extend a hearty Congratulations and a big Thank you to

« on: June 26, 2018, 12:52:19 PM »

The Ameraucana Breeders Club New Member Coordinator, Sarah Meaders.

Sarah stepped up to the plate and volunteered her time to help process new members and mail out the New Member packages, for which I will be eternally grateful!

You know I went through about 4 months of health issues, which caused horrible delays in getting things done - like getting new member packages out - which is unacceptable.  Along with all the other duties and responsibilities, and with the growth of the ABC, especially over the last 2 years, it has become more than one person can easily handle.

I am very grateful to all of you who have shown such patience and forbearing, while we got through the "troubled times" and to Sarah, for stepping up and taking on this job.

Thank you, Sarah!

66

News and Information / Image of Dayton Fancy Feathers show site

« on: June 22, 2018, 07:40:39 PM »

I'm working on a promo project for our 2018 Nationals and would like to include a non-breed specific picture of just the show site, if anyone has one.

You can post it here or email it to me at samouw@gmail.com

67

News and Information / ABA Yearbook ads - Deadline looming!

« on: May 19, 2018, 11:02:35 AM »

I need them by the end of this week to give me time to layout pages and get them to ABA by 6/1.

If you need help with design, let me know.

Susan

68

Exhibiting & Promoting / The ABCs of Meet Reports and Points for the ABC

« on: May 06, 2018, 05:54:02 PM »

There is a new "how-to" on completing Meet Reports and how to calculate point totals for your wins.  It is too large to attach here, but can be seen by clicking the below:

http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/docs/ABCs%20of%20Meet%20Reports%20and%20Points.pdf

69

Breeding / Fertility and hatching rates

« on: April 10, 2018, 07:47:05 AM »

I know we've been having some strange weather this year and many parts of the country are still buried in snow, but I'm in SC and I can't explain what is happening.

Usually, by this time, I am getting 80% fertility and 80-100% hatch rates of those fertile eggs.  Right now, I am getting, with the exception of one blue x blue pen, around 50% fertility and only 50% of those are hatching.

Anyone else have hatching/fertility issues in the south?  Or anyone have any ideas of what might be going wrong?

One of the really strange things is in pen #2.  That is Solomon's pen (my first Gr CH).  He has 4 black hens and one splash hen (I wanted to improve type in my blue lines - Solomon was a good choice for that).  The eggs from the black hens are about 50% fertile, but not a one are hatching.  But I'm getting about 4-5 blue chicks every week - so near, if not exactly, 100% fertility from the splash hen.

I just can't figure it out - running the same temps (right at 100.) and humidity (40% in incubator, 55-60% in the hatcher)

Any ideas?

70

News and Information / The next Secty/Treasurer of the ABC will be .....

« on: April 04, 2018, 11:50:39 AM »

Who knows, but I can tell you who it won't be - me.

After much prayerful consideration, and some chats with my close friends and my husband, I have decided to not run again for Secretary/Treasurer.  It has been a wonderful experience and I'm happy that I've had the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the Ameraucana Breeders Club, but it's time for me to step aside and let someone younger, or at least more energetic , take it over.

So, I'm asking all our members to consider putting their efforts forward when it comes time for nominations in June.  It will take someone with some level of expertise in technology.  I am going to start writing up the protocols and instructions for all the various pieces - website, online membership, online store, etc, but a certain level of confidence in html and online technology will also be needed.

If you have the skills and the willingness to do this job, please consider nominating yourself for the post when nominations open in June.

71

News and Information / Proposed change in APA Standard for Blue Wheaten males

« on: March 12, 2018, 05:12:21 PM »

The ABC Board of Directors was approached about presenting a change to the APA for the Blue Wheaten large fowl - males only.  The Board of Directors had quite an extensive conversation about the proposal and have since voted no to sponsor the request.  It is, however, our understanding that another club voted yes to proceed.  If you breed blue wheaten large fowl Ameraucana, you might want to be aware of this possible change proposal and you might be contacted about it. You might even agree with the change and wish to support it.  Here are the proposed changes:

Large Fowl Blue Wheaten Male

NECK (as it is now) - Hackle - light orange shading to golden at lower extremities, free from dark striping. Front of neck - blue, some orange ticking permissible.

NECK (proposed, with changes highlighted) - Hackle – light orange shading to golden at lower extremities, free from dark striping. Front of neck – blue, preferably edged with dark blue with some dark blue shafting, some orange ticking permissible.

WINGS (as it is now): Fronts - blue, preferably laced with dark blue.

WINGS (proposed, with changes highlighted): Fronts – blue, preferably edged with dark blue with some dark blue shafting.

BREAST (as it is now): Blue, preferably laced with dark blue.

BREAST (proposed, with changes highlighted): Blue, preferably edged with dark blue with some dark blue shafting.


There is a common misconception that the word "lacing" as used in describing the blue wheaten males is the same as the word "lacing" used in other color descriptions - specifically the blue Ameraucana - however, the "lacing" used here is described correctly as a darker blue; while lacing, as used in the description of the Andalusian (from which the Blue Ameraucana gets its color description), is always black, sometimes a flat black and sometimes a glossy black, but always black.  The addition of the "preferred shafting" was also a deterrent for this ABC Board and it was not approved by a majority vote.

The descriptions of the SOP (as it is now) are taken from the APA Standard of Perfection, 2010 version.

72

2018 ABC Nationals Greenville OH / News! APA Sets Dayton Fancy Feathers as APA Semi-National!

« on: March 06, 2018, 11:51:14 AM »

Ok, this might be old news to some of you, but I was thrilled to see this email today!  Our National Meet is also an APA Semi-National!

Getting excited....

73

News and Information / APA Yearbook Ads - It's that time again!

« on: March 05, 2018, 09:40:52 AM »

Deadline is May 1st, so let's get those ads in.  Anyone needing help with design, I'll try to help.

74

News and Information / March Gallery Competition - Self-Blue Ameraucanas

« on: March 05, 2018, 07:09:50 AM »

Where are all the self-blue pics for the March Gallery Competition?  Let's get those pictures in!
Send your self-blue - bantam and large fowl - to info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org.  Put "Gallery Competition" in the Subject line.
Make sure your photos are at least 600px x 400 px, bigger is better. Let me know if the pic is bantam or large fowl, cock, hen, cockerel, or pullet.
Judging begins 3/15!

75

News and Information / Feb '18 Gallery Competition is complete!

« on: March 01, 2018, 07:44:23 PM »

Congratulations to the winners of the February 2018 Gallery Competition for Wheaten Ameraucanas:
New for Bantams:


Bantam Wheaten Chicks submitted by Rachel Johnson.


Bantam Wheaten Pullet submitted by Jerry DeSmidt


Bantam Wheaten Hen submitted by Jerry DeSmidt


Bantam Wheaten Cockerel submitted by Jerry DeSmidt


Bantam Wheaten Cock submitted by Peggy Taylor

New for Large Fowl:


LF Wheaten chicks submitted by Susan Mouw


LF Wheaten Cockerel submitted by Susan Mouw


LF Wheaten Cock submitted by Susan Mouw

Entries are open now for the March Gallery competition for Self-Blue Ameraucanas.
Send your entries, at least 640 x 400 px in size, to info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org. Remember to put "Gallery Competition" in the subject line and state whether the pics are cock, hen, cockerel, or pullet and whether bantam or large fowl.