Messages

1

Website Changes / Re: New Breeder's Directory format

« on: February 22, 2015, 12:42:45 PM »

Sharon - Thanks for speaking up about things such as the phone icon.  I'm probably one of the least computer literate people, plus I have an older computer and NO smart phone.   Therefore I haven't made comments about website changes because my system is outdated.  I thought the phone icon didn't work on my computer, but finally found the number at the bottom left of the page.   Linda   

2

Ameraucana Marketplace / Re: Spur Removal

« on: February 20, 2015, 12:54:52 PM »

I've never removed spur's either and I've never kept Cockerels/Roosters to get much older than a year.  Now I have a couple I plan to keep.  The year olds look like their spurs should be removed.  Is there an age this is generally done or just when it needs it?  Thanks - Linda

3

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: WFF Results

« on: November 17, 2014, 11:54:38 AM »

Thanks for posting pictures everyone.  Congratulations Logan!  Royce I appreciate seeing your Wheaten/Blue Wheatens. You've given me some good advice along the way and they're both nice looking birds.  Linda Ferguson

4

Breeding / Re: Red ticking in body fluff Wheaten Male

« on: October 26, 2014, 12:00:15 PM »

Sharon, he does have qualities I like.  However, I agree with Royce.  I've never seen so much ticking either and wanted a second opinion.  I won't breed him.  Sharon, he's not the same cockerel I posted at 6 months old but he's from the same hatch and father.  The cockerel I posted at 6 months doesn't have the ticking and I'll keep him.  Thanks for the help.  Linda

5

Breeding / Red ticking in body fluff Wheaten Male

« on: October 24, 2014, 07:32:48 PM »

I have an 8 month old Wheaten Cockerel that has a lot of red ticking in his body fluff.  I'm thinking of culling him.  Is this a reason to cull him?  Thanks for any comments.   Linda 

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Breeding / Re: Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

« on: August 30, 2014, 03:48:07 PM »

Royce & Lee - Thank you both for your recent comments.  First of all Royce thanks for sharing your detailed critique of the  6 month old from head to tail.  All the details will help me judge birds in the future.  The wing bay comment was especially helpful.

And I can't quite tell but it looks like his upper primaries are lacking any brown to complete the Wing Bay?

I've never known what to look for in the Wing Bay.  So the last few days, I've read the SOP on Wheaten Ameraucana Wing Bay and examined this Cockerel and some other Cockerels around here, and compared them to pictures I can find.  This 6 month old Cockerel does have brown/bay coloring on each of his primaries.  From your comments it sounds desirable for the Primaries to be visible and frame the Wing Bay when his wing is at rest. 

Lee - Yes I've seen that "S Comb" in some of these birds.  A Cockerel I brought in from outside my flock last year has a comb like the one in your second picture.  My females don't have it, but some of the Cockerels have that slight curve at the tail end of their comb. 
Thanks again for all the help as I continue to learn more about what to look for.  Linda

7

Breeding / Re: Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

« on: August 26, 2014, 06:12:00 PM »

Lee - Your comments are very much appreciated.  Thanks for commenting on his shape, I like that about him also.  I get their feed direct from a local mill in Modesto, California.  modestomilling.com  They sell only organic feed.  I raise all chicks on "Organic Chick Starter & Poultry Grower Crumbles" and then switch to "Organic Layer Pellets" when pullets are of laying age.  The Cockerels continue to get supplemental "Organic Scratch".    It's excellent quality feed, a little pricey but well worth it to me.

Comb is a bit bulky…does it have an S curve? I have a few hens like that, and their sons always seem to inherit the S

I agree it's a bit bulky.  'S Curve' is a new term to me but I have another Cockerel that probably has a slight S comb now that you mention it.  This 6 month old we're talking about I wouldn't consider to have an S Comb, but his comb takes a slight turn to one side at the tail end of his comb.  Maybe that is an S Comb.
You may be right about the tail set could be a bit lower. 
He's a good sized male.  So far he's the best one I've grown out this year.  There's a dozen more in the process of maturing.  Last year I didn't have any  Wheaten Cockerels I liked.  This year I'm pleased to have this one and plan to keep at least one more out of the younger ones. 
Thanks again for the comments; this is a great learning experience for me.  Linda

8

Breeding / Re: Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

« on: August 25, 2014, 02:33:42 PM »

Mike - Thanks for offering the suggestion of developing Brown Reds.  I do like the looks of the pullets you mentioned, but I'm in an urban neighborhood where I have to keep the roosters to a minimum out of respect for my neighbors.  LF Wheatens are my favorite and I'm going to concentrate on them.  I always appreciate your insight.  Linda

9

Breeding / Re: Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

« on: August 19, 2014, 09:50:36 PM »

Mike - The brown-red looking females in the third photo are a cross between Wheaten Ameraucana Cockerel and Black Copper Marans Hens to get olive egg layers. 
Thanks for the comments on the 6 month old Cockerel's muff and beard Mike and DeWayne.  A cleaner hackle would be good.  Linda

10

Breeding / Wheaten Cockerel at 6 months

« on: August 19, 2014, 04:01:39 PM »

March 3 of 2014, I posted "Dark Color Splashes in Wheaten Variety Down" under this heading.  Mike suggested I toe punch this chick and see how he turned out.  Attached are a week old picture of the chick and pictures taken of him today as a 6 month old Cockerel.  Any comments from members would be appreciated.  He's turning out quite nicely I think, but would love to hear what other people see in him.   His comb is three rows of points but a little taller than I hoped for.  Thank you - Linda 

11

Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: My Coops *pic heavy*

« on: August 17, 2014, 12:59:10 PM »

Lee - Thank you for taking the time to take and post the pictures of your great set-up.  Gives me some ideas for the future.  In a previous post you mentioned putting food color in the vent which is another interesting idea I'd never thought of.  It's great to have you in the club.  Linda Ferguson

12

Breeding / Re: Coloring on Wheaten Pullet

« on: June 25, 2014, 02:36:36 PM »

DeWayne thanks for your feedback; she doesn't have black in her hackle but it may be more likely in the darker colored Wheatens.  Mike you're right about the mottled look, that's mostly what I don't like about her.  I didn't know that she might grow out of that after the first molt.  She's 6 months old. 
Thanks for both of you confirming there is a wide range of light to dark shades in wheaten coloring that are acceptable.  I prefer the lighter shades, but I have only one darker colored Wheaten hen and she's very pretty.  So I'll think more about culling this one, but I won't do it on color alone.     Thanks - Linda

13

Breeding / Coloring on Wheaten Pullet

« on: June 24, 2014, 04:07:56 PM »

Does anyone have any comments on the coloring of this 6 month old Wheaten Pullet?  There's more red/brown color than I've seen in any other Wheatens.  I'm thinking of culling her but would like some opinions since I've not seen a lot of Wheaten Pullets/Hens to compare her to.  Thank you - Linda

14

Breeding / Re: Looking for some opinions

« on: May 28, 2014, 01:41:33 PM »

Thanks for getting the pictures posted Jeff.  Seeing other Wheatens is very helpful since I ask a lot of questions about Wheatens.  I agree with Cliff, Mike and Royce and I'd ad the Wheaten looks to have a nice comb. 
The other bird looks like a Splash Wheaten to me.  The red/orange color is lighter than the few Splash Wheatens I've hatched here, but my focus in on Wheatens.   Always nice to see other peoples Wheaten variety.  Thank you - Linda

15

Breeding / Re: Wheaten Cockerels

« on: May 02, 2014, 08:29:21 PM »

Mike, thank you for your input.  Since I've never seen "roach back" in any of my other birds I wonder if it could be caused by an injury?  I've been breeding Wheaten/Blue Wheatens for about 2 years. 
I have another question about selling chicks from the second cockerel pictured.  I've hatched chicks from him to grow out for myself, but I haven't sold chicks because I don't want to pass the brown in the tail problem to someone else.  It would be nice to make some money at this, but I don't want to sell poor quality birds.  Can I compensate for the brown in the cockerels tail, by pairing him with my best hens, or is it best to wait till I have something better to sell?  Any thoughts on this?  Thanks - Linda