Messages

31

Breeding / Re: The "Legacy" Varieties

« on: April 01, 2016, 01:28:55 PM »

Clear hackles in the Wheaten color....irregardless of the breed...is an ongoing concern in the breeding pen.  I will put up with a fault or two (if not major) on a male if he has clear hackles and decent type.  Sometimes you go with the one with the least faults. Compensate with the hens if possible.  I've dealt with the same problem in the Wheaten Marans for years. When I have a young cockerel show up with what appears clear hackle color he goes in the grow out pen until I can see what he's going to do and that means I keep him until he is at least 6 months old. Trying to breed to the standard is not for the faint of heart !

Change begins with the individual breeder......I had a very smart friend tell me many years ago when we were showing South African Boer Goats and basically had the same "preference" problems with them in one form or another that she could not breed a goat to suit every judge so she was just going to raise the best animal she could that best fit the standard, not worry about what anybody else did, and let the rest take care of itself.   I have kept that in mind for a lot of years....I can't breed a bird to suit every judge out there SO I am going to breed the best bird I can that fits most closely the standard and let the chips fall where they may. I never have followed "trends" very well.   Type first and foremost followed by color and size whether it be LF or Bantam.

Just for the record....I am against any change in the standard to "accomodate" these larger birds.

Please don't anybody take offense.....I know this is an Ameraucana site but I need to ask a question:
Birdcrazy....do you raise Black Bantam Wyandottes ?  I've been looking for some good ones. If you do, we will have a private conversation about them.  Thanks.

Everybody have a blessed day...
Peggy

32

Ameraucana Marketplace / Re: Splash Wheaten LF chicks or hatching eggs

« on: April 01, 2016, 12:51:38 PM »

Yes Mam...Splash Wheaten not Splash....Sometimes my fingers and my brain do  not mesh too well.  Senior moment maybe ??

33

Ameraucana Marketplace / Ameraucana Bantams

« on: March 28, 2016, 06:26:38 PM »

I am interested in purchasing breeding trios or quads of Self Blue, Silver and Buff Ameraucana Bantams.  If anyone has any of the above available I would very much appreciate a price please.  Thanks so much.

Peggy Taylor
Rocky Springs Farm

34

Ameraucana Marketplace / Re: Splash Wheaten LF chicks or hatching eggs

« on: March 28, 2016, 06:19:16 PM »

I am not sure what I will have. Hopefully something.  I have put 5 Blue Wheaten hens and  a Splash pullet together with my Blue Wheaten cock to work on this Splash project.  This group is large fowl but I am also working with a trio of Blue Wheaten Bantams toward the Splash in the Bantams as well.

Peggy

35

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: 2016 South Texas State Fair

« on: March 28, 2016, 06:12:37 PM »

Ernie mentioned how tough it is to show birds this time of year due to feather condition or lack thereof.....I had entered a set of Large Fowl Blue Wheaten hens...3 of them.  Went out to load them and they had totally picked each others beards clean !!~!!  They stayed at home !!!  The Wheaten girls were fine but not those girls !! I was about ready for a pot of chicken and dumplings after seeing what they did to each other right before the show...

36

Breeding / Re: The "Legacy" Varieties

« on: March 28, 2016, 12:16:39 AM »

I am in complete agreement with Ernie's post.  Type is critical to whatever is done. It is so easy to lose sight of this fact.  I am seeing Large Fowl Ameraucanas that are truly becoming "large"..... some very obviously over the weight limits of the SOP for the breed. I do hear the occasional judge comment on the size.....that Ameraucanas are getting too big.  I've always tried to breed to the standard and have no intention of following the "trend" with this "bigger is better" size thing.

As far as the "project" colors are concerned the Wheaten/Blue Wheaten varieties are what I breed in both LF and Bantam so I will work on the Splash Wheaten project as it will go hand in hand with what I have now. I'm not concerned with the hens but do have some concerns about the "color" on the males with the Splash Wheatens. It has taken me 5 years to raise a Splash Blue Wheaten Marans male that suits me. I sure hope it doesn't take that long with the Ameraucanas !  Wheaten is Wheaten....Blue Wheaten is Blue Wheaten.....no matter the breed so until someone can show me different I intend to use this Splash Blue Wheaten Marans male as a color guide.  Any of the multi colored approved varieties all need constant work plus we know what a challenge trying to breed the correct Buff color can be....so I think we have plenty to keep us busy. 

But it's great fun !!!!

37

Exhibiting & Promoting / 2016 South Texas State Fair

« on: March 27, 2016, 11:39:34 PM »

The 2016 South Texas State Fair is now history. There was an excellent group of Ameraucanas shown in both Large Fowl and Bantams.  Large fowl varieties included, Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Black, White, Blue, Splash and Splash Wheaten.  Bantams included Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, Black, White and Chocolate.

This was the first show I was able to attend this show season. It was so good to see Ameraucana friends I had missed all year.  I'm not sure just how everything placed. I'm sure Paul will have a report soon.  I was very blessed to have had Best Variety and Best of Breed Bantam with my Wheaten cock plus Best Variety and Reserve Best of Breed with a Bantam Blue Wheaten hen.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful time. You just can't beat a good poultry show !!

38

Breeding / Re: Bantam Splash Wheatens

« on: March 14, 2016, 04:01:24 PM »

Sarah:

I breed the Wheaten/ Blue Wheaten Bantams and am willing to work on this project for the Splash Wheaten Bantams. Especially if we don't have to meet that 5 year requirement.  I have a trio now made up of Blue Wheatens that I put together just for Splash Wheatens.  I've just started to put a few eggs in the incubator from them.   I also have another trio made up of BWh cock, BWh hen and a Wh hen.  They have not started to lay yet.

This should be interesting.  Is there any kind of "proposed standard" that can be used with the cockerels when it comes to culling time.  The females will not be difficult but it could be a different story with the males.

Peggy Taylor

39

Ameraucana Marketplace / Buff Male Needed

« on: February 18, 2016, 09:01:19 AM »

I am seriously looking for a quality Buff breeding age male.  Will need to be shipped if not in TX, OK,or LA.  If some one has one please let me know.  Thanks.

40

Ameraucana Marketplace / Bantam Wheaten/Blue Wheaten/Splash Wheaten needed

« on: December 11, 2015, 12:56:53 AM »

I am seriously looking for at least three (up to six) nice Wheaten, Blue Wheaten, or Splash Wheaten Bantam females.  If anyone has some extras I would very much appreciate knowing what you have.  Thanks.

41

Exhibiting & Promoting / Backwoods Poultry Club Show in Rison, Arkansas

« on: March 16, 2015, 01:13:09 AM »

We did this show on Saturday March 14th. These are such nice people to work with.  Had a great fun day.

There were 25 Ameraucanas shown in the open show...all large fowl. Varieties represented were Black, Blue, White, Wheaten and Blue Wheaten with 5 exhibitors.  Best of Breed was a Black Cockerel shown by Jacob Bates.  Reserve Best of Breed was a Blue Wheaten pullet shown by Peggy Taylor.  Even though it was not a "meet" the Ameraucanas were well represented by some really nice birds.

I would like to see more results posted by members for the shows they make where the Ameraucanas are represented whether the show is a "meet" or not.  I enjoy seeing what other breeders and exhibitors are doing.

42

News and Information / Re: Ameraucana Breeders Club - Statement from the Board of Directors

« on: March 05, 2015, 09:46:15 AM »

I want to personally thank our current board for outlining the events of this issue to the membership.  Now, with all the speculating out of the way, we can move on to more fun things with this great breed.  I am busy trying to figure out how I am going to make all the meets in our district...its a nice problem to have ! 

I do urge one thing....Going forward..lets insure complete confidentiality in all elections in order that each person feels comfortable in voting their convictions without concern for any recriminations, etc,.  You do need some form of member ID to insure that a person does have the right to vote but under no circumstances should anyone with an interest in the results handle, count, or be involved in ANY manner.  As an earlier post pointed out, there are places to do this.  I personally don't mind signing my ballots as you can be assured I am perfectly capable of telling you to get out of my business and will.  But most people like their privacy in voting.

If a group wants to start another club...for what ever reason...so be it, this is a free country.  However,  the "recruitment" offer aimed at current ABC members was in extremely poor taste and revealed more to me than anything else that could have been said.

I am going to shut up now and go hug my Ameraucana ! God Bless.

Peggy

43

News and Information / Re: Spring 2015 Bulletin

« on: March 01, 2015, 10:08:24 AM »

Very nicely done, Susan. Enjoyed it.  Thank you.

44

Website Changes / Re: Website Gallery

« on: February 25, 2015, 01:24:32 PM »

I like the new "Gallery".  The pictures are extremely nice. I enjoyed being able to see the chicks alongside the adults. Thanks Susan for your hard work and a good job in putting it together.

Peggy Taylor

45

News and Information / Re: Welcome to the Ameraucana Breeders Club official Forum - Please Read!

« on: February 24, 2015, 05:50:11 PM »

 Frankly, if I had been a new person looking to join and read the lead "original" post I would have walked away right there. Been there, done that and am not going there again. I joined this club to enjoy the Ameraucanas, visit and learn from other breeders.  I love the breed.

I deeply appreciate Susan editing the lead in post. This edited version is very good.  It is much more welcoming. I have enjoyed the forum greatly and have learned a lot of good things from those that have posted.

I have met some great people in this club and appreciate the hard work that has been done...I've been in those shoes in different situations with other livestock.  I know what kind of commitment and  hard work it takes.  Anyway, I am not going anywhere.....I plan to be in this club a long time.  I'm having too much fun with the Ameraucanas.