Ameraucana Breeders Club

The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club => Breeding => Topic started by: Holiday Hatch on June 28, 2013, 06:24:15 PM

Title: Hackle color - Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel
Post by: Holiday Hatch on June 28, 2013, 06:24:15 PM

At about what age does the correct reddish/gold color in the hackles show up on a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana or a Wheaten Ameraucana Cockerel?  I'm trying to pick out a cockerel to keep from the 3 months old or younger cockerels .  All of them seem to have some black in their hackles.  Do these feathers also change color with age like the beards do?  Or should they have lots of the red/gold color in them at this age?  I don't know what are the most important things I should be looking for in a young cockerel?  Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated.  Thank you - Linda Ferguson

Title: Re: Hackle color - Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel
Post by: Mike Gilbert on June 28, 2013, 08:24:57 PM

Their hackles tend to get better color as they age.  I would not be culling anything at three months of age in these two varieties for any reason unless they had physical deformities or were unthrifty, and especially not for coloring.

Title: Re: Hackle color - Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel
Post by: Tailfeathers on June 30, 2013, 03:36:03 AM

The WBS is my variety.  Mike is correct.  Initially the young cockerels will show a lot more black in their hackles than they will end up with.  I have never had any other varieties but to me the WBS seem to take a long time to mature.  At least they do as compared to my other 3 breeds.

God Bless,