Araucana, ameraucana, ee ?

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sun May 15, 2016 9:16 pm

Thank you Kathy, our kind leader, what would we do without you ! :)

Post by **WLLady** » Mon May 16, 2016 2:14 pm

Ontario Chick wrote:QR_BBPOST Thank you Kathy, our kind leader, what would we do without you ! :)

you'd be a whole lot saner, and spend a lot less time reading all my really lengthy posts ;-P

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Tue May 17, 2016 9:09 am

On the contrary, I might be under mistaken impression I have all the answers, with your help I realize I don't even know some of the questions!

Post by **WLLady** » Tue May 17, 2016 9:19 am

the trick is finding out that we don't know what we don't know and what we know is so inconsequential we may as well not even know it!!!! LOL. (more coffee needed here this morning).

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Tue May 17, 2016 11:35 am

WLLady wrote:QR_BBPOST the trick is finding out that we don't know what we don't know and what we know is so inconsequential we may as well not even know it!!!! LOL. (more coffee needed here this morning).

Finally got to coffee and my desk again, couldn't agree with you more.
Sr. Blue Ameraucana male, put on sidelines after year of breeding, several minor/major issues cropped up this spring, decision made not to use him this year.
Jr Blue Amearaucana male, everything going for him, color, type, comb all there to make him a better Sire.
Put him in with 8 hens this spring, they aren't really "in to him", I keep looking at him, can't put my finger on it, just can't really bring myself to like him, finally decide that he simply isn't the right choice.
Take him out, and put the SR back in.
I have never seen anything like it ever!!! the girls were prostrate all over the countryside and when I went to check in the evening, everybody was squeezed on the same roost (the others were empty) and at first I couldn't find him, he was completely squashed by the hens. So much for my selective breeding.

Post by **WLLady** » Tue May 17, 2016 10:54 pm

No point fighting mother nature. She always seems to win!!

modern17 · Post by **modern17** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:34 am

A few comments from a judge ... First off .. there are no pure bred chickens ..but rather " Standard Bred chickens"..Our hobby is not like dogs or other species of animals in that pure bred rules and regulations are followed. Thus using the term purebred is incorrect. ... all are species Galus Galus ..we select for breed characteristics this is what the standard states and is based on ( breed characteristics ) .... as a judge I am judging from the Standard of Perfection or the ABA Bantam Standard ...to a type and color and weights as per the breed and varieties as layed out in the Standard (s) . This is where many get lost or misunderstand what is being said in the Standard. Our birds are bred to the standard for breed and variety characteristics ...these are physical charactristics and color patterns that the bird either posesses or does not posess if they lack breed characteristics or are not of the discription for color as listed in the standard , judges Disqualify them . In the breeds in this discusion ,in short Araucanas pocess a pea comb , ear tufts ( one on each side ) and are rumpless and are reconized in the following colors Black , Black Red , Golden Duckwing and Silver Duckwing and white . It is mentioned in their econmic qualities they lay a blue egg. Ameraucanas have pea combs , profuse muffs ( almost covering the face) and are tailed they are reconized in Black , Blue , Blue Wheaten Brown Red Buff , Silver ,Wheaten and white , also it is noted under Economic Qualities they lay a blue egg... once again nothing is mentioned about the laying of a blue egg in the physical aspects of this bird but rather in the economic qualities only .... economic qualities do not come into play when judging in this instance .. what colour of egg does the male lay ? it doesn't so from a judges point of view how do I tell what color female lays unless she lays it in front of me with that why do I care as it is not a breed characteristic but rather a econmic quality they can posess ... but I am not judging eggs but rather the physical bird in front of me, If a female of either of the above breeds mentioned layed a brown egg in front of me... I would not disqulify it as it does not specify it in the standard under requirements ,only type , color of the bird are mentioned ... If it does not meet the standard in the way of colour or type I disqualify it as I am instructed to do in the Standards . When it comes to Easter Eggers ... well their existance is in short is the result of a relative in its linage from either of the above mentioned breeds ( or other non reconized breeds that posess blue /green egg shell color ) and happens to lay a blue/green egg... In short a non standard bird that has been crossed with other breeds or random galus galus birds. . As for crossing colors of the same breed..( ie Silver Ameraucana to a black) in my opinion they would be considered a non reconized variety of that breed. Although still pocessing most all the qualities of type they could be a rainbow in the colour department and are just that probabably " pretty chickens" and if you don't show , nothing wrong with having them around as long as they are treated as such and not passed on /sold to others as something they are not other than what they are ..crosses of colours with in a breed. . I have worked with several breeds that have one variety that is better in type that some of the less popular varieties ... crossing can be done if records are kept and you keep in mind what is trying to be accomplished. I have also proven the point of using other birds ( breeds) to improve a breed or variety that has been neglected into almost non existance by way of just not being bred to the standard. I used a game chicken ( fighting heritage ) to bring back large fowl Birchen Moderns.Lots of culls where produced but major headway has been made in the last 6 years . I still have some work to do but I have them back to a point to compete at shows ... In closing , I hope that what I have written is not taken as a shot at anyone .... but rather a clarification of what is stated and backed up with words from the Standard.

My 2 cents
TL

Post by **Killerbunny** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:41 am

thanks Troy.
I have another question. As a very new breeder with everything to learn, is it OK to ask a judge (after the show) to assess my bird if I'm intending to find my next years breeders?

modern17 · Post by **modern17** » Fri May 20, 2016 12:13 pm

Most definalty ... This is how we learn.. I say this as long as you approach the judge in a kind way .. lol .. I have had some not so friendly inquiries .. lol.. Most judges are more than happy to go over birds after judging ... it helps you understand what and why things were placed they way they were as well as things that you may have missed in your birds. (its called being coop blind and we all suffer from this at some degree) ... lol... Personally I like going over birds with exhibitors..
TL

Post by **Killerbunny** » Fri May 20, 2016 12:15 pm

Awesome! It's rather tricky having a bird and really not quite understanding what some of the terms truly mean!