Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Dace]

Oh, see I learned something new

I thought Ameraucanas were EEs.... and Araucanas were the more expensive/harder to get (sorry can't think!) that you had to get from a breeder.

I have EEs and so far only one of the two is laying. I guess I am just a dork cuz I like the colored eggs. I am sure the newness will wear off..... eventually

You are not a dork!! Many people love the idea of getting the green eggs. I did, too, at first. But no one in my area would buy my eating eggs because I had green eggers! Can ya imagine?? They thought the eggs tasted tangy

I was confused with the Ameraucanas and Araucanas stuff for a long time, too. The names are so close aren't they? The only way I know the difference is the Araucanas should be rumpless and tuffed or rumpless and non tufted...and originally they were an all white chicken breed, but with breeding back to be the original rumpless/tufted bird, other colors have come to be accepted.

A lot of people believe Ameraucanas are EE's, and I think a lot (not all) of other people who know the difference are really rude to the one's who don't. I mean, educating someone and teaching them the difference is one thing, but belittling them for being excited over their litter green eggers that "don't fit the standard" is just wrong and rude. I mean, not everyone is wanting to show their birds! Some people just want pretty eggs.

First of all I can not believe that people don't want the little greenies and think they taste different?! Now that is weird.

Secondly, I have noticed the snobbery over Araucanas vs Ameraucanas......stupid. I mean everyone is entitled to their choice and not everyone wants to pay a premium at a breeder for a chicken, but why be snotty over chicken breeds for Godsakes!
Anywho...thanks for the explanation!!
Your new birds are lovely

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

OK so here's today's project.

This was a free rabbit cage that we had picked up well before Ernie's surgery, and just never got around to cleaning it up and repairing it.

Today the kiddos helped me clean it up and we rolled/moved it across the yard to set infront of the chicken coop.

I had to patch the hardware cloth, which was easy since I had some extra hardware cloth left over from a previous project.

We just stopped for a late lunch, as the kids reminded me that we skipped noon...Oops..lol When I go back out I plan to attach a left over piece of OSB onto the top as a temp roof. It is not enough to completely cover, so the rest will be covered with some chicken wire. I have hardware cloth to cover the second door in the house part until I find some more pieces to make a regular door with.

When it's all done (hopefully in the next hour or so) it will be used to house my pair of Bantam Wheaten Ameraucanas!

Not only will it keep them in quarantine, but it means they'll also never have to be mixed in with my other bantams!!

Our excitement for today??????

DUCKLINGS!!

One of our Rouen Ducks had gone broody and set a clutch of 8 eggs. Only 7 of the 8 seemed to be viable, as I'm sure one is rotted....but the other 7 have all pipped, and this little guy was the first to hatch!!

 

[Farmfresh]

Baby ducks! Just gotta love 'em!

Salmon Faverolles (and other colors) have a muff too!

I think some people think any REAL egg tastes unusual due to the fact that they have only eaten tasteless store eggs for so long! They don't know what to do with a farm fresh one!

Part of the reason that the Ameraucana was developed was physical hardiness. The Araucana carries a lethal gene, along with the rumplessness and blue egg laying ones. The lethal gene means that a significant number of embryos will develop to a certain stage and then die. This makes reproduction very difficult and hatch rates exceptionally low. The Ameraucana was developed to KEEP the colored egg and the lovely color, while eliminating the lethal gene. Ameraucanas ALWAYS have a normal tail.

Some of the MUTT Easter Eggers you get will still have the rumpless characteristic, which means they are entirely lacking a tail or "preachers nose". That sure looks funny when you roast one!

 

[Blackbird]

Congratz on the ducklings Aly!

I have one hatching in the incubator right now, can't wait to see what it will be.

We're doing some fencing today too, some large fencing which won't be done for a couple days, but quite excited for that.

Have a good day!

 

[Henrietta23]

Aaaaaaw!!! Cute!!!!

 

[TanksHill]

Looks like your keeping busy as usual. Cut little duck. good luck on the hutch conversion.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Hutch conversion is complete. Got the roof on, the door patched, and the Banties moved in. I also got pics, but my photo program is not cooperating tonight.

I miscounted Mama Ducks eggs...she was setting on NINE...so far 6 have hatched, the no good egg was removed and tossed, and the remaining two eggs one is zipping and the other pipped...so hopefully by tomorrow morning I'll have 8 baby ducklings!!

Here's the real surprise.....Not all of the eggs were hers!!! At least 2 were from my Khaki Campbell duck, and so I have two khaki colored ducklings in the six that have hatched!! I'm so excited!! Now, they won't be pure, but I don't care...we have already decided to keep the two khakis. The rest of them look identical to Mallard/Rouen ducklings. I plan to sell all of them.

Mom stopped by to pick up the two oldest boys. They are going to VBS tomorrow while DD and youngest two sons go to Meyers hatchery with me to pick up Guinea keets. (What is wrong with me? I need to stop with the birds already!)

Just cleaned and sanitized my incubator...working at regulating the temps now so I can set my Blue Silkie eggs in the 'bator...Also have some EE eggs and two Olive Eggers to set. Next week sometime my freebie eggs from bargain (1 dozen Speckled Sussex) should be arriving.

Oh and chickens with muffs...SILKIES! Ok not all silkies, but the bearded silkies tend to have a little bit of the muffs...I noticed it today when I was looking at my Blue Silkie hen, Mumble. She has muff and beard. She's quite cute.

 

[Blackbird]

Aly! I found your newest tool! LOL.
http://stcloud.craigslist.org/grd/1276880654.html

However.. why anyone would lean it against their vehicle is completely beyond me..

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Aly! I found your newest tool! LOL.
http://stcloud.craigslist.org/grd/1276880654.html

However.. why anyone would lean it against their vehicle is completely beyond me..

ROTFL! Well thank you! If I was closer I'd probably snatch it up...

Well duckling number 8 died in shell, so we ended up with 7 ducklings!! They are awfully cute, too!!

 

[Farmfresh]

I kick myself now. My dad had THREE sickles that he had purchased at farm sales over the years. He auctioned them all off when he moved and I DID NOT buy one.