Ameraucana Large Fowl

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For some breeding purposes, a Black x Black bird is required.  This breeding flock is made up of Black males and Black females.  Although I rarely exhibit my blacks, they still make me proud.

Currently, my Blues and Splashes are set up as a Blue X Splash flock, with Blue males over Blue & Splash females.  I am working on maintaining the lacing on the blues, while trying to keep the shafting to a minimum.  

One of my Blue Wheaten Cockerels took Best Variety at the Northern Ameraucana Alliance National meet in 2024.  My breeding flock is Wheaten males over Blue Wheaten and Wheaten Females.  I am currently working on egg-color in Wheatens, as they have always seemed to be a bit lighter than most.   I have noticed an amazing amount of beard-plucking in my Wheaten flock, which is somewhat annoying.  

Brown Reds are still a rekindled project at this time.  I am working on extending the coloring in the hackles and neck of the females, while increasing size and improving type.  At this time I am not able to share any Brown Reds.

Buff Ameraucana are probably the most rarest of the Ameraucana varieties.   Like most, I was unable to source any Buff Ameraucana from anyone, so I am trying to reinvent the Buff Wheel.  At this time I am not able to share any Buffs. 

Chocolate Ameraucana are one of my fun projects.  Although I had somewhat of a rocky start in sourcing something usable in Chocolate with acceptable type and vigor, I haven't given up on them.  I only have a small flock of Chocolates, so at this time I am not able to share any Chocolates. 

Ermine is not yet an accepted variety, although it is in the acceptance process.  The best Ermine offspring come from using an Ermine male over Black Females.  Much like Splash, females tend to hide any brassiness or leakage, so using an Ermine male over good Black females is best.  

The original GH Self-Blues didn't impress me at all, so at this time, I am working on rebuilding this flock with better specimens of type, size, and vigor, while trying to eliminate crooked keel bones and the brassiness seen in the earlier (pre 2024) males.  Feather quality is always a challenge with  Self Blues, and is something I am mindful of. 

One of the more rare and difficult patterns to work with is Silver.  I am trying to retain the crispness of the males, yet work on the pattern of the females.  I have two breeding flocks of Silvers, one for type and size, however the females show some shafting and color bleed.  The second flock has some DQ's for combs and legs, but has an amazing female pattern with very little shafting and excellent color.  I exhibit birds from both flocks.

Currently, my Blues and Splashes are set up as a Blue X Splash flock, with Blue males over Blue & Splash females.  I am working on trying to eliminate the lankiness and brassiness seen in the earlier (pre 2024) males.

My breeding flock is Wheaten males over Blue Wheaten and Wheaten Females.  I am currently working on egg-color in Wheatens, as they have always seemed to be a bit lighter than most.  I have noticed an amazing amount of beard-plucking in my Wheaten flock, which is somewhat annoying.  

Although not rare or patterned, my White Ameraucana is a variety that I really enjoy exhibiting.  The biggest challenge is to keep them clean, and of course, White!  The SOP for White Ameraucana calls for them to be Recessive White.  I do NOT work with Dominant White Ameraucana.  I do have one female in the breeding flock with outstanding type, and weak wings.  She does well at the shows, so for now, she will continue to be used.

The first birds I exhibited were original GH Black Bantams.  It was quite the eye-opening experience.  About the second show in, I learned way more about type and SOP than I ever imagined was possible.  The original GH Black bantam males were scrapped, and my current flocks are minimally related to the original birds.  I am still working on type and heads in my blacks, but have made outstanding progress with them.  My Blacks are in Black x Black pairs & trios.

One of the varieties of Ameraucana Bantams that I decided to work with was Blue.  Currently, my Blues and Splashes are set up in Blue X Splash pairs and trios, with Blue males over Blue & Splash females.  I am working on maintaining the lacing on the blues, while trying to keep the shafting to a minimum.  I have found a slight bit of leakage in the hackle feathers on one of my blue males, but since Blues and Splashes are not as common as some of the other Bantam varieties, I haven't addressed the issue yet.  

My Blue Wheaten Bantams are set up in pairs and trios, with Wheaten males over Blue Wheaten and Wheaten Females.  I am currently working on egg-color in Blue Wheatens & Wheatens, as they have always seemed to be a bit more greenish than any of my other varieties. 

Brown Reds are still a rekindled project at this time.  I am working on extending the coloring in the hackles and neck of the females, while improving muffs & beards, and correcting tail angle of the males.  At this time I am not able to share any Brown Red Bantams.

Buff Ameraucana Bantams are probably the most rarest of the Ameraucana varieties.   Like most, I was unable to source anyBuff Bantams, so I am trying to reinvent the Buff Bantam Wheel.  At this time I am not able to share any Buff Bantams. 

Ermine is not yet an accepted variety, although it is currently in the acceptance process.  The best Ermine offspring come from using an Ermine male over Black Females.  Much like Splash, females tend to hide any brassiness or leakage, so using an Ermine male over good Black females is best.  The biggest focus for Ermine Bantams is keeping the size down, as they tend to push the limits on weight.  My Ermines are in Ermine x Black pairs and trios.

In 2024, many breeders faced fertility challenges in Self Blues, and I was no exception.  I brought in several new pairs to improve type and fertility, and found the new birds to have the same issues.  The shredder gene is often found in Self Blue varieties and is something I am mindful of.  I have decided to re-invent the Self Blue bantam wheel, and won't be able to share until I have a flock that can successfully reproduce.

One of the more rare and difficult patterns to work with is Silver.  I am trying to fix the ugly combs on the Bantam  males, and work on the pattern of the females.  My own preference is that the plumage pattern of the Silver Bantams follows the OEGB, rather than the Dutch Bantam, as the standard is written.  I have two breeding flocks of Silver Bantams, in hopes that I can correct the shafting in the females, and tail angle of the males.  I do experience some aggression I'd like to not see in the males, but for now, I deal with it.  I exhibit birds from both flocks.

One of the varieties of Ameraucana Bantams that I decided to work with was Splash.  Currently, my Blues and Splashes are set up in Blue X Splash pairs and trios, with Blue males over Blue & Splash females.  Ihave found a slight bit of leakage in the hackle feathers on one of my blue males, but since Blues and Splashes are not as common as some of the other Bantam varieties, I haven't addressed the issue yet.  

My Wheaten Bantams are set up in pairs and trios, with Wheaten males over Blue Wheaten and Wheaten Females.  I am currently working on egg-color in Wheatens, as they have always seemed to be a bit more greenish than any of my other varieties. 

White Bantams are a rarity.  Although I do have several pairs of whites, that have amazing vigor, I am struggling with fertility issues and general type issues within my pairs.  I am considering re-inventing the white bantam wheel, as there isn't much one can do if the original birds are unable to reproduce.  At this time, I am not sharing White bantams.