Recent Posts

1

Breeding / Re: Wheaten woes

« Last post by Mike Gilbert on Today at 10:29:11 AM »

Unless there is some subclinical disease in your flock that affects hatchability, it sounds like you have been doing everything you need to do to.   The best answer in that case is to import hatching eggs or chicks from another source.   LF Wheatens and Blue Wheatens all go back to one original source as far as I know, that of the late Wayne Meredith.  So the chances are pretty good you would not be doing that drastic of an outcross.   Substandard fertility and/or hatchability, along with reduced production, are some of the first signs of inbreeding depression.  To avoid that for long periods of time a person needs to keep about three different lines going in order to maintain a closed flock. 

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Breeding / Wheaten woes

« Last post by Jessica Rodgers on Today at 12:19:14 AM »

I was reluctant to post this as I don’t care to have my issues all over the internet but I wish more people would post their issues so we can all learn from them so here I go… I apologize in advance for the length of this post…


I’m having difficulty with fertility/eggs developing. The ones that do develop I get about 1/2 to hatch. The ones that die in shell are about day 18+ and are usually not positioned correctly. I see movement in the egg when I set them in the hatching tray.
I usually set some Wheaten Olive Eggers as well and they are nearly 90% success rate for development and hatch-ability. They pop out like popcorn! I monitor my parameters in the incubator closely and I can see on a graph any fluctuations.

Flock stats:
Wheaten/Blue Wheaten flock started from one cock and 2 hens 6yrs ago. It was unknown at the time how related the cock was to the hens. I started by breeding siblings from my original trio (eggs from the 2 hens were separated) then I created a third family with one of the families so 2 family groups are closely related. Then I started rotating the males.
Females age range from 1-5yrs old
Males are 1yr and 4yrs old.

Pens are made up of one male over 3-5 females, one pen does have an additional 8 strictly layers on top of 5 Wheaten hens. Surprisingly that pen has the best fertility but also has a 1yr old male over them. Fertility still isn’t that great but workable. Everyone eats Natural Farm Feed “broiler” feed and I recently started adding Fertrell breeder supplement again + beef tallow as the oil. They always have access to oyster shell and grit. Everyone has access to pasture either with a movable fenced area off the main coops or they are in a movable tractor.

So the big question is did I do something wrong? I try my hardest to keep vigorous birds. Everything gets wing banded and I take notes and don’t keep birds that show weakness or get sick. I know adding new blood is a possible quick fix, I have a few birds from an unrelated side project that I can use but I was keeping them separate for now and I’d like to keep my current line going. I’ve heard a number of Wheaten breeders over the years have had similar issues with their line. Possibly Silvers too?

So, another question arises: Does the Wheaten variety in particular tolerate a closed flock/no outside blood added like some other varieties and breeds?
I’ve seen comments here and there over the years about other breeds not tolerating closed flocks and I’m  wondering if Wheatens fit into that category?

I know the subject of adding new blood or not can be a hot topic so let’s keep the discussion respectful please 🩵
 

3

Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Re: Hog Wild for Ameraucanas National Meet Nov 2-3, 2024

« Last post by Rebecca G Howie on May 17, 2024, 06:25:23 PM »

Overnight Accommodations -

Overnight Accommodations -

No *Host* Hotel is available since this is Home game weekend for U of A,
Book a room ASAP to get the best rates or choice of location.

Hotel information -
in Fayettevile, AR
Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N Shiloh Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72704
Must be a 2 night stay since it is a home game weekend
Phone: (479) 856-6040

Springdale, AR and Bentonville, AR are very close to the Paulene Whittaker Center and rates vary greatly.

Fully self contained campers can park on the grounds - NO hookups available. See Marty Abrahamsen or Jacob Bates when you arrive

For camper hook-ups-
Southgate RV Park
2331 South School Avenue or 71B South Fayetteville, AR 72701
2 nights (Friday and Saturday) is $225 per space guaranteed nonrefundable reservations
Text 479-442-2021 for reservations   

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Re: Upcoming June 2024 and September 2024 Ameraucana Alliance Meets

« Last post by Laurie Ashley on May 17, 2024, 11:18:14 AM »

Entry is in for Coulee region show! 

Looking at Northwoods and checking our calendar for that weekend.
  I sure like going north alot better in the hotter months for shows lol. 

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Hog Wild for Ameraucanas National Meet Nov 2-3, 2024

« Last post by Rebecca G Howie on May 16, 2024, 11:27:55 PM »

This year the Ameraucana Alliance will have a second National Meet hosted by HOTOPA in Fayetteville, AR
I am organizing that event along with Michael Muenks, Russ Blair-advisor.

The Paulene Whittaker Animal Science Center is a very nice facility and the staff of the HOTOPA show are very welcoming and helpful.

There are many jobs that need to be done at an event like this and a few volunteers have already stepped up to pitch in and make this a terrific National Meet for the Member of the Ameraucana Alliance.

Janie Vila will be our photographer, would someone like to be her backup photographer for additional candids or poultry portraits? 

Do we have a member who could handle a live stream from the Show?
How about posting pictures on the Forum?
Show progress reports, pics to Social Media
A person focusing on getting the Meet Report filled out would be great!
We give Awards to Displays and will need someone to take on the task of calculating display points.
We will have a Club meeting open to all members, who takes great notes?

Egg show check-in - Andi VandeVere
Egg show Judges - Char and John Haste
Silent auction - Laurie Ashley
Raffle - Laurie Ashley
Club table Staffing - Jessica Loree, we need 3-4 additional people to rotate to the table over the day
additional Promotion of the National Meet - ideas, suggestions welcome - or volunteer to make it your job to promote the show
activities like coloring contest, word each, etc

There will be a meeting room available about lunch time, we can have lunch as a casual group with a Q and A session. Come with Questions or offer Answers and Experience to others.

Saturday evening a club meal/social gathering/Annual Meeting.

All volunteers, talent, skills, suggestions are appreciated. The more the merrier, lots of volunteers means every one has some down time to just hang out and enjoy the good fellowship of other poultry fanciers.

Thank you to Michael Muenks, Laurie Ashley, Jessica Loree, Andi VandeVere, Janie Vila, John Haste, Char Haste, and  Russ Blair for you time and commitment to the Ameraucana Alliance and the 2024 Hog Wild for Ameraucanas National Meet

 . OH, BTW remember to hatch a few extras for the Silent Auction   

6

Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Re: Celebrating Ameraucana in Dairyland - National Meet

« Last post by Russ Blair on May 15, 2024, 03:59:57 PM »

Thanks for the update Michael and all the information. God willing I will be attending and will gladly donate a pair or trio of  Ameraucana, most likely bantam but it’s still too early to tell. I will also help in any way you need, that my back allows me to. I am sure you will make this another epic National Meet, thank you for your service to our Alliance.

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Re: Upcoming June 2024 and September 2024 Ameraucana Alliance Meets

« Last post by Michael Muenks on May 15, 2024, 11:55:00 AM »

My entry is in. Looking forward to the show and the trip. I really like the online system for entries they are using this year.

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Re: Upcoming June 2024 and September 2024 Ameraucana Alliance Meets

« Last post by Mike Gilbert on May 15, 2024, 11:05:39 AM »

Just as a reminder, the online entry deadline for the Coulee Region Poultry Club show on June 1st is May 25th.  Catalog and instructions can be found at this link:   https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Coulee_Region_Poultry_Club.html .  I'm hoping to see many of you there, as I won't be attending many shows this year. 

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Upcoming June 2024 and September 2024 Ameraucana Alliance Meets

« Last post by Michael Muenks on May 15, 2024, 11:00:55 AM »

June 1, 2024
Wisconsin
Club Meet, requested by Laurie Ashley
Coulee Region Poultry Club, Inc., Trempealeau County Fairgrounds, Galesville, WI
Contact: Jim Laatsch, JimSparky2000@yahoo.com (253) 241-9981

September 14, 2024
Wisconsin
Club Meet, requested by Jerry DeSmidt
Northwoods Poultry Fanciers Club Show #1, Dairy Barn, Memorial Park 209 Mueller Street, Athens, WI 54411
Contact: (715) 921-4399, northwoodspoultryfanciersclub@gmail.com

September 14, 2024
Wisconsin
Club Meet, requested by Jerry DeSmidt
Northwoods Poultry Fanciers Club Show #2, Dairy Barn, Memorial Park 209 Mueller Street, Athens, WI 54411
Contact: (715) 921-4399, northwoodspoultryfanciersclub@gmail.com

September 28-29, 2024
Celebrating Ameraucana in Dairyland
National Meet
Wisconsin International Poultry Club, http://www.wisconsininternational.com/
Wisconsin International, Columbia County Fairgrounds, Portage, WI
Contact: Terry Lund, terry@prismglassworks.com, (608) 455-2318

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Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes / Celebrating Ameraucana in Dairyland - National Meet

« Last post by Michael Muenks on May 15, 2024, 10:56:15 AM »

As you may be aware the Ameraucana Alliance has two national meets this year, one of which is at the Wisconsin International show September 28-29, 2024 in Portage, WI.

There are many jobs that need to be done such as taking pictures of the BV and RV, posting pictures on the forum, the meet report, calculating display points, taking notes at the club meeting, organizing the egg show, organizing a silent auction, promotion, and staffing a club table.

There are also nice to have items such as a club meal/social gathering, coloring contest, word searches, virtual auction, virtual cast of events, social media postings, raffle, Question and Answer session, a seminar on an Ameraucana topic/variety/genetics, and any other great ideas people have.

If you are interested in helping or know of someone who would be interested in helping with the national meet in Wisconsin, please let me know. Many hands make light work.

Thank you to Jeff and Jessica for being willing to help and of course to our president Russ for his guidance and support.