Challenges for Each Variety

[Kalin McClure]

In your experience, what are some of the biggest challenges facing each variety?

For instance, in the recent thread on improving LF Buffs, it was mentioned that they tend to be too fluffy and their eggs too green. 

I'd love to hear similar opinions on all our varieties. 

[Suki]

I guess it's who you got them from.  Mine are perfection.

[Mike Gilbert]

There are different strains of all the varieties, so they are not all the same even within the variety.

[Suki]

Yes Mike is right "strains" are what breeders call their lines.  So you may have Buff from X breeder and I have buffs from D breeder.  X and D would then be called the strains.


Sue

[John W Blehm]

Understanding there are differences from one line/strain of a variety to another...one is closer to the "standard" in a given area than another...there are general, almost overall, differences between varieties other than just colors & patterns. 
It may have been years since I personally have bred some varieties, but there have been few Ameraucana National Meets that I've missed over the past few decades.  By looking at the birds exhibited by many fanciers those differences can be seen and studied.
I've mentioned many of the problems different varieties are prone to several times and searches on this forum will reveal some.  In general bantam silvers don't have nice pea combs, bantam buffs are too broody for me, large fowl wheatens/blue wheatens and silver lack the good Ameraucana type we see on the others, large fowl brown reds are too small and large fowl buffs have already been mentioned.
The LF blues being shown are better in recent years, by having the required lacing, but I imagine many are still lacking in that area in backyards were fanciers are still crossing blacks with blues.  It takes concentrated breeding programs/projects to make improvements like that, but it doesn't take long for it to be lost.
Even though I've said LF black is the variety closest to the standard, I still have problems with good eye color and full muffs in my line.  With just those two faults at the top of my list it shows how far they've come in 30+ years, but I also know that there are other areas that can always be improved upon and the perfect Ameraucana has yet to be found.

[Kalin McClure]

John,
Thanks for your insights!  Very very interesting stuff.
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I did initiate my query with “in your experience,” so if anyone else would like to chime in with observations, I promise not to hold them prescriptive of the variety as a whole.   It’s so educational (and fun!) to hear from experienced breeders.
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I ponder if we’ll see better blues if/when splash is accepted.  Having 25% of Blue x Blue matings  automatically non-standard may be discouraging.  Or perhaps it’s a non-issue... any thoughts?

[John W Blehm]

I mentioned, in my post above, that bantam buff Ameraucanas are very broody.  This has been also discussed on another topic, from a few years ago.  Right now out of about 14 bantam buff pullets 9 are broody.  No other variety of Ameraucana come close when it comes to broodiness.

[Michael Muenks]

That is really cool. I do like to see good brooding and mothering instincts. Here at Bantam Hill in central Missouri the white Ameraucana and silver Ameraucana bantams are the best brooders. A white bantam hen just hatched a batch of eggs this morning.

John, I could use a few of your brooding buff bantam hens to put a few late improvement line hatching eggs under! I am hoping a few more hens will go broody for me. I'm still trying to get a few buff x wheaten chicks on the ground with the hopes that I will have something to work with next year since I only have a bantam buff cock.

[Kalin McClure]

I mentioned, in my post above, that bantam buff Ameraucanas are very broody.  This has been also discussed on another topic, from a few years ago.  Right now out of about 14 bantam buff pullets 9 are broody.  No other variety of Ameraucana come close when it comes to broodiness.

9/14 is impressive!  Love the picture of the two in one box; they look like they’re in cahoots. 😄 Any plans to let them hatch out some eggs?

[John W Blehm]

... Love the picture of the two in one box; they look like they’re in cahoots. 😄 Any plans to let them hatch out some eggs?

I believe the nest box showing two pullets, side by side, actually has a 3rd girl in the back.  Today there were 3 to 4 broody pullets in a couple different next boxes at the same time.
I'll wait until after the 1st of the year to start setting eggs using an incubator.  About the only time I use hens to hatch is immediately after my last setting of eggs in the incubator for the hatching season.  This is the 1st year I've actually contemplated some fall hatches, but I've been able to suppress the urge.