The Ameraucanas - 5 weeks old

So, of my 12 chicks - 8 are of course Ameraucanas. True Ameraucanas. 5 are blue, and 3 are black. Yesterday was the final test in sexing them, and I have 4 boys. 2 blue, 2 black. I am going to keep one black, and most likely sell the remaining 3 boys. Or eat them. They're going to be perfectly friendly roosters (I have never heard of a mean true Ameraucana case) and will have a true blue egg gene, so crossing them will give offspring that will lay green, pale blue, or olive colored eggs. Currently, this is how they look. This boy in particular I know I would not keep, as he seemed to have no muffs as a chick, and still doesn't seem to be growing a new set yet.



And, who could forget my Black Copper Marans? They're my only chocolate egg layers right now! I have even better quality ones in an incubator, but they're 6 days away from hatching. I cannot wait! Their eggs are SO dark, so big, and so perfect! Also, their bloodlines have not been crossed. As for these guys, we'll see how things go. I already know I have atleast one boy, but look at how they pose when I'm around! They look like raptors!



And then at last, here is the whole group of 12 all around the waterer. So far, my pick of the Ameraucana cockerels is the black one on the very bottom of the photo. When comparing him to the black one on the far left, he's so far bigger (which honestly doesn't mean too much right now) and has a better body than the other guy. But, as they grow, I'll be looking for a smoothly angled tail set, nice red eyes, an evenly curved pea comb, a very well filled out muffs and beard, and so on. I want my boy to be perfect!