RememberTheWay
Songster
- Apr 7, 2022
- 937
- 801
- 221
Man o man, has this year, 2024, been "that" year! I'm sure like 20 yrs from now I will look back and laugh at the year from you know what. But I'm crying now.
This story starts with me. I have wanted to breed TRUE Ameraucana's for quite some time. I am a single mother. My daughter is special needs. I homestead with my mother. Who is also single. We do this by choice. I love my life, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't a constant uphill battle and struggle.
It is because of the above, that I put a pin in working with Ameraucana's. They simply were too expensive and when things are tight those kind of dreams get out on the back burner.
Then came Mother's day this year and my lovely daughter and amazing mother decided to gift me day old chicks from one of the only breeders I could find in our area. I got several chicks (several breeds) from one breeder and three chicks from another breeder later. We drove four hrs round trip actually probably closer to six hrs to get to both of these farms.
I went to the farm, was shown TRUE Ameraucana's. Correct type, muffs, beards, shank color, combs, eyes, and feet. I was also told that pens were not separate for color so I knew they would not be show quality for color. Everything else looked good. This chicks were very expensive.
The a couple days ago I was taking progression pics of all my chicks because I am a bird nerd and keep meticulous records on my projects. One for myself and two for customers later down the road. I noticed that the two lavender bantams that purchased appeared to possibly not have muff/beards? I did some digging and asked around and apparently true Ameraucana's can actually appear to lose their M/B somewhere between 4/6 wks and it may take as long as 6 months to fully return. But I also noticed that their heads were shaped funny. Almost Serama looking, if you know what I mean.
I messaged the breeder. Very nicely. Asking, One- had she noticed in her line of birds that they "lose" m/B and if they did when might I expect it to come back, and 2- was it possible for these chicks to be mixed.
She messaged back asking for pictures. So I sent the ones below. Her response was that they were "true" Ameraucana's, that she pen breeds, and that these were the parents and forwarded the photo below!
I will just let that speak for itself.
I am absolutely crushed. I waited so long for the birds. My daughter wants to show birds and I was planning on using this line of birds to let her have something to work with. I can't afford to replace them. Yes, they are cute and so sweet. But I would have never spent the money I did had I known these were the parents. How can someone so flippantly say these are true Ameraucana's and act like my concerns were totally unfounded. I'm just beside myself. I would never do this to someone. I know because I sell chicks. I couldn't charge that much for a bird knowing they weren't what I said they were. I literally would not be able to sleep at night. I am so upright about the quality of bird that leaves here I just can't imagine doing this. I don't even charge a fraction of what she did and am so worried about every little things concerning my birds. I don't even sell birds that are in anyway subpar honestly because I don't want them associated with my name. I would rather keep them!
Really, I needed to vent. And cry, and stomp my feet a little bit about this whole situation. I haven't even responded to her after she sent the picture because honestly I'm shell shocked.
This whole situation just has me so crushed and down. I was over the moon when I realized my straight run chicks were actually growing out into male female sets. Now, I'm thinking it's going to be a long time coming before my kid can enter a show or I can work with this breed.
My daughter asks me all the time, can I show this bird? What about this one? (These are back yard mutts she's picking up mind you) And I have to tell her, well you could, but you might not like the results. You should probably wait until we grow out the Ameraucana's and work with them a bit. She was so excited. I haven't even told her. Honestly, I haven't even told my mother either. I just don't want to disappoint them.
I think I'm done venting now. Off to bed for me.
Exactly what am I supposed to say to a response like that with a picture of those parent birds?
This story starts with me. I have wanted to breed TRUE Ameraucana's for quite some time. I am a single mother. My daughter is special needs. I homestead with my mother. Who is also single. We do this by choice. I love my life, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't a constant uphill battle and struggle.
It is because of the above, that I put a pin in working with Ameraucana's. They simply were too expensive and when things are tight those kind of dreams get out on the back burner.
Then came Mother's day this year and my lovely daughter and amazing mother decided to gift me day old chicks from one of the only breeders I could find in our area. I got several chicks (several breeds) from one breeder and three chicks from another breeder later. We drove four hrs round trip actually probably closer to six hrs to get to both of these farms.
I went to the farm, was shown TRUE Ameraucana's. Correct type, muffs, beards, shank color, combs, eyes, and feet. I was also told that pens were not separate for color so I knew they would not be show quality for color. Everything else looked good. This chicks were very expensive.
The a couple days ago I was taking progression pics of all my chicks because I am a bird nerd and keep meticulous records on my projects. One for myself and two for customers later down the road. I noticed that the two lavender bantams that purchased appeared to possibly not have muff/beards? I did some digging and asked around and apparently true Ameraucana's can actually appear to lose their M/B somewhere between 4/6 wks and it may take as long as 6 months to fully return. But I also noticed that their heads were shaped funny. Almost Serama looking, if you know what I mean.
I messaged the breeder. Very nicely. Asking, One- had she noticed in her line of birds that they "lose" m/B and if they did when might I expect it to come back, and 2- was it possible for these chicks to be mixed.
She messaged back asking for pictures. So I sent the ones below. Her response was that they were "true" Ameraucana's, that she pen breeds, and that these were the parents and forwarded the photo below!
I will just let that speak for itself.
I am absolutely crushed. I waited so long for the birds. My daughter wants to show birds and I was planning on using this line of birds to let her have something to work with. I can't afford to replace them. Yes, they are cute and so sweet. But I would have never spent the money I did had I known these were the parents. How can someone so flippantly say these are true Ameraucana's and act like my concerns were totally unfounded. I'm just beside myself. I would never do this to someone. I know because I sell chicks. I couldn't charge that much for a bird knowing they weren't what I said they were. I literally would not be able to sleep at night. I am so upright about the quality of bird that leaves here I just can't imagine doing this. I don't even charge a fraction of what she did and am so worried about every little things concerning my birds. I don't even sell birds that are in anyway subpar honestly because I don't want them associated with my name. I would rather keep them!
Really, I needed to vent. And cry, and stomp my feet a little bit about this whole situation. I haven't even responded to her after she sent the picture because honestly I'm shell shocked.
This whole situation just has me so crushed and down. I was over the moon when I realized my straight run chicks were actually growing out into male female sets. Now, I'm thinking it's going to be a long time coming before my kid can enter a show or I can work with this breed.
My daughter asks me all the time, can I show this bird? What about this one? (These are back yard mutts she's picking up mind you) And I have to tell her, well you could, but you might not like the results. You should probably wait until we grow out the Ameraucana's and work with them a bit. She was so excited. I haven't even told her. Honestly, I haven't even told my mother either. I just don't want to disappoint them.
I think I'm done venting now. Off to bed for me.
Exactly what am I supposed to say to a response like that with a picture of those parent birds?
According to her, "those are bantam Ameraucana's" 
very nice thought though. 
we will see. Maybe I will take the trip? 6hrs round trip....
but I understand it’s a lot for some people. But I say it’s worth it.
