My flock of 10 chickens includes two Blue Andalusians (Blue & Bell) that I hatched from eggs from Gabbard Farms, my birds are both about two years old. They are amazing little hens, they lay a huge white egg in relation to their body size. They are also great flyers and both have their primaries clipped on one wing to prevent them flying over our fences into the neighbors yard. Many other reviewers have mentioned their voices, they have more of a screech then a cluck and are very vocal, but my husband and I actually like their strange calls, we affectionately consider them our little dinosaurs, they sound a bit like a baby dinosaur from the movie Jurassic Park.
Blue, despite her small size, is lead hen in the pecking order. She has known she was in charge from the day she hatched from her egg. Bell on the other hand is low hen in the pecking order but seems to be constantly plotting to change her status, without much success. I started with four chickens (including Blue & Bell) about a two years ago & then added 6 more when the originals were ~ 5 months old. Both Andalusians have been hard on the new flock members, and Bell continues to be their worst nightmare. Things seem to have settled down but Bell has taken to sleeping in a nest box to avoid the perch confrontations in the evening when it was time to coop-up.
Both of my Andalusians are very affectionate with people and when ever I sit down in the yard they run over & jump in my lap, but Blue in particular is extremely cuddly, she just loves to be pulled closed & stroked. In the winter she follows my husband & I around begging us to pick her up & warm her feet.
I worry about their large combs during our Alaska winters, but so far so good. We are coastal & relatively far south in western AK so much warmer then most folks expect when they think Alaska. I also have a 100 or 150 watt heat lamp in the coop for when temps fall below freezing.
I would highly recommend Blue Andalusians, and I think any flock I have in the future will contain this breed. They have lots of personality, are good foragers, affectionate when given lots of attention, & lay a huge egg for their small body size.
Blue, despite her small size, is lead hen in the pecking order. She has known she was in charge from the day she hatched from her egg. Bell on the other hand is low hen in the pecking order but seems to be constantly plotting to change her status, without much success. I started with four chickens (including Blue & Bell) about a two years ago & then added 6 more when the originals were ~ 5 months old. Both Andalusians have been hard on the new flock members, and Bell continues to be their worst nightmare. Things seem to have settled down but Bell has taken to sleeping in a nest box to avoid the perch confrontations in the evening when it was time to coop-up.
Both of my Andalusians are very affectionate with people and when ever I sit down in the yard they run over & jump in my lap, but Blue in particular is extremely cuddly, she just loves to be pulled closed & stroked. In the winter she follows my husband & I around begging us to pick her up & warm her feet.
I worry about their large combs during our Alaska winters, but so far so good. We are coastal & relatively far south in western AK so much warmer then most folks expect when they think Alaska. I also have a 100 or 150 watt heat lamp in the coop for when temps fall below freezing.
I would highly recommend Blue Andalusians, and I think any flock I have in the future will contain this breed. They have lots of personality, are good foragers, affectionate when given lots of attention, & lay a huge egg for their small body size.