Araucana thread anyone?

[Trish1974]

I bred tufted x tufted and had less than 25% dead in shell. they (breeders) had thin tufts and only 1 chick had thick tufts. I am looking for tufted araucanas only.

It would be nice to keep only tufted Araucanas. They say tufts are 50% inheritable. HA! My average this year has been 20%! Crappy beginners luck I guess.

 

[Trish1974]

I do believe Lil Girl is trying to go broody again. I need to recheck fertility on the blue tufted x blue tufted pair - as it is so hit and miss with them. I think I'm done hatching mottleds this year, and will set only the blues if they are fertile. I wish my BBR was laying, or I would set from her. I broke her broodiness 2 weeks ago and she hasn't started laying again.

I have a guy coming for the two 9 week old cockerels this morning. One of which is "my baby" - the first one I assisted hatch and the one with the crooked toes. I forewarned my boyfriend I will probably cry all day, but such is life. You just can't keep them all.

 

[Trish1974]

Oh, that face over the hen's back...

The chick to the left is that funky patterned chick. It's getting even funkier...it has white wing bars! I emailed a pic to Nancy Utterback and she couldn't even explain the color. Hopefully it makes it to adulthood so we can see what it develops into.

 

[Trish1974]

So in a bizarre turn of events... Mama decided to go broody yesterday (yay!), kicking Lil Girl out of her nest and taking over. Several times when I was outside yesterday I heard horrible screaming noises coming from their coop. It literally sounded like there was a predator in there tearing them apart. It was Mama. She wouldn't let anyone in the coop for anything! I had to block her nest box opening with cardboard last night just so everyone could get inside to roost! Geesh!! So she has broken Lil Girl's broodiness, but since she is broody herself that is okay. I just wish she wasn't so cray-cray about it. Tonight I will put some eggs under her. I tried checking fertility on the blue tufted pair but the yolk broke when I cracked it open. I'll have to sacrifice another egg this afternoon.

So that is 8 out of 9 Araucana pullets and hens that have gone broody this summer! Aryeh, I know that is a trait that makes you cringe, but since I have become anti-incubator, for me it is a a blessing!

Oh, and the clean faced black hen in Triton's group is due to hatch a batch next Sunday.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I don’t mind broodiness I just wish I could let my bantams hatch out eggs when they go broody. It breaks my heart to have to put them in the broody breaker.
Trish I know you said you may sell Mama next year, but I think you should hold on to her since 1) she’s older and can teach the younger birds manners & 2) she’s a good broody.

 

[Trish1974]

I don’t mind broodiness I just wish I could let my bantams hatch out eggs when they go broody. It breaks my heart to have to put them in the broody breaker.
Trish I know you said you may sell Mama next year, but I think you should hold on to her since 1) she’s older and can teach the younger birds manners & 2) she’s a good broody.

That is true, but if I sell Manolito, I think it would be best if they go together. They have such a strange, intense bond. I bet Ratchet would fill her shoes nicely. She's older than dirt and can apparently hatch unfertilized eggs! Just kidding. Speaking of, I hope to integrate Ratchet and her chick into Mano's group while Mama is nesting. Right now I have silt fence up between their runs. If you can recall, I never could get her introduced to their group because her and Mama would fight like a couple of cockfighters through the fence.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

So, integration is going well! They’re all together eating scratch I threw down. I’ve taken away the dog kennel, makeshift baby coop. Now to make sure they go in the the big chicken coop. Lol gonna have to check for sure. Varric looks like he’s starting to grow his male saddle feathers. Oh and in the first pick in the center, the two pullets next to my hen. I think they will outgrow her.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I believe that the Araucana originated from the Quetro and the Collonca which both are indigenous to Chile South America.
https://modernfarmer.com/2016/03/araucana-chicken-origin/

 

[chickengr]

I don’t mind broodiness I just wish I could let my bantams hatch out eggs when they go broody. It breaks my heart to have to put them in the broody breaker.
Trish I know you said you may sell Mama next year, but I think you should hold on to her since 1) she’s older and can teach the younger birds manners & 2) she’s a good broody.

x2

 

[Trish1974]

It's official - EVERY SINGLE ARAUCANA female I own has gone broody this summer!!! That's crazy! The final hen to go broody is Blue Boy's mate. BUT, I'm out of eggs! Lol! The only hen that is laying is the clean faced blue hen, and for some reason Blue doesn't mate her. Seven eggs are going under Mama tomorrow night, and the clean faced black hen is sitting on 7 eggs due to hatch Saturday or Sunday.