Araucana thread anyone?

[Quirky]

Hello everyone. Good to see you all hatching away. I can't imagine ever going that route; it's too nerve-wracking for me.

Speaking of which, the coop that my sweet husband built already has a problem. The plywood door is bowing. I discovered it last night and then couldn't rest because the gap was perfect for a weasel (which we have). Sigh. I think I am going to lay out for a professionally built coop. It's worth the peace of mind.

Next, I want to run the following statement by you breeder folks. It comes from the thread on BYC about large heritage fowl. I've been reading the thread with interest. Anyway, I wonder what you gals think of this:

"What I have learned, is that with living things, there can be no MAINTAINING of anything. It either gets better or worse, you go forwards or backwards. Whatever it is you work with, you have to be endlessly selecting for what you want. "

 

[cashdl]

Lucy, I agree with that statement. Each breeding is a selection you make to hopefully get traits that are what you want. Wether going forwards or backwards is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. There is a standard of perfection for all breeds in the APA. Most breeders breed with an eye towards achieving that standard, but it is always a work in progress. Especially with the Araucana. No one lets go of their perfect birds if they even had them to start with. I don't have perfect birds. Each generation is hopefully a step in the right direction.

Gomez was for me, close to perfect as a chick could get, but he has the wrong leg color, so I had to make a choice to sell him based on my ultimate goals for breeding. Now he is yours. Breeding is always a work in progress and each hatch, I look at each baby and wonder if they are the one I keep to hopefully improve on what I have. It is soo much fun. It is frustrating and has sad moments also, but so does life.


Lanae

 

[Beth G.]

I just went to lift my LF Clean Faced Rumpless Black Araucana Hen off the nest for her daily stretch, food, water, and poo. This is what I walked into!!! She is two days early and has 5 chicks hatched. Wow, I love this gal

 

[cashdl]

Isn't it wonderful when you don't have to worry about and incubator. The hen does all the work. Congratulations Beth

Lanae

 

[hinkjc]

Love that pic Beth! She looks like a great mama hen.

 

[Beth G.]

Quote:
Thanks Lanae!!! It is great!!! I have to different ones raising them now and a few in the brooders. But, it's just a joy to watch them intereact together

 

[Beth G.]

Quote:
Thanks Jody!!! She is such a good girl

 

[cackleberrycoop]

Beth G. :

I just went to lift my LF Clean Faced Rumpless Black Araucana Hen off the nest for her daily stretch, food, water, and poo. This is what I walked into!!! She is two days early and has 5 chicks hatched. Wow, I love this gal

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/61583_img01141-20110516-11571.jpg

Oh, what a precious photo! I love the way mom and baby are checking each other out - very, very sweet!​

 

[cackleberrycoop]

I finally have the 2010 Standard of Perfection!!! What a long wait, but how exciting.

Saturday was the big, sanctioned poultry show here in Hamilton. What a wonderful day of learning and inspiration but there were NO ARAUCANAS! Not a single one!!!!! Last year Steve Waters brought his birds to show and what an awesome experience that was. I was so hoping to find eggs, or chicks, or at least another connection in this crazy small Araucana breeding world, but oh well. Forward and onward I suppose.

Lanae, do you have the actual dates of January's Stockton California show?


So many wonderful chicks hatching out all over on this thread. It is really exciting watching this breed growing, growing, growing.

 

[smoothmule]

Nivtup, those are some honkin big tufts on those babies,

Love em

Lanae, Gorgeous bunch of chicks. I might have a splash chick too if that's what splash chick down looks like. I can't wait till this hatch starts feathering

Beth, They are so adorable, too tweet.