Araucana thread anyone?

[Ray_n_Debi]

I know what you mean about sticking to a plan. I have 2 coops of Black n Blues. 2 coops of Cuckoo, 2 coops of Black Breasted Red, a White project, 2 coops of lemon blue projects (for lack of a better name, I believe these are Black Breasted Reds that have been diluted with lavender) 1 Red Brown project, also cuckoos that look washed like another lavender gene is in there, although they are very pretty, I am not going to persue this one, and not sure what I want to do with the 'lemon blues'.
Oh and can't forget about the Duckwings.

 

[cashdl]

Some of you are going to go "DUH" but a light bulb just switched on in my small brain. I have these almost red pyles. They are really really pretty, and I was thinking they were coming from my Dom. White pen. Then this morning I was looking carefully at a roo chick from my Ginger pen " (really it is a messy blue breasted red roo, with lots of red and a silver duckwing hen, and a red hen), anyhoo, this roo chick is growing out red pyle with two magnificant tufts, when I thought he was going to be a gold duckwing. Apparantly a silver duckwing hen with a blue breasted red roo makes red pyle. Which is a duh moment because red pyle is duckwing based, you just have to get rid of the black but not the red. I am sure there is alot more to it, but so far so good. My pullet has georgous tufts and has splash markings with a red pyle chest. I have an older roo chick that just needs the red parts darkened up a bit, and he is perfect except clean faced. My tufted roo chick seems to be growing out pretty good.

Like I need another project! But I really like how these are turning out. Plus they seem to have the nicest tufts.


I am going to have to take pics.

Lanae

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

OK folks, this comes from my background as a Public Works painter, not "chicken knowledge".

Would it be possible to preserve egg shell samples with a laquer coating? Over on the hobby section they've been painting and decorating eggs of different colors. Most folks seem to use Modge Podge or spray laquer.

The shell losing moisture is part of the reason the color fades. Probably the natural oils break down and the surface becomes chalky.

I would not compare "preserved" egg shells to natural shells, but to make a color chart out of the preserved ones might be worth the time to up keep it.

 

[suzannaski]

Quote:
That would be great! I will also be comparing with ameraucana (true, not hatchery).
Yeah, I saw that A7 and said not possible!

 

[Illia]

I'll send some some shells from my Wheaten Ameraucanas too if you don't mind. They're super rich and pretty blue, I just want to see a nice wide variety of comparison to the Legbars.




Exciting news today!! My broody girl, Josephine -

Just hatched out some babies!! So far I saw a solid duckwing chick (I think it's clean faced, definitely rumpless) and a solid blue chick (though it might not be hers, but it is FAT and fluffy!) There's still more eggs under her, hopefully still alive and about to hatch. This is daddy -

No pics yet - They were out when I didn't have the camera.

Would it be possible to preserve egg shell samples with a laquer coating? Over on the hobby section they've been painting and decorating eggs of different colors. Most folks seem to use Modge Podge or spray laquer.

No. I'm an artist so naturally I tried coating my eggs too. The secret is keeping them out of the sunlight, at least for me it works. Store them in a pitch black or nearly lightless area, and the color keeps. Same with Marans. As Marans eggs sit around they turn more and more orangey to dull brown instead of rich red. Keeping them away from light preserves the color.​

 

[Ray_n_Debi]

Congratulations on you new chick hopefully chicks! My Araucana hen hatched 6 out of 6 eggs. She was doing great but when I notice one gone, I took the rest away

I found 3 of my double tufted rumpless chicks (3 weeks old )dead in their coop. There was a storm while I was out and although they can't go outside the others must have piled and suffocated these ones. Broke my heart.

 

[gootziecat]

Forgive me if I've asked this before, but is this breed fiesty?

Lanae, the red pyle sound gorgeous. I hope you keep working with them.

 

[Illia]

Never ever met a mean one. They're really tough, as in, with their smaller size a hen can still stand up for herself, but aggressive, no.

 

[gootziecat]

Just wondering as I have a breed (not Araucanas) that will nastily whack on my cats. This irritates me because my cats love the chickens and will lay in their pens with them peacefully.

 

[Illia]

My Araucanas never bother the cats I have who are good with chickens. However, if a cat has a bad history of chasing or teasing or stalking them, the Araucanas will either A) gang up and stalk back B) fight back if male or C) run off.