Araucana thread anyone?

[Shaffer]

Rumbull,
Good luck, this is one of the hardest and disappointing breeds to breed. I have had REAL Araucanas since the 1970's on and off. Remember talking to David Caudhill the Guru of Araucanas and Fred "Red" Cox in those days. Got birds from "Red" back then. There were at least 3 or more breeders listed in David's original Araucana book that live in Pa and I still see Harold Strawser every so often but he gave them up. Had cuckoo's back in the 1980's. Now have the original Lavenders but I would not doubt they had them back in the 1970's because Dave describe all kind of colors and types. Shame the APA did not include the clean faced birds to show it would have helped the hobby a lot more instead of limiting to show the fabricated double tufted rumpless which limits your exhibition of birds to the extemes. I only kept 2 trios of old birds, one a black pen and the other lavender pen. Have enough to pick from in young birds but culled so many just to get a limited few possible replacements.

 

[smoothmule]

This was such a great year for fertility. I had near 100% in both my Lavender Araucanas and Black Araucanas. Could not believe it. I probably could have sold hatching eggs but have heard so many complain about shipped eggs they bought from others I did not want to have that stigmatizium labeled with my birds. I have culled most of my breeders since I got such a nice flock of youngsters coming up not saying the breeders were bad just I need to cut back after a fantastic hatching season in all my birds.

I wish you would post more

Many of us are still new breeders, even at 6 yrs now I feel like I'm just getting started. There are so few of the more experienced breeders that have stepped up and given the rest of us advice. Your experience and advice is so appreciated. I know a lot of the older breeders consider BYC to be mostly non serious breeders but on a more serious side, many of the non serious breeders may become more serious if given the right encouragement and direction.

A lot of newer breeders come to me as though I were a veteran breeder. I may be serious about this breed but I am no veteran and I Love to hear from breeders who have been working on this breed for many years.

 

[pebcrb]

Hi everyone, I have an araucana who keeps getting poopy butt she is about 6wks and has had this off and on since she was a baby. Her brother doesnt. The feathers seem to be growing right into her butt. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

[smoothmule]

Put apple cider vinegar in their water and see if that doesn't help. If not, then worm them with something simple like Wazine as directed on the bottle and follow with ACV in the water again. Something else you can put in the water is Oxine but you can't use it at the same time as the other 2 so start with the ACV first and work up from there.

 

[pebcrb]

Thanks I have been giving them acv in their water and some ff in the morning along with free feed dry chick starter for several weeks. Her feathers seem to just really encapsulate her tushy. Haven't seen any signs of worms but that doesn't mean she doesn't have any

 

[Penny Hen]

I have a health question and although this chicken is not pure Auracana (Kiwi is a half BCMaran, half Americana) s/he is rumpless. It seems to me that Kiwi isn't eating as much as the others and seems to have a little bit of poopy butt. It is pale yellow an sort of crusty. I had another go off her feed and get weak and I separated her for three days until she was feeling better and eating but she didn't have poopy butt. I am wondering if it could be a yeast infection or if it is a stress reaction to a bully cockrel that I have.

Kiwi seems to have lost all the down on the butt. I have seen the cockerel pick at at it but not actually come away with feathers and Kiwi seemed to ignore it. I have been trying to grow this cockerel out to eating weight but he is trying my patients and may go into the soup pot early. Here are some pictures and maybe you can help me figure out the problem.
K



Kiwi is the only one left that I am not 100% on the sex. The comb is smaller (thinner and shorter) than the ones that are definitively roos as well as not as red but still redder than the ones I know are girls.

I have used vinegar in the water and no real change. I used baking soda with the other one that was off her feed (Raven) and that is when she showed improvement. Neither have a nasty smell like they have sour crop but baking soda always soothes my stomach troubles so I thought I would try it. Tomorrow I will put it in everyone's water.

I washed Kiwi up before putting him/her back in the coop for the night. Oh, yeah I am currently feeding layer pellets.

 

[cashdl]

At this point I would say a stress reaction. Keep an eye on it. I would remove the offending rooster and see if that improves the situation.

Lanae

 

[lawatt]

update photos on my two boy chicks (from Lanae), at nearly 7 weeks old:













still need to get some pictures of the silver girl! the BBR has been developing more slowly than the other two...

 

[pebcrb]

Very beautiful boys! Love the coloring

 

[jfer]

Yes, from this little girl: She is gorgeous!!!