Araucana thread anyone?

[Mauka]

Nope. But I'd love one or two. I'm sick, bored and living on BYC is all...

 

[Brada Puhi]

They look kinda like araucanas.

If you can figure out how to get them to the big island, I can set you up some day.

kden, Puhi

 

[collaire]

You shold have picked up the free chicks Gary L Ramey gave away last week. There were several tufted rumpless chicks.

 

[ochochicas]

My two black Araucanas are three months old now. They look like pullets to me, although the larger of the two has a wider comb. These chicks were tiny when I got them and are still small for their age - 1.8 pounds and 2.2 pounds.

The larger bird is very aggressive with the other birds. Today I found him/her sparring with one of the cockerels that is twice as big. The Araucana was biting the cockerel and hanging off of his hackle feathers while the cockerel drug the Araucana around the yard with his/her feet barely touching the ground.

My question is: have any of you found Araucana pullets to be aggressive? Or do you think this chick is a cockerel hiding out and looking like a pullet? Both of the Araucanas are pretty pushy at feeding time and will even push the larger birds out of the way and eat first.

 

[Illia]

I see a pullet. Aggression doesn't mean male. I've had a lot of really pushy gals before. My Araucanas are pretty tough, and if someone tries something with them, they'll show 'em who is boss. That or they'll do the opposite, but usually my Araucanas are fairly independent, strong birds. Not in the aggressive gamey way, but a hierarchical manner.

 

[ochochicas]

I see a pullet. Aggression doesn't mean male. I've had a lot of really pushy gals before. My Araucanas are pretty tough, and if someone tries something with them, they'll show 'em who is boss. That or they'll do the opposite, but usually my Araucanas are fairly independent, strong birds. Not in the aggressive gamey way, but a hierarchical manner.

Thanks for the reply! I hope you are right. I'd love to have two pullets since they are very bonded and I'd hate to have to "get rid" of one (plus I paid more than I should have for them). In the past my aggressive chicks have all turned out to be cockerels. I was thinking by 13 weeks it should be obvious if they are cockerels,but I've also heard Araucanas are difficult to sex. Fingers are crossed!

 

[Illia]

Honestly I find Araucanas just as easy or difficult to sex as any bird with a pea comb and varied duckwing-based colorations. As for aggressive chicks, honestly my young gals and boys of any breed (with the exception of gamefowl) will spar at the same rate, and thankfully for me that has never led to aggression once mature. Just playful youngins establishing pecking order.

 

[jaxchic]

This is my new roo, Donald. I have never owned an araucana before. Could anyone here tell me his plumage color? And is it true that rumpless birds are missing their oil gland at the base of the tail?. If so, how do they weatherproof themselves?

 

[jmcgee83]

I just hatched my first araucanas. I was wondering what color one chick will end up being. Its the only one I got of this color the others are obviously white, black, or lavender. And also this is the only chick that hatched with any tufts so I'm really hoping for a too out of this little guy. Is it possible to tell if it is rumpless at this early age?

 

[smoothmule]

I just hatched my first araucanas. I was wondering what color one chick will end up being. Its the only one I got of this color the others are obviously white, black, or lavender. And also this is the only chick that hatched with any tufts so I'm really hoping for a too out of this little guy. Is it possible to tell if it is rumpless at this early age?

Looks like a wheaten/wild type split.