Lets ask, learn, debate and enjoy this fascinating breed. I began this thread with a head full of questions and partial understandings and like you just said hinkjc, we all have to begin somewhere. As far as I'm concerned, there are no stupid questions in the pursuit of understanding. I love input and DEBATE is welcome! Blanket statements to our overwhelming ignorance are less that useful and are not welcome here.
Thank you hinkjc. This is a confusing breed to beginners. I adore my single chick who is tailed and a tuft-less bird. Quite a character. Love learning about this breed.
I would have to agree on the frustrating quality of the breed. I like to think of it as challenging.
From our research at the beginning, there seems to be a lot of mixed up birds out there, and only the dedicated breeders seem to have stock with consistant coloration.
We, along with many, got our start from several places.
We did get a start though, and have made some progress in the challenging world or Araucanas.
Our initial egg purchase resulted in one double tufted pullet, that threw a lot of partially tailed chicks.
We have kept working at it, and as I see it, this is a long term project, as in many years.
Primarily we have mixed colored birds, making progress on rumplessness and tufting. Still working towards good combs, correct leg coloration, general conformation, and of course color.
Nice looking Tufts Smooth Mule and good looking facial coloring and the tufts look like they're both going the same direction and size, it will be nice to see if he throws the same shape of tuft to his offspring.
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By golly, what I wouldn't give to have a bird with patterned tufts. This is fast becoming one of my favorite traits. You're birds are beautiful, and that first Red/Blue is, well, WOW - are her tufts blue and red, or just blue? I can't quite tell on my screen.