Araucana thread anyone?

[Quirky]

Thank you. I might wait and save for the Sportsman. I like to buy the right thing the first time, and people seem to really like that one. Sometimes middle-of-the-line really does = mediocre.

Illia, thanks to you, too. I want the 1588 to be adequate, as there are things I want/need that the $500 savings could buy.....decisions, decisions. It's a good problem to have.

 

[syble]

i'm not sure which hovas i have... I have 2 of the still air styra foam ones... i added a computer fan to the one and rebuilt the base for added height (can it still be considered a hovabator?!) at any rate i use that for a hatcher, and its great! I got this spring a GQF 1266 and use that as my main incubator. It has an auto turner and works great, but isn't as high end as a sportsman. It was explained to me that its the econo model of a sportsman. Works great for me, and holds over 200 chicken eggs. Check out your local kijiji or craigs lists, you can find them second hand for a few hundred dollars. I may have over paid but i paid $300 i think for mine? I couldn't handle hand turning, was messing it up because my work schedule was everywhere!

I love the intense blues! i got an egg from lanea that was a vivid blue with almost a waxy coat to it. if i could have only those i would be thrilled!

 

[Rumbull]

Quote:
Have you posted pictures of your Cuckoos? A unique araucana color and true blue eggs... count me in!!! Did you breed the Cuckoos yourself? Can I ask what went into the breeding of the Cuckoos? I think this guy that was posted on here is amazing and wonder what breed contributed the barring???

 

[Gerry2011]

He is absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Have you posted pictures of your Cuckoos? A unique araucana color and true blue eggs... count me in!!! Did you breed the Cuckoos yourself? Can I ask what went into the breeding of the Cuckoos? I think this guy that was posted on here is amazing and wonder what breed contributed the barring???
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/99716_5101907419_144697f268.jpg

That was the cockerel I showed the thread, I was going to have him, but, a long story short - I didn't get him.


I have lots of photos of my Cuckoos throughout the thread, but they're blue and splashes, no true black based ones yet. I breed them myself of course, but I did not create the color. I'm just working on improving it.

 

[Ray_n_Debi]

Wow, that is a beautiful roo!!

I have some chicks growing now that I am hoping will look close to that. If they do I will be one happy woman! Now to go off to neverland and dream....

 

[Illia]

He was beautiful, but he was really on the small side and had white soles.

My current blue Cuckoo male is this guy. He's got his own flaws too, in fact you might not even tell he's actually got barring in there, but, I'm keeping him for his kids.

And yes, I know, he looks like a splash - But trust me, he's blue. This is his younger days. He is indeed tufted, and he's very meaty. Also, I LOVE his saddle feathers. I've met few Araucanas with saddle feathers that actually extend down to the bottom. When he moves, they shake back and forth like a grass skirt.

(He is in the background, notice the barring. It was very clear back then, and as he matured and got more smutty in color and got more golden leakage, it disappeared)

Young chick feather detail.

Baby chick - Notice the oversized yellowish pale spot on the head, indicative of a male barred bird.

 

[gootziecat]

Very cool, Illia.

 

[ndoles]

I am sooo sad...my favorite pullet was killed last night by a possum?
This is my second chicken to be killed by a predator in the last month. This one was from a different coop. It got in thru a window..I had shutters, but it somehow got in anyway..

She was my only tufted hen. She did have a tail, but she was the sweetest chick I had..

Now I only have one araucana hen left...

 

[Stacykins]

Quote:
I am sorry for your loss.

Hardware cloth over the windows is a good way to go to protect them. I have 16 gauge hardware cloth covering my coop's windows as a screen. So it is safe for them to be open, and no grabby pawed raccoon or other predator (unless it is a BEAR, then I'm screwed

) can reach in or get in. It has to be secured down tightly, no gaps. To allow the shutters to open and close still, you'd probably be better putting something like hardware cloth on the inside part of the window. Normal screen won't protect, a critter can get through that like a hot knife through butter.