Araucana thread anyone?

[poularde]

Look at those tufts!

Sorry about your chick Lanae. what a disappointment.

 

[suzannaski]

I'm so sorry, Lanae! I feel the same way about leaving home. And I also believe that the scale of the catastrophe is directly proportional to how much fun I have when I go out/travel.

My only rumpless hen is limping. Do you think that's from the youngest roo being a bit "unchivalrous"? Sometimes I think my three roosters are the poultry version of the Roxbury Boys.

I can't wait for ANYONE to start laying eggs! Sheesh. Stupid winter days.

 

[smoothmule]

Oh man, I know what you mean Lanae. I'm sorry about the lil barred chick. It's usually my son that is more nervous because he's the one stuck taking care of them when I'm not home and yes, there is usually one dead when I get home even when things should be easy, ie no freezing weather etc.

 

[coberdor]

Sorry Lanae. The same thing happened to my only double tufted cuckoo pullet. She was probably the only show quality chick that hatched out this past summer from the double tufted roo I purchased from Smoothmule. But I have some other double tufted pullets and a couple of tufted Roos that hatched out, but their tufts aren't large and beautiful like the little pullet that died in our heat wave late last summer.

Here's hoping to a successful hatch season!

Carmel

 

[syble]

yeiks sorry to hear that... I haven't been on vacation in about 10 years... I hated leaving the farm before because i would have to leave like 3 pages of instructions :S

 

[suzannaski]

I'm so bummed! I opened the coop this morning, and the two roosters that have been getting along forever have bloodied heads (combs mostly) and the young (bigger) rooster has almost no injuries. And wouldn't you know, it's Scooter, my favorite and the only rumpless one, that seems to be hurt the worst.
They never fought until the new one came along, and this is the first time its ever been bloody.
Should I blame it all on the young one? What else would cause fighting when they normally don't? Winter?

 

[Flash534]

Soon my Araucanas shall be old enough to be breeding. Just to make sure here, I need to have at least 1 parent tufted to have a chance of any tufted offspring correct ? Out of my 9 Araucanas, I have only 1 cockrel and 1 pullet that are tufted. Is there any value to breeding non-tufted birds with each other at all ?

 

[Stacykins]

Yep, tufting is dominant so as long as one parent is tufted, you have a 50% chance of getting live, tufted chicks!

If a cleanfaced bird has excellent plumage, conformity, egg color, etc. that gave it good value in a breeding program, then there is reason to breed. It all depends on your breeding goals, though.

 

[suzannaski]

Not to nitpick, but there is a slightly less than 50% chance of getting tufted chickes from a tufted mated to a non tufted. That is because the dominant tufting gene has reduced penetrance, meaning that a chick will inherit the tufting gene but may not have tufts.
Which is another reason to breed cleanfaced- they may actually have the tufting gene, but not have tufts.
HTH?

 

[cmsdvm]

Not to nitpick, but there is a slightly less than 50% chance of getting tufted chickes from a tufted mated to a non tufted. That is because the dominant tufting gene has reduced penetrance, meaning that a chick will inherit the tufting gene but may not have tufts.
Which is another reason to breed cleanfaced- they may actually have the tufting gene, but not have tufts.
HTH?

What you are talking about it fairly rare. Yes, we can see hidden or internal tufts or, more commonly, tufts picked out and the bird thought to be clean-faced, but it is a myth perpetuated by backyard breeders of araucanas trying to sell eggs that clean-faced birds "carry the tufting gene." If you want tufts, better make sure at least one parent has them. Choose your clean-faced breeders carefully- this is where you have a chance to make good selections based on type and color. Tuft size in a breeder is not nearly as important as tuft placement. Tuft size is largely random, tuft placement is inherited. Do not breed from a bird with misplaced tufts (one high, one low) if there is any selection at all. Although not listed in the standard, I try to breed for high, even, upswept tufts (though I'm not above showing a bird with big, low tufts) these stay so much cleaner and are much more attractive, especially here in muddy Washington.