~Arkansas blue chicken info wanted~

[Althea Farms]

Edited to add on 1/29/2023:

I no longer ship eggs

I have a small flock of Arkansas blues, to my knowledge there are only a couple of people who have these birds any longer. They are smallish standard sized, alert, active, tidy, very feed efficient, and excellent layers of large to extra large blue eggs. They are excellent foragers and very hardy in cold weather.
It makes me sad to think that one I stop keeping chickens these birds may go by the wayside.
I will ship eggs to anybody who wants them for the cost of shipping, which can vary a lot depending on the distance and number of eggs/package size involved. Right now my birds are mostly molting and I'm getting very few eggs, and it's really too cold to ship them in the winter. But if you let me know around March or later depending on the weather I could send you some eggs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/blue-egg-layers-from-university-of-arkansas.624359/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arkansas-blue-egg-layers.874920/

Hi! I am very interested in the Arkansas Blues. I am sad to find out they are not available. Are you located in AR? Do you sell any chicks if we were to pick them up (we are in TX with a home in central AR). I would love to keep try to keep this breed going if you think they are worth the effort! Thanks!

 

[1muttsfan]

Sorry, but no. I'm in Northern Michigan, and no longer do any significant breeding

 

[ArkansasBorn]

No, sorry, I keep chickens only recreationally now.

They are really great birds, feed efficient, sprightly, lay beautiful blue eggs, and are laying machines

I see that you only keep chickens recreationally, do you happen to still have some Arkansas Blues? If so, I would like to discuss getting some hatching eggs from you. Not many, just a few so I can get a small flock going. If not, do you know of anyone that might still have some?

 

[1muttsfan]

No, sorry, I lost my rooster last year and have only a few hens.

 

[ArkansasBorn]

I understand. Thanks for the reply.

If I find some, do you want me to let you know where some others can be found?

 

[1muttsfan]

Thank you! But I have decided that there are so few of them available that it would take extensive work, probably outcrossing with black Ameraucanas of excellent quality and good egg color to try to re-establish a wider genetic basis. And honestly I had so few people even interested in free eggs that I'm not sure it would be worth the work.