AwesomeAraucana.com...anyone have any experience with it?

[ChickenFox]

I was surfing through Ebay today and came across Araucana hatching eggs that stated they were ordered through an araucana hatchery. I typed in the address and came to a website stating they were indeed a hatchery. Anybody have any experience with AwesomeAraucana.com? I'm sorely tempted to try them at some point but worried I wont be getting true birds. The fact they state some of their hens lay pink eggs also worries me....

 

[terrysteph]

We just received our order of 24 + eggs from awesome araucana through ebay. We read the site info and were impressed with his knowledge & experience. We ordered on Thursday morning, received eggs from ca to ky on Saturday morning. The seller was responsive to emails, questions and polite. I have yet to contact him with our arrival info. The box had one corner a little mushed, and 2 small dents but all in all exterior was ok. Inside, were six egg cartons and some cut up carton for cushion in the bottom. 3 were empty, I'm assuming for space filler and 3 had eggs. The eggs had a single layer of paper towel piece wrapped around each and then set in the carton. There were 7 broken, cracked eggs, 2 that got sticky from a broken egg & had to be washed ( I know, bad for the egg but what else can you do to salvage it). We have 25 seemingly in tact eggs left. The colors are mostly light to medium drab green with a few pale blue and one or two that seem a bit more brown than green. The eggs are resting now, and will go into the incubator tomorrow. I will update with results if anyone wants to know. We are new to araucana eggs so I am trying to give as accurate, honest and fair account as possible.

 

[terrysteph]

Contacted the seller today with the shipping arrival news. They were apologetic, offered to send another batch of eggs at the end of this hatch or a full refund now. I told them we are not looking for free eggs or a refund and just wanted to share the arrival info with them as a learning experience to us all. The eggs are in the incubator, temperature is stable and humidity good. We will keep our fingers crossed.

Finally got the pics uploaded. The 3 in the bottom of the second pic that are "obviously" not blue are from our chickens here, the rest are from Awesome Araucana.

 

[ChickenFox]

I'm interested in how your hatch goes. Good luck!

 

[MandyFitch]

I thought Araucanas laid only blue eggs? Is there a breed that lays exclusively blue eggs?

 

[terrysteph]

Perhaps one of the more experienced araucana breeders is better to answer this. However, what I'm gathering so far is that the bright blue is the ideal or goal to strive for in breeding along with rumplessness and tufts. From what I have seen, (and ours aren't laying yet) the lighter greenish blue or dull colors are considered blue. Hopefully someone else will answer this question more accurately. I will try and get pics posted of our eggs in the bator.

 

[goldfinches]

I'm not sure why his chickens lay multi-colored eggs, they should be blue.

He also doesn't seem to adhere to color standards with his birds, maybe he likes making project colors?

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, for that $$, not getting a bird that's standard, it's a big investment. But, if you want a pretty bird, and don't care about breed standards, go for it.


That said, he seems to really love his birds and has made some fun looking ones.

 

[enola]

Sounds to me like he is crossbreeding. If I ordered hatching eggs from Araucanas and I received any color besides blue I would be VERY upset.

He is NOT doing the Araucana breed any favors!

Obviously his extensive knowledge and experience leave something to be desired . . . .

 

[EriRojas]

You will know if they are pure or cross breed if they have a tail. I learned in my poultry science class in my college that the true Araucanas have no tail.

 

[enola]

Not all Araucana crosses will have tails. I crossed my Araucana rooster with cuckoo marans hens to get olive egger hens. The cross worked, I have beautiful hens that are completely rumpless that do not lay blue eggs.