Chicken Breed Focus - Blue Andalusian

[Cluck2013]

Here are the pics.

 

[Cluck2013]

So what would you say these 2 are? I think the splash is a hen. The black one, I'm unsure about.

10 weeks old now.

 

[BlackHackle]

Here are the pics.

Black could be a hen as well. Andi hens tend to have larger crowns

 

[CliffB]

Before I toss them out I've gotta ask. I picked out two blue Andalusian pullets this week based off the color and pattern without reading far enough down the breed info page. We've got a neighbor my wife is having a passive aggressive war with so odds are our birds will stay confined to a 4x8 coop and a 12x16 run for the foreseeable future. With this breed being described as not handling confinement well and becoming feather pickers is a 4x8 coop and 12x16 run going to be too much confinement for these two or does anyone believe this will be sufficient space for them to stretch out and not feel confined? There will be 4 ducks and 6 hens sharing the space. Thanks just want to ask before I make a rash decision to get rid of them.

 

[gimmie birdies]

DO NOT GET RID OF YOUR CHICKENS TO PLEASE YOUR NEIGHBORS! I say this because some people will never be pleased. This week it is you chickens. What will it be next week? If what you are doing is legal and it pleases you continue. what happens in your yard? Your neighbor will have to mind her own business!

 

[CliffB]

DO NOT GET RID OF YOUR CHICKENS TO PLEASE YOUR NEIGHBORS! I say this because some people will never be pleased. This week it is you chickens. What will it be next week? If what you are doing is legal and it pleases you continue. what happens in your yard? Your neighbor will have to mind her own business!

It’s not legal. Birds must be confined at all times.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am sorry. I had roosters for 23 years. then my neighbor decided, he didn't like them. and talked to HOA. But, they don't enforce anything. but I do have them wear crow collars, and sleepy boxes now.,

 

[cchapmanelectric]

I had my little girl, Blue. She was quite special to me as I was to her. When I came home from work, she would be pecking around the back yard and then hear my voice. She would run toward me, wings apart like in flight and once reaching my feet would stop dead, sit down and look up at me. That's when I picked her up for the shoulder ride to the office.
She would sit on the back of my chair for a while. Either that or her own chair, ironically is a blue chair that she knew was hers and would accept the command to sit on it. Or, as the evening wore on, she would jump up to her perch, set herself for a quiet evening and night of sleep.
Yeah, she was a spoiled little baby.... I loved that bird more than dogs I've had in the past....
One weekend we had a car show/campout locally. It was a heat wave here in Cali that weekend. Blue found herself a way into the office the day we were coming home and got onto her perch to wait patiently for my return. The air conditioner was not set in this office/man cave/garage attached which use to be a regular ol' shop building turned into an office. There she died of heat stroke/ exhaustion.... It still tears me up as I type this. She was a wonderful little girl.

 

[Will the chicken guy]

I

The Blue Andalusian aka Andaluza Azul is an ancient breed, originating as a landrace in south-west Spain in the region of Andalusia from whence it takes its name. The municipality of Utrera is considered the heartland of the breed. The exact make up of the Andalusian Breed is unknown, but the Castilian chicken breed was probably used as the root stock.

Andalusians were first imported into both the UK and US around 1850. The original birds were a dull gray/blue color and the show Andalusian with the striking blue-laced plumage we know today, was developed primarily in England for the showpen, and were first exhibited in 1853. While Blue is the only color shown, Andalusians, as is usual with Blue colored fowl, are also found in Black and Splash. They have very large single combs, large wattles and white skins and earlobes.

Andalusians are fast maturing and the hens are excellent layers of large white eggs, non-setters and good winter layers. They are a tough, hardy and active breed, though quite flighty. They do not take well to close confinement and will often become feather pickers if kept in those conditions. They are very good foragers, have good predator awareness and an excellent choice for a free range flock. They are fairly cold tolerant, thought their large combs and wattles, especially in the males, are susceptible to frostbite.

It was recognized by the APA in 1874 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Threatened list.

Details:

Breed purpose: Egg layer, Exhibition
Comb Type: Large Single
Broodiness: Non-Setter
Climate Tolerance: Average
Weight: Roosters 7 lbs, Hens 5.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Very Good
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: White

Blue Andalusian Pullet @PDPercherons

Blue Andalusian Pullets @Tbird84

Splash Andalusian Cockerel @PDPercherons

Black Andalusian Cockerel @Gingersnap722

Blue Andalusian Chick @jaymeellis06

BYC Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/andalusian

General breed discussions & FAQ thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/290822/blue-andalusian-thread/0_20


Do you own Andalusians? Are you an Andalusian breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

had Andalusians for a while they ere great birds they are incredibly reliable layers though they are incredibly flighty I got them to show and they are a Darling on the circuit. We did have one fly through the top of her cage st the show and it was a catastrophe. But they are incredible birds

 

[Manhen]

Is the emperor wearing clothes? The birds called "blue" are clearly grey to me, or is it the rendition by my computer? Or just me?