how about selling araucanas as EEs?

[amazondoc]

Okay, random thought #4957 --

If I did decide to breed my little araucanas, obviously I'd have a lot of "culls".

Now, I know that people sell "cull" AMERaucanas as EEs, and basically the Ameraucana club considers any bird that doesn't quite meet their standards an EE.

But -- could I sell my ARaucana culls as EEs, without feeling guilty that I might be misleading anyone?

 

[key west chick]

I would sell them as araucanas as long as you know they are true. Just because they're your culls doesn't make them less of an araucana. My araucanas are no doubt true araucanas, just not good enough for the breeder to keep so they were her culls. Mine are rumpless and a few tufted. I sold my extra cockerels as araucanas and don't feel like I tricked anyone.

 

[Jarhead]

I don't think it is misleading at all. In fact some people may think it is more correct since they don't meet the standard. You could always list them as "EE born from pure bred Araucana stock that does not meet breed standards". Or for a shorter listing you could list as "rumpless non tufted EEs" or something like that, possibly even say "pet quality araucana". So long as you are upfront about what they are, that is what counts IMO. I would buy a little girl or 2 like that for my backyard flock.

 

[amazondoc]

Thanks guys!

 

[shelleyb1969]

If I still lived in Murfreesboro, I'd buy all of your "cull" araucanas! Just because they don't meet STANDARDS for the breed doesn't make them any less of an araucana. Purebred is purebred IMO. Now show quality vs pet quality is another story. If they were mine, I would advertise them as pet quality araucanas, purebred.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Well......."purebred" is a very nebulous term in chickens. Breeders routinely add other breeds when they are trying to introduce a new color, or improve on some specific trait. For instance, four of these birds are "buff". Two or three of these "buff" birds have large and/or single combs. IMHO it is likely that some other breed was recently brought in to introduce the buff color to the araucanas. So -- are they "purebred", or not? It's a much fuzzier line in chickens than it is in dogs.

I don't even know yet whether I'll end up breeding these guys, much less how I'll get rid of culls if I do. But I appreciate the input!

 

[eggchel]

EE's are mutts with some Ameraucana heritage or they are non-standard color Ameraucanas.

Since Araucanas are a different breed entirely, it would not be correct to call your Araucana culls EE's unless you actually crossed your Araucanas with Ameraucanas.

If your birds, or their offspring have traits (such as a single comb) that are not standard to the breed, then you could correctly call them "Araucana crosses" or "pet quality crosses".

Purebred offspring that are not APA recognized colors could be called Non-Standard or "color crossed".


Chel

 

[Jarhead]

I know there is a huge debate on Araucanas in the APA and with members. Many of the breeders say that no Araucana in the US is a "true araucana" and it is a misleading term. Most say they are basically EE birds bred to the "araucana standard". They say this based on the fact there is no evidence to support pure blood lines from the south american birds in the American birds. It is confusing as hell. Seems like most people are hung up on the semantics of the whole thing. I think they are all pretty cool, whether they are an EE, Araucana, or Americauna. I like them all. Like I said I would buy one that is pet quality.

I say that everyone who is a responsible breeder should be as descriptive and truthful as possible when selling birds. If you are then it will be clear to the buyer exactly what they are getting. That way nobody is upset in the end.

Just my $.02

 

[hinkjc]

Whoever developed the breed standard of perfection for araucana made a huge mistake IMO. Araucana is a breed that does not breed true (unlike the many other breeds that breed true rather easily). The standard calls for a tufted & rumpless bird to be a perfect representation of the breed. However, every bird that hatches does not hatch rumpless and tufted, so they shot themselves in the foot from the start. Add on to that challenge the various color genetics mixed in to the araucana gene pool and we have a big mess on our hands. There are several araucana breeders very focused on cleaning that up and working hard to perfect the breed, but in reality we will never always hatch what the standard states the breed should be, rumpless and tufted on every chick.

To say that one that only hatches tufted and tailed is not an araucana is not true. To say that one that only hatches rumpless and cleaned faced is not an araucana is not true either. These are the breeds (collonca and quetros) that today's araucana is based off of. Match these two "imperfect" specimens up and you can very well get a standard araucana (based on the APA standard). Confusing, yes. Challenging..absolutely. That is why so many don't bother. To call them an EE would be an insult in my opinion for all the breeders who work very hard to select and breed as close to standard as possible, even with everything thrown in their way to add to the challenges. JMHO

Jody

 

[Anne]

Quote:
I know that it is more correct to say "standard-bred Araucana" than "true" Araucana -- because the original birds imported into the U.S. from South America looked very little like the current standard, and there was great debate over what an "Araucana" should look like. Hence the two separate breeds, Araucana and Ameraucana. Plus standards in other countries also vary. Certainly, other breeds have been used to "enhance" the Araucana and try to draw it closer to that pie-in-the-sky Standard. But aren't the rumpless and tufted traits definitive evidence of South American bloodlines?