how about selling araucanas as EEs?

[dancingbear]

One thing I don't understand is why a trait, tufts in this case, that are linked to a lethal gene, are considered essential to the standard of perfection for the breed. Isn't the goal of breeding to improve breeds? Or shouldn't it be, anyway?

Not saying any of you folks are doing anything wrong at all, you all sound very fond of your birds. I'm not questioning you, but the people who set the standards for the breed. Maybe there's a good reason for it, that one of you could explain.

I've had a few Araucanas in the past, I really like them a lot.

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I think you should sell them as Araucanas, too, and just tell customers they don't quite fit the standard.

Are they all bantams, or do you have some full size birds? Or are Araucanas all bantams? Are the eggs from yours blue? I've had some, several years back, but I really don't know much about the breed. I have some EE's right now, I'd like to add some real Aracaunas.
What would you be asking for these birds? I only live about 2 hours from you, I might want to buy some of them!

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
You're close... watcha thinking of selling???????????? <really big grin>

Walkswithdogs lives over by Knoxville

 

[Guitartists]

Like others have mentioned here already... because they do not breed true and since a non-tufted bird could still throw tufted chicks (right?) I would say that you are fine selling them as Araucanas and not EEs. I think that EE thing only applies to the non-standard Ameraucanas because they share very similar characteristics.... a rumpless non-bearded Araucana is a far throw from an EE

I don't think it would be wrong for you to sell yours as what they are, just let people know they are not show quality.

Rereading, I see that you WANT to market them as EEs? Not sure why, but I spose you could... so long as you explain to people what they are.. I mean, they do lay blue eggs... and that is what people expect. But due to their rumpless, tufted genes, you would want to make people aware in case those are genes they don;t want in their stock. You could just add the term EE to the Araucana part if you want to attract a certain buyer... then let the rest clear it up

Good luck

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Reading over the whole thread again I am still confused alittle about why you would want to sell them as EE's. When we bred them we would get many off type birds. When possible we would sell breeder groups of tailed tufted and smooth faced rumpless birds as araucana makers. When we had EE's we had some gorgeous tailed tufted birds with some pure color ameraucanas and other birds. We got a few birds that looked like the UK araucanas with no tail, bearded, and tufted. We bred from one of those hens who had the smallest beard and bred her back to a pure araucana and got some good birds.
If I were you I would post an ad for the chicks when you get them saying something like pet quality araucanas. They are still araucanas, they just dont meet the standard.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Hiya --

Mine are all bantams, although they come in both bantam and large fowl versions. I've only had one egg so far, and it is a nice big blue-green one.

I'm not selling the adults I've got now, but I *may* sell eggs or chicks in the spring. I just don't know right now. Check back then!

 

[Anne]

Quote:
In this case, it's about preservation. Tufts are a very unique trait and I think it would be a shame if the trait were lost entirely.

Sadly, rumpless/tufted birds are now rare in South America, as they have been replaced by more economical production breeds. I have had people in Brazil and Chile contact me, saying they want to raise rumpless/tufted birds but can't find them anywhere -- and want to import eggs from my flock!

There are lots of other breeds that are not necessarily bred to have the highest hatchability, livabiliy, suvivability, etc. For example a Polish hen with a crest like shown in the Standard of Perfection usually can barely see to eat and drink, much less fly, scratch around outdoors, escape predators, and live a normal chicken life.

I think the phrase "lethal gene" makes it sound like birds are dropping left and right from deformities or something, whereas in fact it simply means that the eggs have lower hatchability because the few embryos that inherit two copies of the gene cannot survive. As a matter of fact, the lethal factor can be avoided almost entirely through selective breeding (breeding tufted to clean-headed birds instead of tufted to tufted).

-Anne

 

[amazondoc]

Yeah, I guess I should explain some of my reasoning.

I'm thinking that I wouldn't want to encourage people to breed low quality araucanas. The breed has enough trouble as it is, without polluting it further with bad genes. And anyone, just like me, who gets their hands on "araucanas" is going to be tempted to breed more.

If I was a dog breeder, I would spay/neuter any dogs that didn't quite fit the standard or live up to my expectations. But I can't do that with chickens.....well, I could, but then the roos wouldn't get their plumage and all that. So, since I can't physically prevent them from producing, I'm mulling over ways to let people have pretty blue egg layers without encouraging them to irresponsibly multiply "araucanas" that simply get farther and farther away from standard. And it seems to me that calling them EEs would accomplish that -- the folks could have all the pretty eggs they want, they could add a few good genes to the EE pool, and nobody would be encouraged to falsely advertise more "Araucanas" that are more like mutt birds.

Just my idle thoughts of the day!

 

[Anne]

Quote:
Just a friendly correction -- except in extremely rare circumstances (tufts grown internally or so small they are invisible), a non-tufted bird does not carry the tufted gene and cannot produce tufted chicks, except when paired with a tufted mate.

Just to letcha know.

 

[Anne]

Hey guys,

Here is an ad I posted this morning for some Araucana culls and Araucana/EE mixes:

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/grd/864856513.html

Usually I just try to be as truthful & descriptive as possible.