i am really interested in the araucana

[queenhoneeybee]

and i don't know what questions to ask when purchasing from a breeder. i am quite new to this and wonder if incubating chicks is something that i can do. should i start out on other kinds of chickens before the araucana? i just don't know what to ask... or what to do...

 

[SarahIrl]

I just hatched sixteen out of twenty four shipped araucana eggs. One was infertile, three quit, 20 went into lockdown and four failed to hatch, one had even pipped the air cell and given up. So pretty impressive hatch for a starter with shipped eggs! One was a bit hit and miss ok, he was very bloody when he came out, and I left him in the incubator for about six hours, the longest of all. The others all came out within about ten hours of each other, and as there was limited space, were coming out of the bator after only 30 mins to 2 hours, and I tell you they are BOMBPROOF! Hardy happy chicks, eating and drinking (and pooping) like troopers. Really hard to candle due to the thick shells, but once you get the hang of it, easy enough.

Beautiful birds, too.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Please only post a topic once:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=347170