Is This An Araucana?

[philbfarm]

Today I recieved a beautiful bird from a friend today. I was told that she was an Araucana. She is quite young, I'm thinking about 12 - 13 weeks or so. But she has no visible tufts and has a tail. I was told she came from a breeder, who said that she was indeed an Araucana but was not up to breed standards. Below is her picture...any thoughts? (The gal in front.)


(They also gave me the Jersey Giant in the rear - she is a beauty!)

 

[CarolJ]

Araucanas can have tails - but if they have a tail they're not up to the American SOP. From the photo, it looks like there are some feathers - but not a full-fledged tail. However, I'm no expert - just have a few Araucanas.

 

[hdowden]

thats an ee

 

[philbfarm]

I already have one Easter Egger... Thrilled either way, as I LOVE my ee.
And she looks like she will turn out be be a beauty Thanks for your input!
(My other Easter Egger "Iris")

 

[cashdl]

Hi,

That is probably a tailed araucana. We as araucana breeders do not consider tailed araucana to be EE's. I have well over 200 araucana, some with tails ( not in my breeding pens), so I could be considered an expert. I have been breeding and working with the araucana for the last 6 years and she does not have the typical beard and muffs of EE's. She also has a fairly decent araucana head. As far as tufts, only about 25% of the world araucana have tufts. Most are cleanfaced. She is not close to the breed standard for several reasons. No Tufts, she has a tail, her earlobes appear pearl colored, the is not a recognized color ( she appears to be a melanized duckwing with columbian). But other than that she is good to go. LOL!

Araucana have the absolute best personalities. Enjoy her.

 

[BlueCamas]

In that picture they both appear to have single combs and neither of them have tufts. If you didn't get them straight from a reputable breeder it hard to know if they are pure Araucana or not.

 

[philbfarm]

Thanks for all your answers. Peeka52, the bird I was talking about was the top bird in front (the one behind is a Jersey Giant). And I know Iris is an Easter Egger, she actually has a beautiful beard and pea comb (hard to see in the picture.)

I know Easter Eggers are passed off quite often as pure breeds. But, I guess I'm really asking about the new bird (Stellla), more out of curiousity. Trying to learn a bit more about how to identify these breeds. Araucana, Americana, and Easter Eggers. She was passed along twice. The person I recieved her from told me she came from a breeder and that he received her as a chick. He also breeds birds, and because of all her "flaws", he didn't wanted her. I was more than glad to take her - she is a beautiful bird, sweet bird. I just didn't know what to call her...I guess Easter Egger sounds good.

 

[philbfarm]

Also, cashdl, thank you for all the great information. And yes, she indeed has a great personality.

 

[cashdl]

In that picture they both appear to have single combs and neither of them have tufts. If you didn't get them straight from a reputable breeder it hard to know if they are pure Araucana or not.

The bird she is talking about looks to actually have a pea comb. If it was a straight comb then it would be much taller and more evident for a bird of that age. It is starting to redden up in the face so is close to laying age, about 5 or 6 months would be my guess.

You are correct about it being tough to know if it is pure araucana or not when you don't know where it originated. However araucana are judge by both phenotype and what they produce, not their pedigree, so if she is bred to a rumpless tufted araucana and produces rumpless tufted offspring along with tailed and cleanfaced offspring, her offspring would be considered araucana.


Lanae

 

[philbfarm]

Okay...So, if I asked you what breed she was, what would you call her?...