Is this hen an araucana or not?

[kristenm1975]

I purchased three pullets from a family who raised 26 of them from one day old for a school project. All of the birds were purchased from McMurray's. The woman said the breeds they'd ordered were: Araucana, Phoenix, Cuckoo Maran, Blue Cochin, and Silver-Laced Wyandotte.

I got what I thought was an araucana, a blue cochin and a silver-laced wyandotte and they are now around 5 1/2 months old. In looking at a chicken breed book at Barnes & Noble today, I read that araucanas don't have tails, and my girl has a nice long beautiful tail. She also does not have a beard. She's the one in the foreground of the top picture.

Love to hear what you all think!

 

[Chirpy]

True Araucanas do not have tails. Ameraucana's do however.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

She looks like an Ameraucana to me

 

[pips&peeps]

Looks like a silver phoenix to me.

This would be the free exotic bird, you did not get the easter egger. McMurrays does not have araucanas or ameraucanas.

 

[elfkin2001]

Yep she looks like one of my Phoenix hens. I love that breed!

 

[cthrash1]

Quote:
Pheonix was my thought too.

 

[hinkjc]

Yup, silver phoenix. Perty girl too!

Jody

 

[kristenm1975]

Yep, all it took was one look at a silver phoenix hen on Flickr and I'm pretty clear that's what I've got. Don't know how I missed that one for so long! Oh well. She is a sweetie and one of my favorites. I had noticed that she appears the most distressed when she's confined and as I understand, that's a breed characteristic. What else have you other phoenix owners noticed about this breed? How soon can I expect her to being laying, for instance? She's already over 5 months. How often do they lay tan or brown eggs as opposed to white ones?

Thanks for helping to identify this pretty girl.

 

[elfkin2001]

My hens started laying about a month or two after everyone else. They have smaller eggs usually. I had a Roo and two hens: Eeney(roo) Miney and Moe. Eeney had to meet the chopping block when he hit about a year old. He became VERY aggressive and started spurring my husband and I. I was devestated, he was one of my first chickens and beautiful to boot. Miney got eaten by a predator, so now it's down to Moe.

She loves being outside; she loves being fed outside as well. She won't go inside and eat with the other chickens. She's normally the last to come to the roost at night. She's so full of energy it's kind of exhausting watching her. Phoenix don't like being handled as much as some other breeds, but they tend to become attached. Moe will hang out right next to me while I am down at the coop.

Neither of my hens ever clucked like the other chickens. They both growled. I don't know if that's normal but it's what I got. Usually it's just a low growl, but in the morning if she gets worked up you can hear her over my Roo. Also she probably won't get much bigger than she is now

All in all they are a fun breed. I wish they were a little more docile, but I am content with my little girl. I want to get some more and start raising the chicks. They are GOREGOUS birds, especially the Roo's.