My spontaneous purchase - an araucana cockerel

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Thank you! I have been reading up on vent trimming. I've been watching him mate and balance doesn't seem to be an issue, but he's "missing the mark" by a good two inches. Hopefully his aim will get better with practice!

If need be you can always do artificial insemination

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, that homozygous lethal. It shouldn't be a big problem with careful selection down the road.
I love the blue/ aqua eggs too!
Mary

 

[Trish1974]

Why did you name him Cholo? It suits him perfectly.

I wanted to keep his name hispanic, keep him true to his roots. It was between El Gaupo, El Chopo, Rico and Cholo. When I looked up the definition of Cholo (the only definition I knew was it was slang for a Mexican gangster) it said "cholo" was the offspring of native american Indians and south americans. Since it was the Indians that brought the araucanas to south america I thought it was perfect! Plus he kind of acts like a thug!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Yes, that homozygous lethal. It shouldn't be a big problem with careful selection down the road.
I love the blue/ aqua eggs too!
Mary

It actually won’t be a problem because the chicks will either receive a single tufted gene or not from Cholo, so the lethal double tufting is not a concern unless Cholo is bred to tufted Araucana pullets/hens.

 

[Trish1974]

If need be you can always do artificial insemination

That sounds complicated (and gross), but I will look into that.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm looking to future generations, who could concentrate this gene depending on breeding choices. The OP is aware, so it's not going to happen!
Mary

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

That sounds complicated (and gross), but I will look into that.

Storey’s Guide to Chickens book has a section on how to do it.