We received our Chicks from Meyers Hatcherie on the 19th of December. We have 4 Easter Eggers and one of them seems to be Rumpless. this is also the one with the "yellowest" legs, the other 3 have more slate colored legs. should I be concerned, or what does this mean? Thank you! Anna
Just a guess but probably the rumpless Araucana gene coming out from its ancestry. That is after all the breed that donates the egg color to Ameraucanas and EEs. I think that's cool.
It could be one of two things: 1.) This could be a very slow-feathering bird (males sometimes do this). Is the bird truely tail-less, no litte nub at all? Or does it just lack feathers on it's tail-bump yet? 2.) The breeder doesn't understand the difference between Araucanas and Ameraucanas, and crossed them. The tail-less gene could very well make it to the resulting mixed offspring.
very interesting. to point 1.) I'm really not sure if there is a nub, maybe I have to check again, these are our first chicks, and they don't really like being held (I can't understand why ) I hope it's not a roo... I have to get another one out and "feel" what a tail-bump feels like and then feel the other one. (oh they are going to hate me) 2.) if that is the case, is there anything I should be aware of? Could a cross like that result in something bad? (other then no tail,) any health concerns?? Just trying to figure out if this bird should be culled if it turns out to be a cross. Thank you much
these crosses are pretty neat and if you cross a true araucana to something else most the off spring comes off without a tail. I have some chicks that their great grand dad was the araucana and they are still without a tail. So it seems that breeding a tail back in can be a little hard.
Nevermind, it grew a "rump" so what do you guys think, a rooster?? we're pretty sure. here on the right (that's the one from the pictures in this thread) next to a Barred Rock Hen
