The Araucana Hen is a highly sought after ornamental breed due to its blue eggs and incredible characteristics. Endowed with sideburns that give her the appearance of having a mustache, she is a hardy hen with an active but friendly personality and a perfectly correct layer. Whether it’s for her blue eggs or her physique, the Araucana Hen is definitely a chicken breed you won’t soon forget.
Physical peculiarities
The main distinctive sign of the Araucana Hen is obviously the presence of sideburns on its face. These tufts of feathers protruding from the cheeks grow under a fold of skin and give the feeling that this hen has a handlebar mustache.
Sometimes it is confused with the Ameraucana, however there is an important difference, the tail. The Araucana Hen has no rump and therefore no basis for a classic tail, its feathers slant down to its rear, giving it a rounded shape.
Egg template: 45/55g. Blue-green shell.
Unlike brown eggs, Araucana eggs are not only colored on the outside of the shell; the color is present throughout the shell. It is a pigment contained in their bile (oocyanin) which is responsible for this color ranging from sky blue to emerald blue.
Plumage: white, black, blue, silver or golden salmon, wheaten, cuckoo, partridge.
Eyes: orange-red irises.
Beak: small, arched, the nostrils are clearly visible.
Crest: small and curly, red.
Chest: quite developed, contributing to its round shape.
Mumps: small, red and hidden by whiskers.
Tarsi: medium, grey, greenish, without feathers, 4 fingers.
Behavior and character
The Araucana Hen is very lively. This can cause its temperament to vary depending on the behavior of the breeder. Some will say that she is a very friendly hen who will not hesitate to climb on you to chat, while others will say that she is fickle and nervous. If you manage to tame the Araucana, she will become your most loyal pet, as she loves to be cuddled and handled, although she is a rather exclusive hen who might resent you for not being the first to benefit from treats. .
Feed
The Araucana Hen is an honest layer which is therefore satisfied with a suitable diet. Cereals (wheat, barley, oats, corn) with added protein. She is also a good explorer who will be able to find a good number of nutrients in the soil (herbs, insects, etc.).
Reproduction
Araucana hens tend to brood frequently, and easily. They take great pleasure in raising their own little brood of chicks and if you are planning to raise these birds, letting the mother hen do that job will make it easier for you.
Unfortunately, the gene (homozygous) that is responsible for their favorites also makes incubation complicated. Many embryos do not develop, which can be very discouraging and contributes to the rarity of this breed. The absence of a rump is also a negative factor for reproduction, the rooster finds it difficult to position itself on the hen during mating.
However, the chicks, once hatched, grow faster than other chicken breeds. Their feathers grow faster and they reach adult size in a very short time.
Health
Once the Araucana Hen has become an adult, it is very resistant. She can handle cold winters and hot summers with relative ease. Even if it is hardy, it is nonetheless sensitive to internal or external parasites and still requires a minimum of care. Administering your hens the main vaccines will give you greater peace of mind.
Place of life
Although it can withstand confinement, the Araucana Hen thrives outdoors. She is particularly curious and active, she loves to spend her days scratching the ground to find tasty treats. They are cunning hens that keep their eyes peeled for predators and do their best not to get caught.
Araucana hens are not afraid to push their exploration a little further than other hens and like to take the same route every day. So if your neighbors aren’t a fan of chickens, be sure to keep them in a wired enclosure, because once they spot the nutrient-rich spots, chances are they’ll return. A classic chicken coop with a perch to protect against the weather, surrounded by a pen spacious enough for her routine, that’s all your hen could ask for.
Breed History
The Araucana Hen was discovered by the Western world in 1880 among the Araucans in Chile, hence its name. It comes from a cross between two breeds from northern Chile: the Collonca and the Queteros. These favorite hens are very old. Indeed, skeletons of hens dated
