Along with our Indian Runner Ducks, we have decided that it's high time we owned some chickens, and raised our own free range eggs. As always, wanting to have something a little different, we were captivated by Araucana chickens, which lay pale pastel blue eggs...
The ancestors of the modern Araucana chicken were purportedly first bred by the Araucanian Indians of Chile -- hence the name Araucana. The modern Araucana is a hybrid of two South American breeds: the Collonca (a naturally blue-egg laying, rumpless, clean-faced chicken) and the Quetro (a pinkish-brown egg layer that is tailed and has ear tufts). The Collonca male and female are very similar, with very few secondary sexual characteristics like comb, wattles or tail coverts to distinguish them.
Above: The Tufted-ear Hen
Below: The Rumpless Rooster
Above: An Araucana egg compared with average brown eggsAraucanas come in a few different colours. Below are some Lavender Araucanas
Of course, every brood of hens needs a hen house...
We will style our hen house on the one below, which will match the potting shed nicely...
It provides boxes in which the hens lay their eggs, and (hopefully) protection from local predators...
We will style our hen house on the one below, which will match the potting shed nicely...
It provides boxes in which the hens lay their eggs, and (hopefully) protection from local predators...
