Chickens Araucana - description with photos, maintenance and care

Chickens Araucana - description of the breed with photos and videos, maintenance and care

• 1 General characteristics 1.1 Origin
• 1.2 Appearance
• 1.3 Character
• 1.4 Productivity

General characteristics

Chickens Araucana are quite interesting not only for farms, but also for ordinary poultry farmers, as they have an unusual color of eggs. In addition, they have a fairly high productivity.

Araucan chickens photo

Origin

Chickens of the Araucana breed were bred in the South American country of Chile by Indians. The first time they started talking about this breed of birds was at the beginning of the 16th century. Ancient breeders selected chickens that carried colored eggs. In this case, roosters were used, which had a cool temper.

Photo of chickens and rooster Araucan

When choosing a rooster, tailless breeds were preferred, as they believed that it would interfere with the fighters. Some experts believe that the eggs of the Araucan chickens have an unusual color, as they were crossed with wild pheasants.

Care

Caring for the breed is similar to that required for other chickens such as Cochin and Cornish. Feeders and drinkers are washed daily with hot water, and once a week with a manganese solution. Water in drinking bowls is needed all the time clean, and therefore it usually has to be changed 2-3 times a day.

In the poultry house, the top layer of litter should be changed every week, removing chicken droppings.

It is necessary to completely clean the barn in the spring after the winter season. At the same time, all the litter is removed from the chicken coop, it is washed with hot water with a manganese solution and then whitewashed with lime. You can also additionally carry out disinfection using a sulfur checker in the absence of chickens. After this treatment, before the chickens go to the house, it is completely ventilated. If the smoke from the sulfur checker remains in the hen house, the chickens will easily be poisoned and may even die.

Appearance

In terms of describing the appearance of chickens of the Araucana breed, it should be said right away that they are characterized by a rather attractive appearance. Their amazing feature is that they have no tail.

In the photo, the tailless chickens of Araucan
Tufts of feathers stick out near the earlobes. Some subspecies have a feather beard. Birds of the Araucana breed have a small head and a small, slightly curved beak. The shape of the feathery scallop is similar to that of a pea. The earlobes and earrings are small in size.

Birds have a small, dense body. In this case, the chest is wide enough. Feathered have a medium length neck. The coloration of the short legs is blue-green.

The plumage of a chickens of the Araucana breed can be quite diverse:

• Greenish blue;
• Golden;
• White;
• Red;
• Black.

Thanks to the extraordinary combination of all these colors, the bird looks just amazing.

Chickens Araucana video

Character

According to the description of poultry farmers, Araucana chickens are very calm birds, which greatly simplifies the process of growing them.

Photo of chickens of the Araucana breed

The birds are unpretentious and quickly adapt to new conditions.The disadvantage of this breed is the pugnaciousness of the roosters.

Productivity

Birds are characterized by a high level of productivity, which is explained by an underdeveloped maternal instinct. The egg production of Araucana is characterized by the fact that in a year one chicken can lay up to 180 eggs, weighing 50 grams. They are characterized by a fairly diverse color: olive green, pink, blue, turquoise.

The meat is characterized by high taste. By the way, the mass of a chicken can reach one and a half kilograms, and a cockerel - two kilograms.

Varieties

Breeders have bred several types of chickens of the Araucana breed. They can be of American or English type. Such birds are characterized by the presence of a tail, as they were obtained by crossing with other chickens. Birds of the English type have a crest on their heads.

American variety.

English variety.

Features of caring for adult chickens and chickens, their breeding

To ensure a high level of productivity of the breed, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate care.

Breeding

You can get the offspring of Ameraucan chickens, like Minorca chickens, only if you put eggs in an incubator (you can use automatic egg incubators). The fact is that females have poorly developed maternal instinct. A high survival rate is observed in chicks that were born in February or March.

Content

Ameraucana is a breed that is represented by strong and hardy chickens. They quickly acclimate to hot or cold climates. And this is achieved due to the dense plumage and the shape of the ridge, which does not freeze at low temperatures. The same cannot be said about chickens, which have a leaf-shaped comb.

It is best to keep chickens separate from other birds (like Bielefelder chickens). The fact is that sometimes roosters can show aggression towards other breeds and even towards people. For birds, you need to prepare a place for them to walk. It is better to make a fence with a height of 1.8-2 m, since chickens have the ability to fly.

Dust baths remain very important for chickens of this breed. To do this, you will have to take a trough, fill it with sand or ash. During such bathing, birds will be able to get rid of various parasites that are on the skin and plumage.

Keep your chicken coop warm and dry. Air humidity should not exceed 70%. In winter, you will have to take care of additional lighting. The duration of daylight hours should be 12-14 hours. But what needs to be done so that the chickens rush in winter, and which supplements are the most effective, is described here in the article.

Be sure to lay straw on the floor, the thickness of which will be 10-12 cm. Change the litter regularly, avoiding dampness.

Feeding

Feeding chickens of this breed is undemanding. There are no specific recommendations regarding their diet. The chicken is not prone to obesity, as it actively moves and uses energy throughout the day. It is better to feed the birds 3 times a day. With 2 meals a day, the farmer will have to make sure that the food is high in calories.

Newborn chicks should first be fed a boiled egg mixed with nettles, onions or garlic. And from the second week, you can add cottage cheese, finely chopped egg shells mixed with an egg to the diet. And when the chicks are 1.5 months old, they can already safely eat adult food. It will also be interesting to learn about how to feed laying hens in winter and a description of the Ayam Tsemani chicken breed.

The video shows the correct feeding of chickens:

In summer, chickens are given juicy greens. And this should be done as often as possible. And it is better that the birds themselves be able to find the necessary green food. For the winter, you need to take care of the preparation of hay, since the chickens must receive vitamins all year round.

Layers can safely be fed grains that are high in fat.These include corn, sunflower, wheat, barley and oats. In addition, it is necessary to constantly monitor that the chickens have fresh and clean water. But in the summer, all dishes must be disinfected regularly.

You may also be interested in information about what is the most productive breed of laying hens.

Conditions of detention

Chickens of the Araucana breed do not need special conditions of keeping. They can be kept not only in poultry cages, but also on the walk. They have good health and easily adapt to new conditions.

In order to eliminate the possibility of developing diseases, it is recommended to regularly process chicken coops.

According to the description of poultry farmers, chickens of the Araucana breed are not whimsical and do not need special conditions.

Photo of chickens of the Araucana breed
The cages should have drinkers and feeders. They also need to build a roost, the width of which for one individual should be 30 centimeters.

The walking area should be equipped with a canopy that protects birds from the negative effects of solar radiation in hot weather. The street area should be fenced off with a net. The yard must be regularly cleaned of poisonous plants.

Drinkers and feeders should be regularly disinfected.

Chickens

Araucan chickens do not require much care, however, it is worth paying a little attention to talking about caring for them. Mating of parents for chickens occurs according to the following principle: an individual with a brush is crossed with an individual that does not have one.

This reduces the likelihood of inheriting a gene that contributes to the death of a brood in the first weeks of their life.

Chicken nutrition should be traditional. During the first seven days, they are given boiled eggs, which are ground with cereals, green food and cottage cheese. Then they slowly switch to special ready-made feeds that correspond to the age of the chicks.

Caring for chicks should be the same as caring for other breeds. They need warmth, water, and enough protein.

Cubs already from birth are distinguished by their extraordinary appearance. At the age of one day, they resemble quails with cheeks like a hamster. Plumage appears quite quickly, by the age of 14 weeks you will be able to distinguish females from males.

Boys are getting braids in the neck area. With proper flock formation, good chick care, and quality feed, survival rates will be high.

The diet

The birds should be fed in such a way that they do not overeat. The nutrition of birds requires the use of vitamin and mineral complexes. Also, this breed needs calcium. Birds of this breed feed on the same feed as ordinary chickens.

Food should be rich in protein. That is why it is recommended to give them cake, earthworms, beans, fish waste, bone meal.

To improve the functioning of the body, it is recommended to give Araucana chickens food saturated with carbohydrates - grains, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, etc. This breed needs fats, which are found in oats and corn.

The diet must necessarily include:

• Silage;
• Yeast;
• Bone flour.

These foods are rich in vitamins that are essential for the normal growth and development of birds. Also, the bird needs to be given mineral food in the form of wood ash, shells and gravel.

How to breed?

Breeding is carried out only in incubator conditions, since the Araucan chickens have lost the ability to incubate eggs on their own. You can purchase material for incubators or ready-made chickens on farms.

Growing up chickens.
In order for the eggs of the Araucan chickens to be fertilized, it is necessary to trim the feathers around the cloaca within a radius of 5-6 centimeters.

Diseases and prevention

Despite the exoticism of this breed, they are characterized by the presence of a fairly strong immune system. That is why diseases are observed in rather rare cases.

With improper bird care, the appearance of pests can be observed:

• Feather mite... Leads to baldness. Treatment of birds in this case is impossible. That is why sick individuals are killed.
• Pukhoedov... These parasites destroy the activity of downy rods. When they appear, the birds itch and fuss. To eliminate these parasites, Araucana chickens must be treated with insecticides, which are produced in the form of sprays, which greatly simplifies this process. Also, to eliminate parasites, it is necessary to disinfect the chicken coop. For prevention, spraying of feathers of all individuals in the room is carried out.
• Helminths... The infection is caused by contact with wild birds. With the appearance of these parasites, poor appetite and poor physical activity in birds are observed. Treatment of pathology is carried out with special drugs.
• Bloch... These pests bite birds and therefore itch. When they appear, the hen house is disinfected and the bedding is often changed.

In order to avoid the appearance of pests, it is recommended to regularly carry out prophylaxis, which consists in disinfecting the chicken coop.

Feeding chickens

Egg production and other indicators that affect the life of the herd depend on the characteristics of feeding. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the nutrition of chickens.

Chicks

After hatching and for the next three weeks, chicks should be fed five times a day, at intervals of one hour. In the future, the chickens need to be transferred to three meals a day. It is necessary to feed the chicks with a compound feed, which includes B vitamins and protein.

During the first 1.5 years of life, greens and crushed eggshells should be introduced into the diet of young animals. During this period, chicks should be gradually transferred to the diet of adult chickens. Also, the chicks of the Ameraukan breed need a plentiful drink.

Adults

During the summer, adult chickens can be fed twice a day, in the winter - three times. A suitable diet for the Ameraukan breed is a mixture of compound feed and greens. Additionally, it is recommended to introduce corn, barley, oats and wheat into food. To ensure the normal functioning of adult birds, the diet should consist of 16-20% animal proteins.

Advantages and disadvantages of Araucan chickens

Chickens Araucana are characterized by certain advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include easy adaptation to different temperatures. The birds are unpretentious and quickly adapt to new conditions.

Young chickens of the breed are viable. Oviposition starts very early. In addition, they have an attractive appearance.

The disadvantage of the breed is the lack of independent breeding. Roosters of the breed are pugnacious. The rarity of the breed explains its high cost.

Araucan chickens in the chicken coop

Chickens Araucan is a real find for many poultry farmers, so you can find a large number of positive reviews. Despite the fact that the breed is unpretentious to care for, it is characterized by a fairly high performance. These birds are able to decorate any farm and poultry yard.

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Reviews of farmers about chickens of the Ameraukan breed

★★★★★
Alexandra, 66 years old, agronomist, Krasnodar. I love poultry, whom I just don't have and geese, and ducks, and chickens.Grandchildren gave 20 eggs of Ameraukana breed chickens for their birthday. Of these, 12 were born - 3 cockerels and 9 layers. The males immediately began to show their temperament, bullying each other, offended the girls. Hooligans, in a word. Now these beauties are growing up, I'll see what happens next. They gain weight quickly, eat a lot.
★★★★★
Gleb, 35 years old, programmer, Arkhangelsk. My wife loves farming, and I decided to give her a gift. I bought 10 chickens of Ameraukan at the poultry farm. The delight of the beloved knew no bounds. Oviposition began at 5 months, only the female was delayed with sexual development and was able to lay eggs only at 7 months. 2 cockerels are very pugnacious, they had to be seated in different cages, they did not allow even other breeds of chickens to exist normally. Our daughter is simply delighted with the multi-colored eggs, the only drawback of the breed is excessive aggressiveness.
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Chickens of the Ameraukana breed are unique poultry, they are distinguished by their wayward temperament and pugnaciousness, but they bring beautiful, unusual colored eggs.

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