Breed Profile: Araucana

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 18 July 2020

Araucana

araucana-chicken-with-mustache-in-coop-run

Araucanas, known in the US as the “South American Rumpless” are exceptionally rare. The breed has tufts that often are not symmetrical, even in purebred Araucanas. For these reasons, Araucanas are only available through breeders at this time, and not hatcheries. This breed is most famous for laying blue-shelled eggs – quite a sight to see! Rumpless and tufts are both unique to this breed and only the South American breeds that the Araucana was founded on have these traits. It should be noted that the European Araucana breed is tailed and has the beard and muffs.

HISTORY

  • Class: Chile / South America
  • Size: 2.3 – 3.2kg
  • Bantam Size: 0.68 – 0.850kg
  • Rarity: Extremely Rare
  • Purpose: Show Chickens
  • Colour varieties include: Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing,  Black/Red, Blue/Red, Lavender, Pyle, Crele, Spangled, Cuckoo,  Blue, Buff, Silver,  Black and White

EGG FACTS

  • Medium sized and Light Blue in colour
  • 160 Eggs Annually

brown-araucana-chicken

FEATURES

Araucanas are a extremely rare breed of chicken with tufts of feathers emerging from either side of their faces. The tufts are unique to the breed and are often referred to as the ‘beard’. One of the most exquisite traits of the Araucana is their eggs which are a pale bluish colour.

BACKYARD BEHAVIOUR

  • Hardy in Winter: No
  • Especially Docile: Yes
  • Personality: They are friendly and happy to come close when being fed. The are also very tolerant of other pets like small dogs.

two-araucana-chickens

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Sources and further reading