Araucana chickens are a distinctive poultry breed, known for their unique appearance and egg-laying. They are popular among poultry enthusiasts and backyard chicken keepers. Their unusual traits contribute to their widespread recognition.
Unique Physical Features
Araucana chickens have several defining physical traits. One striking feature is ear tufts, feathery growths from a fleshy appendage called a peduncle near their earlobes or neck. These tufts can vary significantly in shape and size, appearing as curls, balls, rosettes, or fan shapes, and may be asymmetrical or present on only one side of the head.
Another distinctive characteristic is rumplessness, meaning they lack a tail, the uropygium (the fleshy protrusion that supports tail feathers), and the last few vertebrae of their spine. This absence gives them an upright posture. Araucanas also lay medium-sized eggs with a distinctive blue shell, a color that permeates the entire shell, unlike brown eggs where the pigment is only on the surface.
Behavior and Egg Laying
Araucana chickens are known for their calm, curious, and friendly disposition, making them suitable for novice and experienced poultry keepers. They are also intelligent and active birds. They adapt well to various climates, being cold-hardy and tolerating warmer conditions with proper ventilation and shade.
Araucana hens are moderate layers, producing around 150 to 180 medium-sized blue eggs annually. While their blue egg color is desirable, their production rate is lower than some other breeds, partly due to their smaller body size and a tendency to go broody. Hens are reliable at sitting on and hatching their eggs, often proving to be excellent mothers.
Genetic Traits and Health Concerns
Ear tufts and rumplessness in Araucana chickens result from specific genetic traits. The ear tuft gene (Et) is autosomal dominant but lethal in a double dose; embryos with two copies typically die before hatching. This explains why not all Araucanas will display ear tufts, and breeding tufted to tufted birds can lead to a 25% mortality rate in embryos.
Ear tufts can also be associated with auditory canal abnormalities, sometimes exposing the eardrum externally. Rumplessness is caused by another autosomal dominant gene, which is not lethal. These traits, particularly ear tufts and their complications, have led to Araucanas being classified as a “torture breed” in some European countries due to welfare concerns.
Origins and Development
The Araucana chicken originated in Chile, developed by the indigenous Mapuche people. The name “Araucana” derives from the historic AraucanÃa region, home to the Mapuche. The traits of rumplessness and blue eggs were found in a Chilean breed called Colloncas, while ear tufts were present in another breed, Quetros, which laid brown eggs and had tails.
Chilean breeder Dr. Ruben Bustros crossed these two landraces to develop the tufted, rumpless, blue-egg-laying Araucana. The breed was introduced to the United States in the late 1920s or early 1930s, with early imports around December 1924. The American Poultry Association officially recognized several color varieties of Araucanas, including Black, Black Breasted Red, Golden Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, and White, in 1976.