Mia Patel
The Araucana chicken is a unique breed known for its distinctive appearance and the coveted blue eggs it lays. Its history can be traced back to the indigenous Mapuche people of Chile, who kept chickens with blue-egg-laying capabilities. The breed was further developed in the early 20th century by cross-breeding these indigenous chickens with other birds to standardize their traits. Today, they are prized for their striking appearance, friendly temperament, and the colour of their eggs. With their small size, calm disposition, and adaptability to various climates, they are a favourite among poultry enthusiasts for backyard flocks and small farms. While they are sought after for their unique characteristics, determining the sex of a young Araucana chicken can be challenging due to variations in comb size and maturation rates. In this article, we will explore the distinct features of the Araucana breed and provide tips on how to identify if an Araucana chicken is a rooster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4-6 lbs |
| Comb | Red pea comb |
| Tail | Tail-less (rumpless) |
| Ear | Tufts |
| Egg colour | Blue |
| Egg size | Larger than standard chickens |
| Egg yolk | Larger and more orange than standard chickens |
| Legs | Clean |
| Shanks | Willow, yellow or black |
| Posture | Upright |
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What You'll Learn
Comb size and colour
Unlike other chicken breeds, you cannot sex Araucana chickens by colour or wing feather length when they are chicks. Instead, you can identify a rooster by its larger comb size. The comb is the red fleshy growth on top of a chicken's head. The comb size of a male chick will be noticeably wider at the base compared to a female chick, and this difference is observable from a very young age.
Araucana chickens have what is known as a pea comb, which is a low comb that lies closer to the chicken's head, unlike large floppy combs. The comb has little protrusions that look like a string of pearls, with the middle row being the highest. The comb and wattles (the red fleshy parts under the chicken's head) are red.
The colour of an Araucana chicken's legs may vary depending on the colour of its feathers. For example, the legs of a black-red Araucana chicken will be a different colour from those of a blue-red Araucana chicken.
It is worth noting that the comb size of an Araucana chicken is not always a reliable indicator of its sex, especially in young birds, as the comb size varies, and they do not mature as quickly as other breeds. Additionally, the presence of spurs (sharp, horny projections on the shanks) on hens can further complicate the identification process.
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Feather colour
The colour and pattern of an Araucana chicken's feathers vary, and they may have tassels or tufts of feathers on their heads. They are often recognised as rumpless, meaning they lack tail feathers and the entire coccyx. This is due to a lethal gene, so not all birds exhibit this trait. Some Araucanas have tails, and their tail feathers are longer in roosters.
The colour of an Araucana chicken's feathers can vary, and there are several recognised varieties. The Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture lists twenty plumage varieties, of which five are recognised by the American Poultry Association for large fowl: black, black-breasted red, silver duckwing, golden duckwing, and white. For bantams, buff is added to this list. The Australian Poultry Standard recognises black, cuckoo, lavender, splash, white, and any colour that is standard in Old English Game. The Poultry Club of Great Britain recognises twelve colours: black, black-red, blue, blue-red, crele, cuckoo, golden duckwing, lavender, pile, silver duckwing, spangled, and white.
The colour of an Araucana chicken's feathers does not always indicate its sex, and it can be difficult to distinguish between roosters and hens. However, there are some differences in the colour and appearance of their feathers. Roosters have longer and pointier hackle, saddle, and sickle feathers than hens. The combs and wattles of roosters are also darker and larger.
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Weight
The weight disparity between the sexes in Araucana chickens is not as pronounced as in some other chicken breeds. Nevertheless, it can still be a helpful indicator when trying to distinguish between roosters and hens. It is important to note that Araucanas are considered one of the smaller chicken breeds, with both roosters and hens typically weighing less than chickens of other breeds.
The weight difference between Araucana roosters and hens may become more apparent as the birds reach full maturity. Roosters may be slightly larger overall, in addition to having longer and more pointed hackle feathers. However, it can be challenging to differentiate between the sexes based solely on weight, especially before the birds are fully grown.
In general, roosters of any breed tend to be taller and bigger than hens. This size difference is also observed in Araucana chickens, where the roosters are typically taller and may have a more upright posture. This upright stance is a distinctive feature of the breed and can contribute to the overall impression of increased height in roosters.
While weight can provide some indication of whether an Araucana chicken is a rooster or a hen, it should not be relied upon as the sole method of determination. Other physical characteristics, such as the length and shape of feathers, the colour and size of combs and wattles, and behavioural differences, should also be considered in conjunction with weight to make a more accurate determination of the bird's sex.
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Tail feathers
The Araucana chicken is a breed that is recognised by its lack of tail feathers. They are also known for their blue eggs and unusual physical characteristics. The breed was first developed by the Araucanian Indians of Chile, by crossing a rumpless chicken breed that laid blue eggs, with another breed that laid brown eggs and had tufts.
The American Poultry Association (APA) standard for the breed is that they are tufted and rumpless. This means that they have no tail feathers and no caudal vertebrae. This lack of tail feathers is also referred to as being rumpless. The breed's upright posture is attributed to this characteristic.
The absence of tail feathers in rooster chicks has been linked to health problems. Faeces can get stuck in the anal feathers and harden, leading to potential health issues. This has led to some experts advocating a breeding ban for this breed.
Despite the absence of tail feathers, there are some physical differences between male and female Araucanas. Roosters have longer and pointier feathers than hens, and their combs and wattles are darker and larger. Roosters are also bigger, with a more aggressive temperament.
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Ear tufts
The ear tufts of the Araucana chicken are genetically distinct from the beards found on other breeds, such as Ameraucanas, Houdans, Faverolles, Polish, Crevecoeurs, Silkies, and circus chickens. The tuft gene is dominant and lethal, meaning that if a chick inherits the gene from both parents, it will likely die before hatching or soon after. This makes breeding show-quality Araucanas particularly challenging, as the desired tufts and rumplessness are difficult to achieve while maintaining the health of the bird.
The presence of ear tufts is one of the key characteristics that differentiate Araucana chickens from other similar breeds, such as the Amauracanas. The Araucanas are recognised by the American Poultry Association (APA) as a tufted and rumpless breed. However, it is important to note that not all Araucana chickens will have visible tufts, and some may have asymmetrical or oddly shaped tufts.
While ear tufts are not exclusively found on roosters, they can be one of the characteristics to consider when trying to differentiate between roosters and hens in this breed. In addition to looking for ear tufts, other distinguishing features of Araucana roosters include longer and pointier feathers, larger and darker combs and wattles, a more upright posture, and a generally larger size compared to the hens.
It is worth noting that the practice of breeding tailless Araucana chickens with tassels of feathers, also known as "torture breeding," has raised ethical concerns due to the health problems associated with this trait. As a result, some experts advocate for a breeding ban for this particular variety of Araucana chickens.
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Frequently asked questions
Araucanas are small to medium-sized chickens, weighing around 4-6 pounds. They are known for their distinctive appearance, including tufted ears, rumplessness (the absence of a tail), and the unique blue eggs they lay.
Roosters are generally heavier than hens, with Large Fowl Araucana roosters weighing around 5 pounds and bantam roosters weighing 26 ounces. While hens typically lay blue eggs, roosters do not.
One source mentions that a rooster they purchased was blue-grey with a yellow hackle and red in its wings. However, another source mentions that hens can also come in this colour, so it may not be a reliable indicator.
One source mentions that their Araucana rooster was protective of its coop, while their hen was friendly and independent. However, it is important to note that individual personalities may vary, and proper care and treatment can also influence behaviour.
It may be challenging to determine the sex of a young bird, as comb size varies, and they mature at a slower rate compared to other breeds. As the birds grow older, physical differences may become more apparent, but this can still be difficult for those who are inexperienced.
