Single hen

[Phosphorus]

Okay still haven't got a clue on the sex of my black ara with the crossed beak.

 

Any thoughts anyone? Also if it helps he/she is getting red flecks in the neck feathers - don't know whether this means the egg marking was wrong and it is a black red araucana (and does this then imply a boy given the colours and markings ) Piccies aren't great but.....

 

 

 

 

 

She might have a crossed beak but she (or he) is definately still growing No problems with eating pellets yet thankfully (just onto growers).

 

She/he is 8 weeks today - no evidence of crowing yet. My lavender suspect (strong suspect) is crowing occasionally at same age

[Redwing]

The first pic makes its combe look dark so I was going with boy but the other pics make it look very different

 

Whatever it is its very sweet

 

My Araucana eggs are marked as BLK (for black) but the chap who sold me them said they are black/red ones and the BLK was just the abbreviation - I didnt think pure black existed but then I don't know a lot about araucanas

[Patricia W]

s/he looks lovely! Is there any cure for crossed beak?

 

Not good at this, but maybe girl? ( says she who ended up with 2 boys out of 3 thought to be girls!)

[Griffin]

I don't know either I'm just uploading pics of all my unknowns too

[The Dogmother]

It has quite a big comb for that age. Araucanas have quite small pea or rose combs and the females don't have much at all.

 

Crossed beaks are usually congenital, no cure, but keeping them trimmed does help.

[Chickvic]

Don't know but s/he is so sweet!

[tidygirlsuk]

No idea but he/she's lovely

[feemcg]

My Araucanas are 8 weeks old today and all 3 have only have a hint of comb and no wattles. At the moment I think they're all girls

[Falkor]

Practical Poultry has an Araucana buying guide this month and it says "The comb should be a tidy triple-type pea comb; almost invisible on the female. However, it`s not uncommon nowadays to find `Araucanas` with single combs, walnut commbs or over-sized floppy combs`

 

The general gist of the article is that `proper` Aras are getting rarer and choice of breeder is paramount.

 

On the black / black-red point - it says both are colours named in the standard.......

 

I know I haven`t answered your question but might of been some help

[Solopuff]

My 2 Lav Ara chicks are now 10 weeks and both have small distinctly red combs although one is a bit bigger and more developed than the other.

 

I seem to recall that the Red-Black girl I raised 3 years ago showed no redness in her comb area until virutally POL hence my sad conclusion that mine are both boys

 

The bigger one has been crowing since he was 8 weeks old and is now very proficient hence the need to rehome him sharpish!

 

The slightly smaller one isn't crowing yet - it may be a dominance thing but in some ways I wish he would so I can be 100% sure that he is a boy!

[Phosphorus]

My 2 Lav Ara chicks are now 10 weeks and both have small distinctly red combs although one is a bit bigger and more developed than the other.

 

I seem to recall that the Red-Black girl I raised 3 years ago showed no redness in her comb area until virutally POL hence my sad conclusion that mine are both boys

 

The bigger one has been crowing since he was 8 weeks old and is now very proficient hence the need to rehome him sharpish!

 

The slightly smaller one isn't crowing yet - it may be a dominance thing but in some ways I wish he would so I can be 100% sure that he is a boy!

 

I keep trying to convince myself that my lavender boy araucana isn't definately a boy - but he crowed twice whilst I was in the garden today He is 8 weeks yesterday - been having a go at crowing since 7 weeks. Think he has to go in next few weeks as well (we go on holiday in two weeks - could you imagine the neighbours when we return - especially as eglu won't be closed at night ).

 

Are you rehoming or are you getting the red wine and stock pot out? Not sure if there is enough meat on Ben Korma to justify eating him

[Solopuff]

I keep trying to convince myself that my lavender boy araucana isn't definately a boy - but he crowed twice whilst I was in the garden today He is 8 weeks yesterday - been having a go at crowing since 7 weeks. Think he has to go in next few weeks as well (we go on holiday in two weeks - could you imagine the neighbours when we return - especially as eglu won't be closed at night ).

 

Are you rehoming or are you getting the red wine and stock pot out? Not sure if there is enough meat on Ben Korma to justify eating him

 

I'm still trying to convince myself that my non-crowing one still might be female so I know exactly how you feel

I am re-homing (or trying to!) as these are from show winning stock and should therefore be good examples of their breed. If no success I will resort to the services of a local game keeper as I really don't think there's much meat on them. What are you doing with yours?

[Phosphorus]

I'm still trying to convince myself that my non-crowing one still might be female so I know exactly how you feel

I am re-homing (or trying to!) as these are from show winning stock and should therefore be good examples of their breed. If no success I will resort to the services of a local game keeper as I really don't think there's much meat on them. What are you doing with yours?

 

I was hoping he would get a bit bigger before he started to crow - although I suppose that then doesn't give me time to get too attached which is a good thing. Dh would like to eat the boys for an August Bank Holiday BBQ If I happen to find someone who will take him then I would obviously rather do that but....

 

I did ring Colchester Zoo to see if they would like him for their petting part but they haven't come back yet