Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Geordie_Girl]

We're getting our eglu at the end of the month, and we were planning to get RIRs, but a friend has offered us some araucanas for free (they're eggs at the moment, but he'll have them ready for us in about 2 months, will that make them POL by the time we get them?)

 

Anyway, what are araucanas like? Would they be gentle, docile enough birds for beginners? Patient enough to put up with a child? What kind of size are they, how many could I keep in an eglu (classic)?

 

Thanks a lot

[The Dogmother]

They won't be laying at 8 weeks old; you can expect pullets to start laying around 20 weeks, pure breeds such as Araucanas tend to start laying later. do also bear in mind that it will be impossible to sex them at 8 weeks old; Araucanas are not easy to sex early and are often a bit late in showing their true colours.

 

Both types (full sized and bantam) are slightly smaller the same sizes than other breeds such as marans. They tend to be flighty, scatty birds and while all birds are different, they tend to not be overly keen on being handled. Having said that, they tend to be hardy hens which lay well and reliably, rarely going broody.

 

I hope this helps.

[Geordie_Girl]

Hmmm, thanks for that dogmother. My husband thinks it's a great idea (because they're free), I think it might be a better idea to get something like RIRs to start with and possibly take up the offer of araucanas at a later date, when we're more experienced.

[The Dogmother]

If you have small children then they might be happier with a hybrid such as a Bluebelle or Cotswold Blacktail as they love cuddles. Any hen will be more settled and placid once they start laying, but children will need to be shown how to handle them and to be quiet in their presence.

 

I have a lot of assorted breeds do bantams and the children in our street love to come round to visit them, but the Araucanas and one of the marans are the only ones which don't like being held.

[jennym]

Hi Geordi Girl,

 

My OH and I had the same debate when we started. We ended up going for hybrids and I'm very glad we did. They give us lots of eggs, they are friendly (especially the Gingernut Ranger), curious, docile, and I think they're as beautiful as any others

 

As it turns out none of mine particularly like cuddles, but they are happy to jump on my lap for treats (only 'cos I taught them that ) and eat out of my hand. If we were able to spend more time with them they might be more cuddly, as they are definitely more friendly in summer when they see more of us.

 

I don't have any experience with purebred hens, I'm sure they are lovely too, but I don't regret our decision for a second - especially when we had lovely eggs all winter long.

 

As for the hens being free - a few pounds spent now could help you get the right hens, so it might be a false economy to take the free ones! (not that I'm dissing Araucanas, I'll leave opinions on that to those who've had them )

 

Good luck with your new hens whatever you decide - and please come back to post pics, we love pics

 

Jen

[sparkysmum]

Just a quick reply Our araucana , Pom is almost about 3yrs old. She started laying at about 9mths and this is fairly typical. She is a beautiful hen and I wouldn't be without her but she is not interested in being picked up, is friendly enough but can be a bit pecky towards others. On the other hand she loves our faverolle to bits, lays the most gorgeous blue eggs over a short season and is as tough as old boots. A hen for some but not for all, and probably not for young children. Alli x

[dance in the dark]

I cannot reccomend araucanas highly enough!!!

 

I have two lavender girls(large fowl) and they are my favourites! They are friendly, don't mind being held and they are quite efficient as far as pure breeds go. Mine don't normally come into lay until March, but lay very well (4-6 a week ) right up until late october. They don't eat too much and they have never tried to escape, or even fly. Also for their diminutive size they lay decent eggs, one of mine averages about 65g they onther varies a bit more, but normally around 55g.

 

They are strong and hardy and as they don't have any wattles and only tiny combs they are really good in cold weather. Although one of mine HATES snow!

 

The only negative, as others have pointed out, is sexing them. Even good breeders have trouble sexing them. When I got one of mine she was 16 weeks old and the breeder told me she still could not 100% guarantee the sex. Lots of people just wait for and egg or a crow. So if you are going to get them young, and having cockerels is a problem, I would be very wary, unless your friend is prepared to wait the four months or so to be sure of gender.

 

Tim

[Geordie_Girl]

Thanks everyone.

 

The inability to sex is a big problem, if we were to get them young. We absolutely can not have cockerels as we live in a housing estate.

[The Dogmother]

TBH at that age you'd be hard pushed to sex a lot of breeds or even hybrids. The chicks would also either need heat or a broody mother. I'd suggest that you go for some POL hybrids.

[Geordie_Girl]

Thanks again, yeah I think the guy doesn't realise quite how 'beginner' we are , and that we just won't have the ability/knowledge/equipment to deal with such young birds.

 

Back to the original plan of POL then.

[The Dogmother]

I think that's wisest TBH. Then once you have some experience under your belt, you can think about adding to your flock.

[gongladosh]

...and you WILL end up adding to your flock!

[The Dogmother]

Oooo yes!

 

I'm not trying to put you off araucanas; I love mine and their dotty-ness adds something to the flock, but they're perhaps not the most biddable of birds and it would be a shame if they didn't want your kiddies to cuddle them.

[Monty14]

I have a 15 month old Lavender Araucana that has never laid an egg, although she goes in the nest box and clucks like she had laid. That said I would never dream of getting rid of her as she is quite a sparky and curious chicken, although quite flighty.

[cheekymonkey68]

I have hybrids, and I can pick all of them up and they are all friendly girls and will happily eat out of my hand or jump on my knee for food, especially if im eating a cheese sandwich they go bonkers. (I dont give them bread)

 

I have one bluebelle that loves being cuddled,but funnily enough she is no.1 hen and she does have a serious feather pecking/eating issue and so has to have a bumpa bit. My other blue belle is really curious and the sweetest bird. she doesnt like being caught but will happily cuddle on the ground!

I have a warren hybrid ( ginger chicken) she lays the biggest and consistent eggs most days, she is very placid and talks to me, she lived in our kitchen for two weeks when we first got the girls as she was attacked by tower and had a hole in her back the size of a two pence. (hence bumpa bit) she doesnt mind being picked up and is very comfortable being handled.

So I do heartily recommend a ginger chicken, they are just lovely. My speckledy hen is the most scatty, she doesnt like being picked up that much, but once she is, she cuddles into you. She trumpets loudly for about two mins when she is about to lay an egg and when she has laid an egg. She is also the one who trumpets alert signals when theres danger, she's saved the girls on several occasions from dog attacks and mr fox.

All chooks have different personalities and so Im pleased that I have a mix of types.

Best of luck with your new girls when you get them, probably best to go to a chicken supplier with an open mind and see what they have, you can make your flock up on the day, and as others have suggested you can always get more!!