Araucana

The Araucana is a blue-egg chicken associated with Chile, particularly the Araucanía region and local fowl kept by Mapuche communities. Modern standards differ by country. In North America, a show Araucana is rumpless and has ear tufts, while some other standards allow tailed or crested birds under the same name. That variation is one reason the breed is often confused with Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers, which may also lay blue or green eggs but have different breed definitions. Araucanas are generally medium-sized, active chickens rather than heavy dual-purpose stock.

For small flocks, the attraction is the naturally blue shell color, caused by pigment deposited through the shell rather than just on the surface. Egg numbers are moderate to good in many lines. Breeding tufted birds requires extra planning because the dominant ear-tuft gene can be lethal when inherited from both parents, reducing hatch rates. Rumpless type can also make fertility more variable if birds are poorly balanced. Buyers who want true Araucanas should look for stock that matches their local standard, not just any blue-egg layer sold under the name.

Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Golden Duckwing, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Duckwing, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White