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Uniqueness Of The Araucana

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A rumpless chicken is easy to spot, they do not have the normal feathers around their back ends the way most chickens have. Many confuse the Americana chickens to be an Araucana, but that type of chicken is lacking the rumpless feathers that make them a truly unique chicken.
If you have ever owned chickens, you know that they can be a real joy to have around. Every day they give you eggs, it is like finding money in your own backyard. They can pay for themselves triple fold, by giving eggs, some are for meat and they all give fertilizer. Many cities allow the ownership of hens and chicken coops but do not want roosters inside city limits because of the noise. When looking for a great egg layer that is docile and friendly, look no further than Araucana.

The earliest reports of the Araucana chicken were in the sixteenth century when Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan found these fowls on his trip around the world. It is believed that he brought these fowl with him after obtaining some from the Guarani Indians, which coincidently were from the bloodlines of the Araucana Indians, for which the chickens got their name.

The next time the chickens are mentioned in history is in the 188s when they were raised by the tribe for which they got their name. They were noted so much in history because of their unique traits and appearance. They came to the states when the Spaniards did their exploring because they rarely left their fowl when they went out. When they brought the chickens to America, they interbred with other breeds which created other fowl such as the Americana.The next notes that mentioned the breed was in the late 1800s by the tribe that raised them. They were soon brought across the ocean by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were known to take their fowl with them during their explorations. Soon after bringing them to the states, other breeds developed because of cross breeding. This could have been the origins of the Americana, a chicken that has many traits that are similar to the traits of the Araucana.

There are many traits of the Araucana that make it a very desirable pet and egg producer. No other chicken is quite like this one and it is a favorite among chicken lovers all over the world.

One aspect about their appearance is the fact that they do not have the long feathers on their backs the way some chickens do. This is known as rumpless and it is a very distinct trait of a pure bred. Many mistake the Americana as a pure bred, but they rarely show the rumpless trait.

Another interesting trait of the pure bred is the color of eggs they lay. Their ability to lay blue eggs is a rarity among other chickens. There are two color eggs that are pure, the white egg and the blue egg. If a chicken lays a brown egg, it is a white egg with a brown film. If the chicken lays a green egg, it is a blue egg with a brown covering. The darkness of the brown is determined by the amount of covering the chicken makes.

Another trait to the pure bred is the tuffs around its ears. These tuffs of feathers are very easy to see and may be visible on other breeds as well.

When raising chickens as pets or for egg production, this breed is a very good choice. The color of the eggs laid by them will amaze your family and friends. To find them, you need to find a hatchery or someone that has some that they have bred.

The Asil Chicken - Your Next Meal?

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The Asil chicken has lost popularity within the cockfighting world to bigger and more fierce breeds. Since they are prone to fighting each other, caution is necessary when trying to decide who should be penned with whom. Two cocks together is never a smart move.
If you are looking for that special pet to complete your family, you might want to consider the Asil Chicken. If you have not resided in the country or on a farm, having a chicken as a pet may seem like a strange idea. But if you have the proper facilities to house a chicken, this may be the pet you have been looking for.

The Asil chicken breed has been drawn and written about so far back as 1500 BC. It has originated from the countries of India and Pakistan. Although some chefs have ways to make some tasty food combinations of these chickens, they really are not meant to be eaten. Although they are larger then traditional birds, they are also leaner and very well-muscled. They were mainly bred because of their tendencies to fight with little provocation. Today, we now know that this is a cruel use for these affectionate little guys.

However; since then there are bigger and more fierce breeds that are being bred today for cockfighting, they have fallen out of favor. Since it is in their nature to fight, one does have to be careful how they house them together.

The young chicks should be watched as well. It is actually a good idea to separate them at a young age because of their tendency to fight. As with all animals, it is a good idea to find out their personalities because you cannot always go by one golden rule. Just know that keeping a large group of these chickens together will probably lead to fighting.

But why does the Asil chicken make a good pet? They have the reputation of being very affectionate to the keepers or owners. These chickens are not like the typical egg layers that most people are used to. An Asil chicken will seek affection from their owners, not just food. They are extremely intelligent. And if given a happy home with everything that need then they return that happiness to their owners.

They do lay eggs, but they do not yield as many eggs as a typical chicken. They make very good egg sitters, though. The Asil chicken is a healthy breed of chicken and does succumb to the diseases that other fowl fall prey to. Their living conditions will naturally affect overall health, but they are less prone to disease.

Although it may be a strange choice to make, you may find a good pet in an Asil chicken. They can be handled like a small dog or cat, but you probably will not have them sitting under the dinner table.

For more information about the Asil Chicken and to find the right chicken coops to keep your chickens in visit ChickenCoopAdvice.com

The Buttercup Chicken Is Interesting And Beautiful

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Although the eggs are small and few in number, the Buttercup is a dependable layer. Controversy exists, however, in the attributes of keeping this variety as a pet. Some experts recommend it as a pet because it is a curious and friendly breed.
The buttercup chicken, also known as the Sicilian Buttercup, was developed in the 1800's in Sicily. It is reported that one female and one male were imported to the US later in that century and today's line remain the direct descendants of the original couple. This line of chicken is rare, beautiful and exhibition worthy, a life-long layer and a pretty good pet.

It is a good layer although the eggs are reportedly small in size and few in number. There seems to be some controversy, however, surrounding the topic of keeping the Sicilian buttercup chicken as a pet. Some experts claim it makes a good pet because it can be very friendly and curious.

Some experts state that although the Buttercup can be friendly, it prefers to be independent, is very active, and flies well. Others declare that this breed prefers to avoid human contact. All experts recommend that chicks are the best choice to start out with because they can be trained to enjoy human contact.

Chicks seem to be limited in numbers but are available from several hatcheries which can be accessed online. Experts and owners agree that males tend to be friendlier than females. Generally, the breed does not like to be confined and will enjoy human company when provided with a warm habitat and outdoor areas to roam and fly.

The Buttercup's comb is particularly susceptible to frostbite, so it is preferable to keep its coop warm and well heated. This breed acquired its name because of its golden hewed feathers and the butter-cup shaped comb on the top of its head which resembles a crown.

With its stunning crown and golden plumage, the buttercup chicken is a very attractive bird, often shown in exhibitions. In 1918, the breed was admitted to the "American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection". Usually the hen has rich golden or amber colored feathers with rows of brown spots or "spangles". The males are normally a reddish-orange color with black "spangles" and a very dark green tail.

It is stated that the hens will mature early and start laying when they are 5 months old. The hens are not very productive but will lay an average of 2 eggs per week for their entire life. Again, there seems to be some controversy amongst experts regarding the appearance of the eggs as well. Some claim that they are white and lean toward the small size. Others claim that the eggs have a tint or hew to them.

It might seem odd, to some, think of chickens as pets. Granted, even the name, chicken, tickles the funny bone and many people will find the thought of it funny. However, chickens are a good choice as a pet if they are given adequate living quarters and sufficient area outdoors where they can fly, lay in the sun, walk, peck and scratch. They are definitely not the sort to be confined indoors.

Buttercup chickens can be engaging and very entertaining and some will even learn to sit in one's lap. Hand-raised baby chicks will learn to respond when their name is called, be stroked or cuddled and trained to eat from human hands. Chickens, like all pets, enjoy food as a reward and respond well to love and positive reinforcement.

A buttercup chicken can become a fun and intriguing pet when raised in a warm, clean environment. Since they lay only two eggs weekly, depending on this breed as a source of food wouldn't be the wisest choice. As a pet, however, a buttercup chicken is gorgeous and intriguing to look at, entertaining, great company and certainly makes for an unique conversation piece.

Amazing Facts About Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chicken

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Wonder what an Appenzeller Spitzhauben is, and what is curious about it? Then, join the rapidly growing group of people who love this distinctive breed of chicken. Named for its fluffy crest that looks so much like the lacy hats worn by women in the Appenzeller region in Switzerland, the Swiss national chicken is now part of backyard flocks all over the world.
Though you may have never heard it before, an Appenzeller Spitzhauben is a fascinating breed of chicken. Switzerland considers it to be the national chicken of the country. Its name comes from the frilly hat worn by women from the Appenzeller region in Switzerland. Brought to America by a doctor who successfully introduced the breed for the long term here, the Spitz, as it is called, is a pretty popular bird.

Appenzellers are distinctively beautiful. They have black and white speckled feathers that give them a festive look. Their feather crest also adds a bit of silliness to an otherwise pompous looking head. They like to roam around, and are intelligent, so they actually make quite good pets.

It is possible to order baby chicks, or even eggs ready to hatch from breeders online. They will give you pricing and recommendations for the best order amount for your space and circumstances. Shipping advice includes the correct number of chicks to ship together, so that they receive the best of care while they are traveling.

As pets, Spitz are wonderful. They can become friendly to human touch with effort and time. In exchange for your efforts, they will produce anywhere from 140 to 160 white medium sized eggs each year. It is rewarding to know that you will feed and water them, but they will also return fresh, healthy eggs to you in return. Because you will feed them good things, their eggs will have orange yolks, which show that the eggs are more nutritious.As pets, these chickens can be a lot of fun. They are great at flying and climbing trees. So, you may have built a coop for them, only to find that they are off somewhere else. Most owners enjoy watching these silly looking characters roaming around in their backyards. One great advantage is that they will give you eggs. Many produce about 140 to 160 medium sized white eggs each year.

People who enjoy their Spitz say that each one has an unique personality. Part of this comes from their goofy crest of feathers, and the rest comes from their tendency to enjoy being held and stroked if you train them to like it. They are not easily friendly, but once accustomed to your touch, they will like being carted around like a family dog.

Because the birds enjoy foraging for insects, they can be left alone for hours when insects are abundant. They are more quiet than other chickens, and they fly quite well. Good at climbing trees, they may tend to find the closest ones, and sit there for hours.

Some owners find that the Spitz stay cleaner and need less watering. The general thinking is that the birds are smaller in size and tend to be less messy because of it. These chickens also love to roost up in your trees. Some families have found that their chickens are all up in the trees, rather in than in their coop. You may find that this happens to you too, and that the flock may not return to the coop unless it becomes very cold. For these reasons, Spitz have the reputation of being independent, though interesting.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben make excellent backyard pets for families wishing to tend and care for chickens. Though you will need to provide secure fencing if you wish them to remain nearby, you can appreciate their egg laying abilities. Their intelligent traits, and their beautiful, speckled, independence are sure to be entertaining.

The Many Aspects Of Having Ancona Chickens In Your Life

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In the mid eighteen hundreds, the popular Ancona chicken was shipped to England out of the originating city of Ancona, Italy. It then made its way to America in the late eighteen hundreds.
From far away Ancona, In the Province of Ancona, Italy, the popular Ancona chicken was sent to England in the early eighteen hundreds, followed in the late eighteen hundreds by a trip to America. From its origins in Italy to spreading around the world.


These busy little chickens are spangled color, coming from the co-mingling of the Original Mottled Leghorn to the Black Leghorn. Their greenish black feathers tipped with white and sometimes having a tint of purple, have come from the Black Leghorn chicken. From both, perhaps, come the yellow featherless legs and toes spread just far enough apart. And Earlobes? Yes, chickens have them and this chicken shows its in white. Italy originated the this kind of in reds, browns, and white, which is where the copper tinge on the neck feathers could be from.

Chicken combs on this chicken are of two types... Rose combed and, in the hen, a single tilted comb while the rooster's is straight up. Avoiding chicken killers is the job of the bay colored eyes!

There are Red Australian types, Bantam and many large and smaller kinds. They are pretty common. The Australian variety is red with white specks on the neck area feathers.


As they all age and moult (lose their feathers, to be replaced) the white on the tips becomes larger, a good way to tell how old the bird is. At about four and a half pounds, the hen weighs lighter than the six pound rooster. Living around eight years, being kept as a pet, as well as an egg producer, would be OK.

About once a day during the laying season, the Ancona will produce one egg, totaling one hundred sixty to one hundred eighty a year. Occasionally tinted eggs will show up. As the hens eat, the food they consume changes to egg production in a very satisfactory manner. This should please the owner!

When they do choose to sit a clutch of eggs, the hens can grow a nice little batch of chickies that are durable and strong. The babies, if taken from the hen and cared for by hand, can become quite happy little pets. Teach them tricks and to come when called and they and the owner will be pleased!

The Ancona does not care to be penned up in small spaces. The females are busy little birds, the males being slower. The fact that they are cold hardy will aid the owner in decisions regarding housing. The pet chicken may want to be housed closer to their owner, the regulars in a hen house or coop. Sometimes called a chicken house, this should provide shelter from the elements as well as from predators. Normally this is where the nests would be located as well.


Online there is a game of war and magic that uses the Ancona chicken as a friendly pet. The pet wont fight their battles but can be summoned at will, to follow them around as the warrior chooses! Why don't chickens care for humans? Because they beat their eggs!! (snort, guffaw, chuckle).