We have a breeding project (that everyone is getting tired of hearing about) in which we are working to develop a layer line of improved blue eggshell color. The F2 generation are now chicks and we're getting just about everything under the sun for phenotypes.

These pictures are of the same F2 pullet. The first picture was taken on December 19. She hatched November 28, 2001. So, she was about 3 weeks old in the first picture and 6 weeks old in the rest.

She is really a beautiful bird, although the pictures don't do her justice. I have never figured out how to take a good photograph. She is grey with light charcoal markings. I still don't know if she is lavender (lav) or blue (Bl). I suspect that she is lavender based on the statistics.... we don't get enough of this phenotype for the grey to be a dominant gene. Genetically, this pullet is 1/2 Leghorn, 1/4 Araucana (true), and 1/4 Ameraucana. She has beardmuff and is rumpless.

In person she is a light grey color with light charcoal markings. She was a little scared in these last three pictures.

Rokimoto once said that mottle can cause a 'barring' that is characterized by a dark bar at the end of the feather and any other bars that appear will be much lighter. This seems to be the phenotype that she has, which is more evident in the first picture. She may be homogeneous for lav + mo. Regardless, she is a very pretty girl! These pics don't do her justice at all.

Infomatic, I think this little pullet is simply gorgeous! And I hope you have some like her when I am ready for some of those blue egg layers in a year! CJR

Thank you for your post, CJR. We are also partial to the grey / blue ones and hope we get enough of them that we can propagate them further. She really is a lovely bird and these pictures don't really show how pretty she really is. Thanx again

What a beauty, Info! I love her coloring. Can't wait to hear how the egg project comes along. I think it's fascinating. I am a loooonng way from "getting tired of hearing about it"!!!

Susie

Hello, Infomaniac, it is so a beautiful bird, well all of them are beautiful, but this color is so unique. I have to read all about your egg project. Bye, Johanne

Hi Info, yes this is a very nice looking bird. Now imagine if she throws some blue eggs too! I'm with Jean, maybe I'll be lucky enough to get one too from some eggs?

I also very much enjoy reading about your blue egg project, so your just gonna have to keep on keeping us updated!

Thank you, everyone. It is so hard to wait for the F2s to start laying so we can see how they do! I talk way too much so I'm sure I'll be boring you more in the future! LOL! Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll be ready to distribute some birds or hatching eggs! It would be really nice for this line to settle down into some stable characteristics with respect to phenotype and egg-laying characteristics. .... that might take a while!

Thank you all.

what a beautiful bird!

That bird is so pretty! Do you know where to order some pure araucanas? I have been looking around but here on the west coast I can't seem to find any!

Thank you for your post, Ffachick. The only way I know of to get true Araucana fowl is to get them from a breeder. Ours come from Terry Reeder, breeder and certified poultry judge.

Please try the Araucana forum...please ask them (and please mention me! )

The link is:

Araucana Club Message Board