Araucana compatibility

[Navyfarmgirl]

This is my very first post!
I am a farm girl who was raised with well over 130 chicken flock but now am living in the city for a little while to follow this cute Navy husband of mine around.

We are just about to get our first backyard chickens. I know backyard chickens are different than free range. I am planning on getting 3 chicks. I know I want to go with Rhode Island Whites, but then thought maybe a Araucana would be fun too.

I know on the farm the Araucanas are a little fiesty and stick to themselves and when they get too close with some of the other breeds will really peck at each other.

So I was wondering since these guys are urban and will be in an actual fenced in space.... would they get along? Do Araucanas seem to get along better with any breed?

Thanks guys!
I know I will need lots of support as I transition from free range larger scale chicken raising to this urban stuff!

 

[magicpigeon]

Quote:

I have heard things of araucanas being less tame, or a bit "wilder" than the average chicken. I have never owned one though, so take this with a grain of salt

 

[Fox&hen]

Quote:

I have heard things of araucanas being less tame, or a bit "wilder" than the average chicken. I have never owned one though, so take this with a grain of salt

We have some that are flighty and others i can pet, if they are raised together from chicks I would think they would all get along...

 

[cashdl]

It depends on how they are raised. I have my favorites that follow me every where and talk to me. I can easily walk up and pick them up and cuddle them including one of my roosters. Those were raised being held alot. The rest are friendly birds, not flighty at all, just don't want to be picked up and would rather kick around in the grass and leaves than be messed with. I have a batch right now that a broody raised and I have not held at all, they are now 2 months old and mom doesn't want to mommy any more so they follow me around as I feed the other chickens. I still can't pick them up but they stand on my feet when I stop moving.

I think a rumpless tufted blue egg layer is a must for any back yard. They are goofy looking bobbing around my place and they make me smile. Besides they have soft little voices and love to talk.

Lanae

 

[Heartforchickens]

Just a word of caution from my experience. My girl was raised with 4 other girls from day old chicks. She got along fine for about a year, then all of a sudden began pecking at the others. There were no food deficiences or cramped living space. I finally had to dispose of her, which was a terrible thing to have to do, but did it for the safety of the others. Maybe this was an isolated occurrence, but thought you might like to know. I'm a farm girl too how married an Army guy 42 years ago. Am at a place where we can have chickens now and love them. Good luck!

 

[Illia]

As I said in the last thread, you really have to consider that most "Araucanas" people own are just "Easter Egger" chickens sold under false claim to them as Araucanas, which, Easter Eggers can indeed be feisty, flighty, mean, or even friendly.

As for real Araucanas (no tail, no beard, yellow skin, etc) - I've never met a mean one, however of course if you raise them wrong, you can wind up with flighty ones. If someone heard of them having a "wild" behavior, what they mean is that out in the pasture or even the run, Araucanas have a more wild nature and instinct; they are better foragers, better moms, very broody, very adventurous, and very aware of their surroundings. They're a lot like Gamefowl in terms of intelligence, instead of just scratching around mindlessly. In no way did I especially mean by a "wild" behavior that they're mean or flighty.

I've raised over 30 Araucanas and the only time they were flighty was when they were young and going through their awkward "spazz" stage.


Also just another little note I said last time too - Rhode Island Whites are extremely rare. If yours have a sawtooth edge looking comb or a high set tail, they're not actually Rhode Island Whites. Hatcheries like to mutts under false claim that they're Rhode Island Whites all the time, just as they do with Araucanas.

 

[JayDee]

Our Araucanas are my favourites altogether. And they get along with all the rest very well -- the RIR hybrid that came after and the two Welsummers that came after that.

Our Blanche was the best personality I've ever seen in a chicken, but at the moment, she's not well. But I've been able to lift her and feed her. She's been a great little patient!

The other Araucana, Dorothy, is quiet and very active and funny. Little comedians.

I'd get more if I could!

 

[Kristin.marlies]

My Araucana is my favorite. Probably because she is the only one to have survived a predator attack out of seven. Anyway... She is so sweet and has been very accepting of all others I have introduced since her ordeal, chick or pullet. It is my wynodotte that is the nastiest. (well, not too too nasty

 

[snowflake]

My Araucana's are also very sweet. My rooster is the nicest roo we have had yet, he never goes after anyone but the other roosters, when they go after people. My wyandotte is also the bossiest. my Araucana's are mcmurry's so actually EE's but very sweet. some are less likely to let you pick them up then others. but that seems to be the same with all my hens. Sussex is the most tame.

 

[the Precious Ladies]

I have Araucana's as well, 3 of them. I love their personalitys so much

They get along great with the wyannadotes (sp- sorry) and allow me to pick them up alot. Sally like it when it hold her, Mya doesn't really like it for more than 30 sec. but she's adorable. Tweety follows me around the most currently, and when i sit down she comes over to investigate me. They were held alot when they were little. Mine are not incredable flighty, but that may be because I let them free range during the day, so they streatch their wings abit, but never go farther than 1oo yards away or so.