The British Araucana Club
The British Araucana club first started out life as the English Araucana poultry society back in around 1915. By 1960 it had faded away and there was no more interest by many people in having blue egg laying chickens.
Black male Araucana
The few remaining people who held onto their Araucana stock were still very much interested in the breed, and by 1972 there was a renewed interest. The "new" British Araucana Club was formed. This is the club that is still in existance today, and is one of the oldest running UK poultry clubs.
The one thing that all members generally have in common is an enthusiastic willing to keep an old heritage breed alive. They do this by promoting the breed, selling "good" stock, blue hatching eggs, and presenting birds for exhibition at shows around the country. Members swap stock, eggs and experiences and pass on hints and tips to other members.
New members are always given a warm welcome to the friendly community, with experienced members eager to offer free advice and even give away spare stock or hatching eggs.
Araucana chickens are known to originate from the old Arauca region between Northern Chile and Southern Peru, in the ancestral home of the Incas (who now are more popularly known as Aruca Indians).
The Araucana is the only pure breeding and original blue egg laying domestic chicken. The blue eggs that distinguish the breed are very exclusive in the world of poultry. Other breeds that are seen to sometimes lay blue eggs, have their origins with the Araucana gene pool.
The British Araucana has been listed as a rare breed with DEFRA. Keeping a living flock of a specialist pure poultry breed helps to maintain a diverse national gene bank in the event that new characteristics are needed in the future.
Registered club members' birds are automatically protected under this scheme. All modern production poultry used in farming today originate from carefully selected old heritage breeds.
Why Keep Araucanas?
Araucana chickens are a particularly hardy breed, requiring little maintenance. Their legs are not fluffy, making them suitable for wetter areas and their feathers are soft and well insulated, allowing them to do well in low winter temperatures. The Araucana's soft fleshy head parts are very much reduced which minimises the possibility of sunburn, frostbite or cuts and abrasion damage.
So long as an Araucana has access to good food, fresh water, green vegetation, dust, shelter and some company, it will thrive, with a hen producing beautiful blue eggs for at least the first five years of its life.
Pure bred Araucanas are generally easier to tame than many other breeds, and will happily feed out of your hand while sitting on your shoulder or on your arm. Once they have learned your habits, they will recognise individual members of the family, and will express themselves by clucking, wing flapping and gentle cooing depending on how they feel.
Years ago, before aircraft were used as transport, Araucanas were kept confined on big sailing ships that explored the world. It was thought that they were not as fussy as other breeds when it came to accomodation. Nowadays, Araucanas can be found equally at ease living in cages on balconies and confined in compact back garden runs in cities.
The general rule is that a trio of hens should be brought up in confined living conditions from a very young age to avoid stress. Ideally however, a spacious lawn or copse is much more appropriate.
More about Araucana chickens.
