Thanks to all living in the new age of science awareness and sustainable home poultry production. Our hatchery is helping by making these goals possible. We still prefer selling hatching eggs under the current national environment rules. Prices remain the same and live birds are not generally offered as shipping exceeds the cost of the birds.

Shipping "One of a KInd" birds that cannot be replaced exactly is a gamble we choose not to take with shipping ( They cannot be returned). Hatching eggs offer the same results we get in comparable percentages from a mix of 26 flocks.

A $10 discount on the "Araucana Experience" book when shipped with hatching egg purchase will continue, so an extra $20 will get a new book added to your hatching egg request.

New this hatching season is the addition of a few Ketro trait birds ( Two small Flocks ) one each in both strains of Araucana types maintained here ( North American Hybrids or South American Mapuche Chickens ) Each are purebred from the strain they originated from and are exactly the same except for the missing tail trait. These two Araucana chicken strains are not mixed here.This can add to the value of keeping them pure and also help in preventing missing anatomy syndromes common in tail-less birds.

Ketros of the Hybrid Black strain here may include the new non-tufted tailed types that have great commercial value producing awesome blue eggs and over 90% fertility rate. They mature in 4.5 months and can be either Black or Blue/gray feather color showing a recessive for Black color trait.

Curbside Service

Also new this 2020 season is "Curb Service" in our rural setting for local purchases of day old chicks, started chicks, pullets and mature stock. As usual, we do not allow visitors at the hatchery for Bio-security reasons. Appointments must be scheduled in advance with appropriate distancing required during stock transfers in a local open space area.

Thanks to all for your interest in these birds. Please be safe, enjoy our Planet and let me know if I can help with these chickens.

edd   (  : > )

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

New in the last week for July 2020 and on!!! Most Interstate poultry transfers now require permits from the receiving states. This is new for some states and each state is potentially different in requirements. We are applying and receiving authorizations from some states , others are slow to respond. Sometimes eggs are returned and other times a state will allow shipment from certified hatcheries like us with notification of required permits and/or registration. WE did not know this and just received a full list that includes most states. This will not affect actual shipping times for hatching eggs or livestock. It may increase the approval time for some states before stock can be shipped. Hopefully this will resolve quickly. Local deliveries and pickup of livestock will not be affected by this regulation. We will provide updates as needed. Thank You for your interest in these birds. I am glad to help. Best Regards, edd ( : > )

Hatchery Update for 2021

First, I want to say the year 2020 was an incredible year here for the Araucana Chickens and their future with increased interest and requests for these birds reaching new levels. My new book published in 2020 called “Araucana Experience” has been very well received. Please help these birds by learning why they are so awesome and how all chickens have their special needs to consider.

Every bird and hatching egg that comes from here has incredible potential that can fill the needs of all modern chicken goals if you know what to look for and get some from birds from our two Araucana Chicken strains. Each strain is kept separate here. Tailed “True Araucana Chickens” are called Ketros or Quetros, they are the same genetically with the tailed trait presenting and helping to maintain their hardiness by reducing the tail-less birds missing anatomy lethal traits. My 48-year strain has always had Ketros. Tails have been bred back into the Black Show Araucana Chicken Strain that have many modern commercial hybrid chicken traits, they are very different.

Please learn the differences as they cannot be raised together because the Modern Hybrid Show Chickens mature at 4.5 to 5 Months age and True Araucana Chickens Mature at 8-12 Months old, usually closer to 12 months of age. One generation per year compared to almost three generations per year is just the beginning of their differences that would make them another separate species, if chickens were truly classified like other species.

Keeping “True Araucana Chickens” from South America Pure the way they still do there with Ketros and the Tail-less types called Kollonkas has always been my goal of saving them from extinction and further genetic dilution. Keeping the Modern Show Araucana Strain pure and using their commercial traits offers many options also. Both offer Tail-less, Tufted, Blue Egg laying traits and the Ketros also lay 95% plus Blue Eggs.

NEW THIS YEAR*** are the new Hybrid Ketro strain. They are bred from the “Black Hybrid Show Strain” with reduced tufted trait that is producing over 90% hatch rate last year. Getting Ketros recognized in North America has been a challenge. Getting purebred Blue egg laying chickens in 5 months is nothing to ignore for a new commercial chicken type developed from the Black feathered Hybrid Show Strain Ketros without the lethal factors. Specialty egg requests or marking eggs with their flock designations must be approved in writing by edd Sheppard (  : > ) with additional prices and terms to be determined in advance.

I will sponsor new hatcheries with all the options that I provide. I will also sell my hatchery and reduce to Hobby status again.  HATCHING EGGS ARE FROM A MIX OF ALL FLOCKS with NO PRICE CHANGES and NO GUARANTEES DUE TO UNKNOWN FACTORS. We know the percentages from near 100% feedback.  I will also grow the hatchery, with help, on my 120-acre Ranch in Cottonwood, California. I want people to have these birds.

 PLEASE get a “Araucana Experience” Book by Edward Sheppard because you can learn something from everyone, if you want to.  Good luck with your Araucana Chicken Goals. Let me know if I can help. Best Regards.

edd   Sheppard   (  : > )

Also New This Year of 2020, the web site called “Araucana Registry” is available FREE to anyone willing to look at or sign up as a member listed in a “Araucana Directory”. As a member with name and poultry interest only. No address or phone number will be given without permission for privacy. With a network of interested participants others can know you are here and your Blue egg chicken interest will be established for interactions, including exchanges, assistance and advice from a central source.

Hatching eggs are $40 per dozen now with shipping and handling included. If you read the book, you will know what you are seeing in the “Hatching Eggs Results” for the 2020 hatching season. Having read the book, you will be decades ahead of anyone new to these birds. Personal projects, commercial interests or group support are all possible in each batch of hatching eggs that are from a mix of flocks. The overwhelming majority of Flocks are tail-less with one parent being double tufted. This includes a few Ketro flocks with one tufted parent. The Black show Hybrid strain that matures in 4.5 months has a non-tufted Ketro flock for the first time this year and they could be Black or Blue/Gray. These Non-Tufted Black or Blue/Gray Tailed birds have all the traits of commercial egg laying chickens and few of the lethal factors associated with Tail-less, Tufted chickens. Also they are pure to their strain either Hybrids or My strain.

I do not maintain a non-tufted flock of my strain Ketros but they do occur. Those genetic goals are not followed here as they lack the commercial traits by taking 8 months to a year to lay their first eggs, growing slow and eating less to end up bigger and smarted than the Hybrids. The occasional non tufted and tailed chicken will present in small numbers and they are 100% pure to the strain they represent, either Black or Mapuche strain. I am not sure what could be accomplished with mixing these birds. I do not mix the two strains here. Personal projects are the normal approach until a goal is reached. I still only have the two Araucana Chicken strains here in both Ketros and Kollonkas.

Flock size is reduced this year to increase fertility and help monitor hatch results (8-1 hens per Rooster). I will keep you all informed as I learn additional hatch result information.

Besides the usual, White, Black, Blue/Gray, Red, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, Palomino color types and Black Breasted Red feather colors, there are many spotted and splash mix feather colors in the mix. Blue eggs mostly followed by Turquoise then pale green then the dark green eggs. With half or more hens new this year and most yet to lay their first eggs, much mystery awaits. The cold wet Winter this year has slowed egg production in Northern California.

All negative test results from recent certification blood test monitoring continues our disease free status for the diseases that they test for. Let me know if I can help.

Please know:
Mature birds and chick sales are by private contract only, arranged by Edward Sheppard and not routinely done. Local delivery and sales will continue as in the past. No unauthorized visitors for Bio-secure reasons. Thank you for your interest in these birds. Best Regards.

These South American Araucana Chickens are enjoying their first free range experience and able to show flying abilities with instincts and desire that are necessary to survive in the jungle where their "Polynesian Chicken Heredity" relatives do so well.