It is official now, the hatchery is now closed to the public as of July 4th 2025. I will still sell my Book here and maintain my NPIP certification status. I am returning to the “Hobby Protocol” again while maintaining my goals of keeping these “Mapuche Race Chickens” from South America pure bred. Saving them from extinction for the future interests and maintaining them with the Kollonka and Ketro traits they need to be viable to help avoid their lethal traits is important. I have sponsored some hatcheries with the same goals. One is in Southern California, one is in Iowa and one is in North Carolina. I will post their information as soon as they become NPIP certified for U.S.A. export to other states, Puerto Rico and Samoa. I will refer people to them for hatching eggs and stock and also my Book “Araucana Experience” by Edward Sheppard as it is not available at Amazon or in stores, “My Book” is very popular and recommended by veterinarians and poultry experts.

I will continue to support these sponsored hatcheries until they get established with plenty of stock, hatching eggs and Books. I expect it will take a full year of preparation and support with hatching egg supply and consultations. I will always have and maintain “My Strain” of Mapuche Chickens as I have done for 52 years now, (So far). Their huge genetic potential is still offering unique opportunities for anyone with “My Strain of Araucana Chickens”. Inbreeding is not a problem due to their extensive genetic pool. They have never been inbred for thousands of years like the Roman Fighting chicken types including most commercial chicken breeds to predict outcomes. Unique “One of a Kind” chickens are common with Mapuche Chickens so personal goals will not end in our lifetimes. I appreciate all my communications with people interested in these birds and I wish you all the best of luck. Take care, be well, ,,, ( : > ),,, edd Sheppard

Hatchery For Sale

I would sell the hatchery, website and several cases of my books with 8 or 10 flocks of birds for $3,000 to $5,000 depending on the amount of Birds. You will need to become a certified NPIP provider for National sales. I will be a consultant for a year and I will want my goal of keeping them purebred to continue. Shipping Birds is not included, local pickup or some other way to transfer Birds by me or you is possible. I will always have some Birds as a hobby but no shipping, no competition or sales by me. I will refer requests to you. Be a farmer, keep the faith, Yours Truly,,,( : > ),,, Edd Sheppard awesomearaucana.com website.

To purchase our new "Araucana Experience" book click here: https://www.awesomearaucana.com/shop/

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   (  : > )

2024 Recap – and News for 2025 - Awesome Araucana

2024 was a year of success and flock advances. I did only one large hatch with several hundred eggs from all flocks that emerged in early March 2024. Usually for the last 10 years or so I hatched eggs from all the hens for the first hatch and just blue eggs for all the rest of the year's hatches. That way I knew all Roosters were hatched from Blue eggs after the first of the year. Blue egg percentages always improved every year. Last year was different with only one early hatch. Most of the hens matured by December and started laying their beautiful eggs. Getting a couple dozen eggs a day is new this year as it takes 8-12 months for hens to mature and eggs hatched in June and July are not mature by December. Many green eggs were hatched and green eggs conceal the the Blue egg trait under the Green outer egg shell color. Therefore some of the bluest egg trait hen's eggs were not seen and hatched until this 2024 year. As a result some of the most intense Blue color eggs have been linked up and are being produced by these newly maturing young hens. I want that success for you.

Historically, I valued the many variety of egg colors, including Dark Greens and a few Pinkish color eggs, possible while keeping them pure bred to retain the "True Mapuche Chicken" traits. Please note that, "Any Dark Green egg laying hen can produce chicks that can lay Blue, Green or Pinkish color eggs". So this year's egg colors include some of the darkest Blue egg colors I have ever seen.

Many years ago I started putting birds together by feather color to appeal to the "Show Crowd" goals while only keeping a couple of flocks of unique feather colors and "One of a Kind" birds for my own preferences.

Now with 52 continuous years of keeping these "Mapuche Race Chickens' pure bred I am still learning and improving them toward my goals.

Thank You for your interest in these birds and My Book, "Araucana Experience", I look forward to another year of providing stock and information to people. ENJOY,,, ( : > ) edd Sheppard

We are located in Cottonwood, California., 96022.  Our land line phone number is 530 347-9192 (So No Texting, Emails through hatchery website as usual.

Hatchery Information and Araucana Book!

First, I want to say the year 2024 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   (  : > )

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.