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 ( : > )

2020 Hatching Season and New Book!

Getting ready for the 2020 Hatching season while putting the finishing touches on a book about the essentials of Araucana chicken flock management made 2019 a very busy year. Back in late July I was in Dallas, Texas with my laptop computer and plans for a great book. I thought that it would be a few days of intense work as the 12 chapters and hundreds of pictures were all waiting to be merged. Well as luck would have it, a tornado whizzed by during the night missing myself and several others gathered in the bottom story of our Hotel. Just missing us was the most costly tornado in U.S. history, by 4 blocks. While still feeling lucky and knowing the Design company a couple blocks away was spared, so we moved forward. Later the next day assessment in the daylight was in full swing. News was still pouring in and the printer’s building was in the tornado’s path suffering power failure and building damage. They still have not found their huge roof top Air Conditioners. After a week of planning, re-arranging and editing all that could be improved for the next week, it came time start packing up for the trip back to California. I turned off the laptop computer and in never stopped running. The fan whirred the screen was blue color and nothing responded. After an hour I shut it down only to discover that the “ Blue screen of computer death” was eminent. Well Santa was good to me and a new touch screen was in my stocking. Used as a backup, I tried to use my Passwords, none worked. I had been hacked. 270 transactions per day from 7 U.S. sites, pretty scary posing as my hatchery and me. Months of getting my stuff together and protected to finish my work was intense but by New Years everything was complete. The book was completed, copyrighted and published. I missed the best selling season in years but the book was meant to make the world a better place. I am proud and the truths about these special Native American Chickens should be shared. Basic facts that can be reproduced gives valuable information to consider for the future helping scientists, farmers and the personal project providers of these chickens coming from our hatchery.

This includes prices, terms and goals for this year. Sometime during the year 2020 I will formulate a plan to close the hatchery to the public, sponsor other hatcheries, or grow it to commercial size. I have 160 acres and some good ideas but I am 70 years old have other interests and goals also. I have made a way so I do not have to explain the many aspects and reasoning behind maintaining a viable flock of these unique birds for the present and future. It is a Book called “ARAUCANA EXPERIENCE” FROM 47 CONTINUOUS YEARS OF ARAUCANA CHICKEN FLOCK MAINTENANCE”. It took 5 years to write and publish a book about my 47 years with these birds. It is worth reading for anyone that wants a foundation concept of what is going on with these birds historically and in the present. These True Araucana chickens are different from most common chickens. I provide the means to evaluate what I say in the book. I feel specific approaches are necessary to get the “Blue egg chicken” basics explained to people. I also have posted a video on “You Tube” called “Awesome Araucana” showing them flying like the Jungle fowl that they came from through their Polynesian jungle fowl chicken heredity. These are not “Feed Store> commercial chicken types historically. Please enjoy this video of them at our Hatchery flying for the first time they were free ranging. These chickens are very different acting than the usual barnyard bunch but the behaviors may not be noticed if you are not looking. (Everyone with these chickens needs to read my book. If you have a better way, I will use your way but please read my book and perhaps a second edition can include a larger world of respectful communications to contribute.) My goal was to save these rare South American Blue egg laying chickens from extinction. They are very close being extinct now in their purest forms and can only be found in small numbers by limited providers. There is an endless supply of other chickens out there diluting the genetics of these magnificent chickens. I have had many interactions with University level Professors that have contributed knowledge. Now with a documented reference, it is possible that many will be contributing to any further publications and knowledge.

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.