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Are you a firm believer that hens can either lay white or creamy brown eggs? Well, if this is the case you probably have been living in the dark the whole time.
There is a chicken breed that happens to lay blue-shelled eggs. The breed that lays blue shelled eggs is known as “Araucana”.
Araucana Roosters do not just have unique colored eggs, they have got a dramatic appearance as well. What’s more surprising about this breed is that they look breathtakingly similar.
Identifying a male and a female is hardest even for experienced chicken farmers. However, if you pay attention to the height, body structure, feathers, and tails, identifying a male and a female gets easier.
Araucana Rooster Vs. Araucana Hen
Origin
As we all know Araucana rooster and Araucana hen both belong to the same breed, the country of origin is also the same.
To be more specific, Araucana originates from the Araucana region of Chile. Therefore, their name is derived from the place of their origin.
Appearance
Sexing some chicken breeds can be no less than a challenge. The Araucana chicken breed is one of them and may have mohawks. However, combs, wattles, and feathers are the few things that make the identification a bit easier.
Combs and wattles
The comb is the fleshy meat growth on the top of the bird’s head whereas the wattle is the fleshy growth dangling from the bottom of the chin.
If we try to judge these birds from the wattles and combs, the Araucana rooster has deeper and darker combs and wattles than the Araucana hens.
It has been observed the combs and wattles grow earlier and faster on roosters than on hens. Moreover, Araucana roosters have larger combs and wattles as compared to Araucana hens.
Feathers
There are three types of feathers; hackles, saddles, and sickles The feathers that are found covering the neck are called hackle feathers, the feathers that grow on the back pointing down towards the tail are saddle feathers. Whereas, the feathers that roosters and hens got on their tails are known as sickles.
Observing hackles and saddle feathers is also an easy way of identifying a male and a female.
The Araucana roosters have more pointed and longer hackles feathers whereas the females have got prominently shorter and rounded hackle feathers. Whether it’s hackle, saddle, or sickle feathers, the roosters are observed to be more feathery as compared to the hens.
The Araucana chicken’s case is no different, the roosters have the same amount of feathers as any other breed.
Weight and Height
As we all know no matter which breeds a rooster or hen belongs to, the roosters are generally heavier and taller than the hens.
To be more specific, the large male Araucana and Bantam Araucana weigh up to 2.7 – 3.2 kg and 740 – 850 g. They look like brown leghorn or welsummer in appearance.
Whereas, the large and bantam hens usually weigh 2.2 – 2.7 kg and 680 – 790 g.
The same is the case with height, whether it is large or bantam Araucana the hens are slightly shorter than the roosters.
Temperament
The rooster and hen’s temperament can never be the same, the Araucana roosters and hens can not be any different. Learn Can Hens Crow Like Roosters?
The Araucana roosters are generally aggressive whereas the hens are more friendly and docile. Learn Polish Roosters vs Hen
Common names
Since Araucana rooster and Araucana hen are the two sexes of the same chicken breed, they are not recognized by different names. Gallina Mapuche, Mapuche Fowl, and South American Rumpless.
Use
Araucana hens are often raised for the blue-shelled eggs. Whereas, the roosters are considered either to offer egg fertilization services or meat.
