Because of the chickens unique appearance and unusual egg color, they are still a favorite among chicken lovers. There is no other chicken quite like the Araucana and they have a tendency to capture their owners heart.
If you have ever owned chickens, you know that they can be a real joy to have around. Every day they give you eggs, it is like finding money in your own backyard. They can pay for themselves triple fold, by giving eggs, some are for meat and they all give fertilizer. Many cities allow the ownership of hens and chicken coops but do not want roosters inside city limits because of the noise. When looking for a great egg layer that is docile and friendly, look no further than Araucana.

The earliest reports of the Araucana chicken were in the sixteenth century when Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan found these fowls on his trip around the world. It is believed that he brought these fowl with him after obtaining some from the Guarani Indians, which coincidently were from the bloodlines of the Araucana Indians, for which the chickens got their name.

The next time the chickens are mentioned in history is in the 188s when they were raised by the tribe for which they got their name. They were noted so much in history because of their unique traits and appearance. They came to the states when the Spaniards did their exploring because they rarely left their fowl when they went out. When they brought the chickens to America, they interbred with other breeds which created other fowl such as the Americana.The next notes that mentioned the breed was in the late 1800s by the tribe that raised them. They were soon brought across the ocean by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were known to take their fowl with them during their explorations. Soon after bringing them to the states, other breeds developed because of cross breeding. This could have been the origins of the Americana, a chicken that has many traits that are similar to the traits of the Araucana.

Because of the chickens unique appearance and unusual egg color, they are still a favorite among chicken lovers. There is no other chicken quite like the Araucana and they have a tendency to capture their owners heart.

Another very important trait of this type of chicken is the tuffs it has around its ears. They are one of the few that have this trait, the Americana may have a trace of these tuffs, but not as noticeable as the true breed.

Another interesting trait of the pure bred is the color of eggs they lay. Their ability to lay blue eggs is a rarity among other chickens. There are two color eggs that are pure, the white egg and the blue egg. If a chicken lays a brown egg, it is a white egg with a brown film. If the chicken lays a green egg, it is a blue egg with a brown covering. The darkness of the brown is determined by the amount of covering the chicken makes.

Another trait to the pure bred is the tuffs around its ears. These tuffs of feathers are very easy to see and may be visible on other breeds as well.

To find a breed of chicken, or fowl, that will suit you and your backyard chicken needs, do a little research on the internet. There are plenty to choose from and doing a little studying will help you make the right decision.

Two male chickens, or cocks, should not be penned together. A group of hens can live together and sometimes a cock can be added to the mix. If you need to introduction a new bird to the group, you need to allow time for natural posturing to see whether group of birds are compatible with each other. The fighting can be vicious and will lead to serious injury or death. Should you consider the Asil Chicken as a candidate for a new pet? Unless you have lived on a farm all your life, you may think it is odd to want to have chickens as pets. However; for those that have the room to keep them and are looking for something a little off the mark, a chicken may not be a bad idea.

This hearty bird can find its origins in Pakistan and India, as far back as 1500 BC. It is a bigger bird when compared to American standards. Their legs and the rest of their body are well-muscled. They have been originally bred for their fighting capabilities. The Asil chickens do not need to be taught how to fight. This is what made them attractive to those that are interested in cockfighting. Naturally, this is not an option today.

The world of cockfighting is starting to overlook these birds for larger and more tenacious birds. Due to the Asil chicken's tendencies, it is wise to consider this when mapping out living quarters for the birds.

The young chicks should be watched as well. It is actually a good idea to separate them at a young age because of their tendency to fight. As with all animals, it is a good idea to find out their personalities because you cannot always go by one golden rule. Just know that keeping a large group of these chickens together will probably lead to fighting.

But why does the Asil chicken make a good pet? They have the reputation of being very affectionate to the keepers or owners. These chickens are not like the typical egg layers that most people are used to. An Asil chicken will seek affection from their owners, not just food. They are extremely intelligent. And if given a happy home with everything that need then they return that happiness to their owners.

If you want eggs or meat, you might want to look at another breed of chickens. The Asil chicken is known for its ability to sit on and hatch healthy eggs but they are not a big producer of eggs. This breed is also uncommonly healthy for most poultry breeds. They are not stricken by most diseases that plague other chickens.

Ultimately, it is up to you whether you decide that a chicken is a pet for you and your family. They can be pet and cuddled like a cat or dog, but they are not going to be likely to be found lying next to a fireplace on a cold night. They may fit in as a cute, little barnyard animal.

For more information about the Asil Chicken and to find the right chicken coops to keep your chickens in visit ChickenCoopAdvice.com

Their eggs are few and small but the Buttercup hen is a dependable layer. All experts do not agree, however, about this breed as a pet. Some experts recommend it as a pet because of its curiosity and friendliness.
The buttercup chicken, originally developed in Sicily in the 1800's, is also known as the Sicilian Buttercup. According to records, one pair was imported to the US in the latter part of that century and today's stock flourishes as descendants of that same coupling. The breed is rare, beautiful, worthy of exhibition, a consistent layer and good to keep as a pet.

Their eggs are few and small but the Buttercup hen is a dependable layer. All experts do not agree, however, about this breed as a pet. Some experts recommend it as a pet because of its curiosity and friendliness.

Some experts state that although the Buttercup can be friendly, it prefers to be independent, is very active, and flies well. Others declare that this breed prefers to avoid human contact. All experts recommend that chicks are the best choice to start out with because they can be trained to enjoy human contact.

Chicks seem to be limited in numbers but can be ordered online from several hatcheries. The males are reportedly the friendlier version of the breed. Experts agree that this breed does not enjoy confinement and will enjoy human company best when given lots of free range room and a warm habitat.

Providing a warm coop will protect this chicken's unique comb from frostbite. The breed had acquired its name because of its golden toned feathers and its butter-cup shaped comb which looks exactly like a crown.

With its stunning crown and golden plumage, the buttercup chicken is a very attractive bird, often shown in exhibitions. In 1918, the breed was admitted to the "American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection". Usually the hen has rich golden or amber colored feathers with rows of brown spots or "spangles". The males are normally a reddish-orange color with black "spangles" and a very dark green tail.

It is stated that the hens will mature early and start laying when they are 5 months old. The hens are not very productive but will lay an average of 2 eggs per week for their entire life. Again, there seems to be some controversy amongst experts regarding the appearance of the eggs as well. Some claim that they are white and lean toward the small size. Others claim that the eggs have a tint or hew to them.

It might seem odd, to some, think of chickens as pets. Granted, even the name, chicken, tickles the funny bone and many people will find the thought of it funny. However, chickens are a good choice as a pet if they are given adequate living quarters and sufficient area outdoors where they can fly, lay in the sun, walk, peck and scratch. They are definitely not the sort to be confined indoors.

Buttercup chickens can be engaging and very entertaining and some will even learn to sit in one's lap. Hand-raised baby chicks will learn to respond when their name is called, be stroked or cuddled and trained to eat from human hands. Chickens, like all pets, enjoy food as a reward and respond well to love and positive reinforcement.

When raised from chicks in a clean, warm, habitat, buttercup chickens would be an interesting and fun pet. Given that their laying output is approximately two eggs weekly, it wouldn't be wise to seek this breed for this type of food source. Like any pet, a buttercup chicken will be entertaining, beautiful to look admire, good company and at the very least, an unconventional conversation piece.

What is an Appenzeller Spitzhauben anyway? For those in the know, it happens to be the national chicken of Switzerland. It is named after the pointed lacy hat worn by ladies in the Appenzeller region of Switzerland. And, it may very well be yours, if you are looking for a beautiful black and white speckled chicken that is fun to raise.
Wonder what an Appenzeller Spitzhauben is, and what is curious about it? Then, join the rapidly growing group of people who love this distinctive breed of chicken. Named for its fluffy crest that looks so much like the lacy hats worn by women in the Appenzeller region in Switzerland, the Swiss national chicken is now part of backyard flocks all over the world.

Appenzeller chickens are active as well as being strikingly beautiful. You will need to allow them to roam if you plan to have them. In exchange for this freedom, you will have an amazingly intelligent chicken as a pet. They sport a crest of feathers on their heads with a very distinctive shape. The feathers give them a pompous, yet sort of funny head.

If you feel that you can give Appenzellers the freedom they need to roam and forage, then you may consider buying them to have as pets. They are quite intelligent, and enjoy picking insects out of all sorts of places when you allow them out in the yard. Baby chicks can be ordered from breeders to get you started with your own little flock. The online breeders provide space and shipping recommendations for the breed. Most are concerned that the chicks, or even unhatched eggs arrive safely to you.

There are plenty of advantages to having these chickens as pets. For one thing, they will lay eggs. They are great at producing medium to large sized white eggs. The average egg count per year is about 140 to 160 eggs. You will reap the benefits of feeding and caring for them by having fresh, organic eggs with healthy orange yolks. The darker yolk color results from feeding chickens well, and this means more nutrition for your family.

Some people who keep chickens really enjoy the different personalities each has. They find that they may be able to pick up their favorite, carry it, and pet it much like they would a family dog or cat. You may be very surprised that this is possible. It may take a bit of doing with a Spitzhauben but they can learn to like being touched.

Three other great attributes they have are a tendency to be quiet, an ability to forage well, and fine flying skills. Some owners note that because the Spitzhauben size tends to be smaller than other chickens, it stays cleaner and does not need the watering that others do. They also note that the crest is much different from other chickens, making it very distinctive in appearance, and this is a plus when caring for chickens in your backyard.

Because they fly so well, some owners report that all their Appenzellers left their coops in favor of roosting in nearby trees. Some flocks actually remained in the trees until the weather turned cold. The independent nature of these chickens is seen in this behavior, but most owners think it is part of what makes them fun.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben are probably one of the most distinctive looking chickens you can have as a pet. If you can put up with their tendencies to fly and climb trees, then you will enjoy their lovely speckled feathers. Just plan on putting up sturdy fencing if need be, and then have fun with these delightful chickens.

In the mid eighteen hundreds, the popular Ancona chicken was shipped to England out of the originating city of Ancona, Italy. It then made its way to America in the late eighteen hundreds.
From far away Ancona, In the Province of Ancona, Italy, the popular Ancona chicken was sent to England in the early eighteen hundreds, followed in the late eighteen hundreds by a trip to America. From its origins in Italy to spreading around the world.

In Italy, the chicken can be found in browns, reds and white. This is probably why some copper color, once in a while, shows up in the hackles of the neck. The spangled color has come suspected mingling over the centuries of the Black Leghorn and original Mottled Leghorns. But the Black Leghorn passed on its greenish black feathers (purple tint also can be seen) tipped with white as well as its yellow, featherless legs and four well spaced toes. Toes are important? Yes, they are! Like human toes and those of many other mammals, toes help with keeping balance. Earlobes? Chickens have earlobes as well! And the Ancona has those, in the color of white.

Chicken combs on this chicken are of two types... Rose combed and, in the hen, a single tilted comb while the rooster's is straight up. Avoiding chicken killers is the job of the bay colored eyes!

Several varieties of Anconas can be found in the chicken world. There is a type found in Australia called a Red Ancona, that shows red with specks of white on the neck feathers. The Bantam is a small one. The other available is large.

The rooster weighs in around six pounds and the hen at four and a half pounds. When they lose their feathers (known as moulting), and new ones grow back, the white on the tips becomes bigger. That is a good way to age the chicken. They live eight years or there about, and are enjoyed as pets as well as egg producers.

If egg producing chickens interest you, the Ancona does that quite well. Once a day for perhaps five days a week, she will lay one white egg. Once in a while, it will show up with tinted eggs! A hundred and sixty to a hundred and eighty eggs a year should be a nice egg-laying hen. And they also have a great feed/egg conversion rate. All around good little chicken.

Hens are not excessively broody but when they do raise chicks, the chicks grow quickly and are strong (vigorous) chicks. If hand cared-for, the babes can become quite tame and trusting, making a nice pet. They will follow the owner around and may even be taught to come on signal!

Housing is not difficult for the chickens if the owner keeps in mind a few things: the females are active and love to get around, they like wide open spaces and they are not adversely affected by winter weather. The rooster is happy to just walk around so he could care less if he were in a smaller enclosure! The chicken coop (house) itself is for keeping the chickens, hen and rooster, safe from the bad guys and the weather off from them! Nest boxes would be in there also. The owner can keep the "pet" chicken closer to them if desired!

Online there is a game of war and magic that uses the Ancona chicken as a friendly pet. The pet wont fight their battles but can be summoned at will, to follow them around as the warrior chooses! Why don't chickens care for humans? Because they beat their eggs!! (snort, guffaw, chuckle).