Araucana
Egg layer · Chile
The original blue-egg layer, the Araucana descends from chickens kept by the Mapuche people of Chile. In its standardized American form it's rumpless — no tail at all — with quirky ear tufts sprouting from each side of the head. It's a rare, historic breed that rewards patient keepers.
Eggs per year
140–180
Egg color
Blue
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
4–5 lbs
Temperament
Alert and self-sufficient
Broodiness
Sometimes broody
Did you know?
The gene behind the Araucana's ear tufts is lethal when a chick inherits two copies, which is a big part of why the breed remains so rare.
Is the Araucana right for your flock?
Expect roughly 140–180 blue eggs a year from a healthy hen in her prime — production dips during molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as she ages. Planning space? A Araucana hen runs 4–5 lbs, so size the coop with our coop size calculator and estimate the feed bill with the feed cost calculator.
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Keeping Araucanas?
Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
