Latest news with #Araucana
India.com
31-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
Green or blue eggs? These hen breeds will surprise you...their names are..., found in this country...
Green or blue eggs? These hen breeds will surprise you… their names are…, found in this country… Mystery of Blue and Green Eggs: We have grown up eating white eggs like any other normal person. Then, after some time, we were introduced to brown eggs or 'desi eggs', with the belief that they are more nutritious and contain more protein. However, it is just a myth. Most of us have seen an ostrich egg that is massive in size and looks like an egg from a dinosaur. And the small ones from ducks—some people prefer to eat duck eggs. But what if we tell you that there are blue and green coloured eggs laid not by any other bird, but by hens? Yes, you read that right—blue and green coloured hen eggs. Let's know more about it. Green And Blue Eggs The size and shape of these blue and green-coloured eggs are similar to white eggs. The name of the chickens that lay blue and green eggs is Araucana. These majestic hens are found in Chile. If you are thinking that Araucana hens look different from normal chickens you are wrong. They almost look similar to normal chickens but they have feathers on their ears, and they do not have a tail. The feathers on their ears look like a big moustache, and that makes them look cute and funny. The Araucana chickens are known for laying blue as well as green eggs. Araucana Chickens Araucana chickens are known for laying blue as well as green eggs. Araucana was first seen in the year 1914 by the Spanish ornithologist Salvador Castell. These chickens were spotted in Araucana, hence, they were named Araucana. What Is The Mystery Behind Blue And Green Eggs? It is noteworthy that the exact reason for the blue or green coloured eggs is not known. However, scientists believe that these hens are susceptible to retrovirus attacks. These single RNA viruses change the structure of the genome after entering chickens. These retroviruses are called EAV-HP. Chicken eggs turn blue or green due to changes in the structure of genes. Even after the virus attack, these eggs are considered safe to eat. People in Chile love to eat these eggs with great pleasure. Olive Egger is known for producing green eggs. This breed is a result of crossbreeding of hens that lay brown and blue eggs, which gives the eggs their olive-green hue. The Olive Egger is a hybrid chicken created from the combination of Araucana and Marans breeds. These chickens are capable of laying green eggs, typically 4 to 6 large eggs each week.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Chooks in the city: how an egg shortage drove the return of the backyard hen
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
The Age
27-06-2025
- General
- The Age
Chooks in the city: how an egg shortage drove the return of the backyard hen
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
The Age
26-06-2025
- General
- The Age
‘They're like therapy animals': How backyard chooks made a comeback
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘They're like therapy animals': How backyard chooks made a comeback
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
