[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Araucana chickens primarily lay eggs that are blue or blue-green, a color caused by the pigment oocyanin which is deposited throughout the shell during formation. While pure Araucanas are known for this distinct blue hue, the specific shade can vary between birds, ranging from very light blue to green or even khaki. (AI answer)

Martha Steward

"As a passionate chicken fancier, Martha likes attending the annual Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts. The event is held every year in January at the Eastern States Exposition Center and features more than 3,000 birds, including large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, Guineas, and a variety of breed chickens."

Martha--along with others--made raising chickens mainstream suburban! (My neighbor has Buff Orphingtons!)

[Fresh Wind]

You mentioned Guinea hens. In my family, anyone with a birthday could specify the food for the birthday dinner. One year, my mom’s sister said she wanted a Guinea hen for dinner. So she showed up with a live bird in her car trunk and my mom didn’t know what to do with it, but she knew a local farmer. He solved the problem with a hatchet and a tree stump. The headless bird ran around for a while, still squawking. I was a kid then, and I got to watch the entire event, I found it fascinating, but my mom refused to watch!

[dayglored]

> Araucana chickens primarily lay eggs that are blue or blue-green, a color caused by the pigment oocyanin which is deposited throughout the shell during formation. While pure Araucanas are known for this distinct blue hue, the specific shade can vary between birds, ranging from very light blue to green or even khaki.

I raised Araucanas a few decades ago, had a flock of about a dozen hens and a couple of roosters. They lived in the backyard, had their own open coop, and liked to roost in the nearby trees.

The eggs were a little smaller than store-bought. Colors varied blue, blue-green, green, occasionally a tannish blue-green. But the yokes were awesome, robust orange. And the taste was superb.

The roosters were gorgeous plumage, irridescent dark multi-hues. And mean, with huge long shin talons. They'd attack me sometimes, but they only drew blood once or twice that I recall.

Cool birds.