The Andalusian chicken is also known as Blue Andalusian. In Spanish, it is called Andaluza Azul.
Andalusian chicken is an indigenous type of breed originating from the community of Andalusia, who are located in the southwest of Spain.
The central origin and motherland of the Andalusian is around the area of Utrera, where it is more concentrated. Around 2009 the breed population was estimated at 10000 birds.
In this guide, you will know history, eggs, size, color, temperament, lifespan, characteristics, pros, and cons of raising Andalusian chickens.
History and Origin of Andalusian Chicken
The Blue Andalusian Chicken was created in England through crossbreeding of birds imported from Andalusia in the year 1851.
This breed became an international type of chicken identifiable by its blue-laced plumage, spread far and wide from Andalusia to Britain.
Later it was distributed in the United States and Germany between 1850 and 1855. In America, the breed was improved more, which enhanced its appearance.
Andalusian Chicken Lifespan
Blue Andalusian Chicken are said to live for about 5-8 years with proper care. There is no major affliction to the growth of this breed, however in cold temperatures they will be affected by frostbite.
Andalusian Chicken Temperament
The Andalusian are friendly in nature. They are also curious, especially towards people; however, they are not docile. They loved being treated well, nevertheless they dislike being picked up.
This bird dislikes confinement and in such situation, it becomes very noisy, quite nervous and begins feather picking and becomes very flighty too. Andalusian chicken loves foraging and looming.
As compared to other backyard hens, a lot of space is required to keep the Andalusian chicken comfortably. It is quite rugged and with ease it will fly over fences as it is adventurous and also loves roosting in trees.
Also read: How to Clip Chicken Wings? — To Stop Their Flying
Andalusian Chicken Egg Laying Age, Count, Egg Size and Egg Color
The Andalusian Chicken begin laying eggs at the age of 5-6 months. They are good in egg productivity as they produce about 3 eggs in a week and about 150 -160 eggs per year. The egg size is medium to large. The Andalusian chicken produce white eggs.
Color, Size, Appearance, Characteristics of Andalusian Chicken
Color
Each feather in this breed has a clear bluish color with a distinction of either a dark blue or a black lace. To achieve this blue plumage, blue colored chicken is created by breeding the black Andalusian with white.
In the case where two Blue Andalusian mates, 25% of the chicks produced have a black plumage, the other 25% will be white or splash and the remaining 50% will be in blue.
The color blue tends to become light with succeeding breeds; therefore it is important to breed both parents with darker shades of the plumage.
Size
Males weigh about 7lbs, while females weigh 5lbs. These Mediterranean breeds are mid-size in nature. In comparison, they are larger than Leghorn and smaller than the Minorca chickens.
Appearance
Its earlobes are oval-shaped and white, its beak is downward curved. Roosters have a bright red comb with five defined edges and well serrated, while the hen has comb is red single and flops to one side.
Andalusian chicken has a symmetrical and quite compact body shape, which is a bit long in length.
Characteristics of Andalusian Chicken
Below are a few characteristics of an Andalusian chicken:
The Andalusian chicken has a blue plumage with its distinction of a dark blue or a black lace, which is achieved by breeding the black Andalusian with white.
They have a hybrid characteristic, this is brought by hatching of different colored chicks, the blue, and the splash Andalusian chicks.
They are rugged in nature and hence very hardy, especially during winter. This is because the chick’s feathers mature early enough, with its male crowing at about seven weeks.
They are great egg layers even during winters. They produce about 150 -160 eggs per year. The Andalusian body type is quite coarse, and it’s also easy to produce and also to maintain.
Generally, the Andalusian chicken are small, very active especially in free-ranging, closely feathered. They are also very noisy so not suitable for a quiet environment and rarely go broody.
In their stately carriage and a pleasant blue plumage, they create a good sight, which also makes them a good breed for exhibition.
Andalusian Rooster vs. Hen
In roosters the comb is a bright red comb which defined edges while in the hen the comb is single, large to medium depending on the age that flops to one side. Similarly, combs in the Andalusian rooster are well serrated as compared to the comb of the hen.
The Andalusian hen gets along with other chicken while the roosters are quite aggressive, it is, however, noted that the aggressiveness of the rooster is more directed to their hen and not the other breeds hens.
In human, the Andalusian rooster is said to be more aggressive, while the hen is a bit calm.
However, it does not love cuddles, it dislikes being picked and might get aggressive when cornered. In confined and portable coops, the breed is generally aggressive, whether it’s a rooster or a hen.
Benefits of Raising and Breeding Andalusian Chicken
There are many benefits to raising and breeding Andalusian chickens, including a healthy and happy chicken, lower chances of disease, and environmentally sustainable practices.
In raising these chickens, you can also have the opportunity to have a small flock of chickens free-range in your backyard or on the farm to make enough eggs for the family or sell them at local farmer’s markets.
Below are the top 5 benefits for raising and breeding Andalusian Chicken:
1. Healthy and happy chicken
It is said that when proper care is given to the Andalusian chickens, they are healthier and happier.
By allowing your chickens to roam around, you give them the chance to exercise their muscles and to bathe themselves in sunlight or dusts for them to absorb vitamin D from the sun.
You will also be raising a chicken that is more friendly to your pets that can be kept inside the home. The eggs are very nutritious and healthy for the family to eat with no fear of Salmonella and E. Coli.
2. Fertilizer production
With the Andalusian chickens, you can produce fertilizer from their litter, which is a natural fertilizer for your garden or crops as well as hunting food for yourself as well. You can even sell the organic fertilizer to attract more customers to your farm.
3. Environmentally sustainable
Raising and breeding Andalusian chickens is environmentally sustainable as they are raised without any chemicals such as pesticides.
Natural methods include planting green grass which your chickens can eat and giving them a small amount of grain occasionally to maintain their meat, as well as homemade chicken feed made from corn or wheat.
4. Chicken flock
Many people who own a small farm or backyard flock of chickens end up having the opportunity to raise the same kind of chicken over and over again.
So, by raising your own Andalusian chickens and having them roam around freely, you can have the chance to have a small flock of chickens both in quantity and quality.
You also do not have to purchase any new eggs from other farms when you already have your laying hens.
5. They are good foragers
Moreover, Andalusian’s are excellent foragers. They are known to eat bugs and worms as well as any decaying organic matter in the soil such as dung, seeds, leaves and other forms of decaying organic matter.
With this skill, it helps save you time when you have a small farm with limited space to fertilize your crops or fields without having to purchase any fertilizers or seeds. You will not be purchasing any chicken feed either because the chickens can pick it up for themselves.
6. Average egg layers
Finally, by raising and breeding your chickens, you get use their eggs in breakfast. This is because your Andalusian chicken will be laying eggs per month.
Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity and raise as many chickens as you can within your backyard or on a small farm.
Problems in Raising Andalusian chickens
Although raising and breeding Andalusian chickens is fun, relatively easy, and very environmentally sustainable, there are certain problems that many people face when raising this particular breed of chickens as well.
1. Disease/Poultry diseases
Although raising and breeding your chickens is fun and healthy to the environment and to you, there are still some diseases that are very common in these kinds of chickens.
One of these diseases is Marek’s Disease, which is a very deadly disease that is caused by a highly contagious herpes virus in their body by inhaling virus-laden dander.
As an owner of an Andalusian flock, you should make sure to keep your flock healthy by making sure to keep them away from sick/old birds as much as possible.
Moreover, you should take extra care for cleanliness in the coop and around their eggs if you raise and breed chickens.
2. Social disorder problems
It is not a secret that there can be issues with raising and breeding Andalusian chickens because they can become aloof or anti-social towards other chickens or even human beings in certain cases.
If you want to avoid this, you should make sure to take care of their diets and surroundings to keep them happy and healthy (stress-free).
3. Prey to predators
It is an instinct of every animal, especially chickens, to run away from wild animals and falcons alike. So, if you are raising Andalusian chickens, you should make sure to build a strong fence around the coops and nesting boxes so that predators do not have an easy time getting in.
You can also build a fence around your entire farm as well if you are having issues with predators attacking your flock of Andalusian hens.
4. Breeding problems
If you are having trouble breeding your Andalusian chicken flock, it is not uncommon for a male Andalusian chicken to fight other males for the right to mate with the female.
This can be a concern if you are trying to raise and breed a particular Andalusian chicken that might have the potential to become a champion show bird, or even if you just want them to be your pets.
However, this is not always the case with all Andalusian chickens because some male chickens are very docile and friendly towards other males.
It all depends on the mood of the male chicken, how good it is feeling, how healthy it is feeling and how old it is overall.
6. They are picky eaters
Andalusian chickens are very picky eaters and will only eat certain kinds of grass and green plants. Do not allow them in your garden; otherwise they will destroy your vegetable as well as bugs.
If you raise and breed these chickens, it is best for you to plant numerous amounts of the same types of food that they like below their coop or in the nesting area for them to eat whenever they please.
This can be a problem if you are trying to keep your chickens inside a barn with poor ventilation or lots of dust because this can affect their quality as well.
FAQs About Andalusian Chickens
1. What is the cost of an Andalusian chicken in sale?
On average, a male Andalusian chick will cost about $4. On the other hand, a female Andalusian chicken will cost around $5.5.
However, if you want to get an unsexed bird, they will start at $4.8 depending on its size. The adult rooster and hens cost around $35-50.
2. Are Andalusian chicken good layers?
Yes, Andalusian chickens are good layers because they can lay eggs throughout the whole year. They are not known to be any particular breed of chicken that is more efficient than others in being a great layer. They lay about 150 eggs per year on average.
3. Are Andalusian chicken genotypes?
The Blue Andalusian chicken genotype is E/E Bl/bV- Ml-Lg/Ml-Lg.
4. What is the average lifespan of Andalusian Chicken?
In general, Andalusian chickens live anywhere from 5-8 years, depending on their health and general living environment.
Conclusion
In summary, we can view that this breed with its rare beauty. This blue feathered chicken can therefore be bred and raised easily in a fun and exciting way.
Andalusian chicken would be a great plus to your flock. It is also important to note that when breeding it is important to get quality specimens to avoid producing weak chickens with poor immunity prone to parasites and diseases.
Similarly, if you live in freezing areas you may need to provide warmth for the chicken, especially at night, to keep their temperatures right.
Getting this breed to its highest level of perfection will require a lot of your time and also energy. The Andalusian chicken is a low maintenance type breed that is worth your time and resources.
