Mechelse Araucana (CCP9)

Mechelse Fighter

Mechelse ไก่ชน

CCP

The various phenotypes show characteristics of the eight different chicken breeds that were crossed into this generation of the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project / recognisable traits from Belgium, France, Great Britain, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico and Thailand.

Auracana

Auracana

Brazil

Originally a Chilean or Brazilian chicken breed / name derived from Chile’s Araucanian Indians, who were known to raise this breed / fairly upright chickens, bred in many colours, with an irregular comb / feathered skinfold on either side of the head = tufts (not always symmetrical) / very resistant to diseases / lays green eggs / also called Samba Chickens.

Expedition

Vanmechelen bought the Araucana at a market in Mol (BE)

Birthplace of the first chicks

Meeuwen-Gruitrode, on Koen Vanmechelen's home farm, on Easter Sunday

First showing

The Accident
Palm Court, Miami Beach (US), 2006

 

The Accident Miami 2006

The unexpected, the appeal of the chicken

Serendipity at work...

The introduction of the Samba Chicken to the CCP helped lure in Olivier Hanotte, professor of genetics at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), into the unfolding saga. Originally, he was curious as to what would be the result in future generations of crossing a chicken from a green-blue egg. Later, he became involved in the expansion of the project to Havana (Arenas de Evolución and OpUnDi) and subsequently to Ethiopia (CCP).