Anna Engenito, age 13, of Trumbull) Conn.,for her question:

DO SOME CHICKENS REALLY LAY COLORED EGGS?

Yes, the araucana chickens really lay eggs of pretty pastel colors. They do this not just at Easter but at all times of the year. These remarkable fowl are named for the Araucana Indians of Chile, who may have bred them from several other strains. In any case, araucana chickens were brought to the United States in the 1920s, though at that time nobody paid much attention to them.

In recent years, they have become very popular for several reasons. They are large tasty birds, quite gentle, and their feathers come in pretty colors.The eggs they lay are tinted with attractive blue, gold or green. What's more, araucana eggs are extra rich in iron and protein and contain less cholesterol than the white or brown eggs from our usual chickens. Who knows, someday soon our ordinary chickens may be replaced by these superior araucanas.