Member Reviews: Euskal Oiloa - Marraduna Basque

Hatched out two batches of these in late fall, as a homesteading/homeschooling project with my children. They've exceeded all expectations so far. Looking forward to seeing how they measure up.   May 13, '12 I was drawn to this breed by their reputation as a great homesteading, free range bird. I have not been disappointed. One pullet started laying at 21 wks, the other 3 girls fell in right behind her during the next two weeks. My first cockerel to be culled weighed 7 1/2lb in the feather. Delicious, flavorful bird!   I'm really looking forward to working with this breed.   Sept 1, '12 - The two pullets that laid first are my best layers, I'm getting 64 -...

We purchased some Basque chicks after hearing how friendly they where.  Around a month the chicks become super friendly, and always wanted held.  That was also when they where hit with CRD.  We had other breeds in the brooder with them, but only the Basques became sick.  So, we put down all the sick birds, and where left with only six chicks out of our original fourteen.   The basques went outside in the fall, and they where fine.  However, they did not like the dead of the winter, and spent most of their time hiding in the coop.  The hens grew to be as friendly and useful as any other average dual-purpose breed that we have raised.  The...

Although the eggs are small, I get one daily.  Very friendly.

I got hatching eggs from skyline poultry. Wonderful birds. 1/20/13, had a pullet go broody last fall. She had 100% hatch rate and made a wonderful mother.

So far these have been some of the healthiest chicks I've ever had.  Ordered a group of chicks (not basques) from an online hatchery last year and lost about 30%.  Ordered these from Greenfire and haven't lost a single chick.  They are growing like weeds and have taken very well to foraging around.  I'm extremely impressed and can't wait to see how they turn out!

I bought 2 of these in a group of chicks a while back, unfourtunately they both turned out to be males so we had to get rid of them so I have no experience with eggs, etc. Durring the time we had them they were by far the friendliest of all the other chicks. They are very pretty too!