BYC's 2025 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along

[ella2025]

Have you seen the Penedesenca eggs? Mine are end of season, so lighter than typical. Also, they are heat hardy, so I am hoping there is less of a lull in the summer heat.

I have seen the chicks for sale on Meyer Hatchery and might get some. I know that some Marans aren't going to lay super dark eggs if you get them from a hatchery, but penededencas are more reliable? Is that true? Are those penededencas eggs from your own hens or did you buy them and getting them for the first time? They seem like a really interesting breed.

 

[redinator]

Have you seen the Penedesenca eggs? Mine are end of season, so lighter than typical. Also, they are heat hardy, so I am hoping there is less of a lull in the summer heat.

I might see if I can find those in my area. I honestly do have enough black chickens running around my yard, lol, but really wanted darker eggs. The hens and roos are beautiful too

 

[ella2025]

I might see if I can find those in my area. I honestly do have enough black chickens running around my yard, lol, but really wanted darker eggs. The hens and roos are beautiful too

You could get some from a hatchery maybe? When I think of penedesencas I think of the partridge ones. I didn't know there were black penedesencas.

 

[redinator]

My Hoover

I have seen the chicks for sale on Meyer Hatchery and might get some. I know that some Marans aren't going to lay super dark eggs if you get them from a hatchery, but penededencas are more reliable? Is that true? Are those penededencas eggs from your own hens or did you buy them and getting them for the first time? They seem like a really interesting breed.

I just checked Meyer's and nothing available through Dec 2026. It's probably a good thing, lol. I'll have to be patient.

 

[redinator]

You could get some from a hatchery maybe? When I think of penedesencas I think of the partridge ones. I didn't know there were black penedesencas.

I meant I wouldn't mind not having the Marans, just wanted darker eggs.

 

[ella2025]

My Hoover

I just checked Meyer's and nothing available through Dec 2026. It's probably a good thing, lol. I'll have to be patient.

Wait, where are you seeing the Dec 2026? They don't open orders for 2026 until November I thought? I check their websites too much. I want to be able to get all the rest of the breeds I want (wyandottes, MARANS!, polish, Cochin bantams, duccles, etc) before they sell out.

 

[redinator]

Wait, where are you seeing the Dec 2026? They don't open orders for 2026 until November I thought? I check their websites too much. I want to be able to get all the rest of the breeds I want (wyandottes, MARANS!, polish, Cochin bantams, duccles, etc) before they sell out.

If you click the "+ Show more availability" text at the bottom it expands to show future dates.

 

[Lady Lisa of Groveland]

How do you know? Did you incubate the eggs? Crack it open and look for signs?

I eat them. Once I see any evidence of fertilization, I'll collect for a few days and see if they hatch. I really need to get a better incubator, but that'll have to wait until next year.

 

[Rooski456]

I meant I wouldn't mind not having the Marans, just wanted darker eggs.

First collecting all the chickens, then all the eggs!!! Haha that’s how I got where I am

 

[redinator]

First collecting all the chickens, then all the eggs!!! Haha that’s how I got where I am

Apparently I'm trying to do it all in my first year. lol.

I have an EE cockerel now so when he breeds my brown egg layers the offspring should be Olive eggers, or at least that's how I understand it. That's assuming he has a blue egg gene