California - Northern

[CackleJoy]

If you get down there I will be showing so we can go over some birds in the show if you like.

Walt

I heard you were the person to talk to about GLW. I'd love to learn! We have a trio with distinct faults but really strong in some areas. I'd like to know more. Books don't help me much. I like to see things!

 

[Ali707]

Penedesencas have been stand offish. They seem to be scared of me(Boys mostly) but they have never attacked me. They are very attentive to the girls.

Penedesencas that we have here are smaller than Marans so most are not Dual Purpose. Black Penedesencas are more Dual purpose but most are smaller here too. There is an improved black in Spain that goes 9 to 10 pounds though and the one I hatched from Florida is getting up to 8 pounds now. He is not a year old yet either. He hatched in the Spring. The biggest difference though is heat hardiness. Penedesencas plain flat do not die in the heat here. You do have to make sure they have water and shade but they do not pant until it gets to 95 or so and I have never seen one spread open their wings.

Eggs are as dark but do not have the waxy look of marans. They lay a bit better and lay more eggs than Marans. The dark color last longer than Marans but the eggs are a bit smaller.

Well belated Happy Birthday!

Well now that you mention heat hardy, I am thinking that if we don't get rain, I cannot probably run my misters this summer......That could be a bad thing.......

 

[capayvalleychick]

What?! I must know of this!

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Gold_Coast_Poultry_Fanciers.html

http://www.poultryshow.com/

 

[ronott1]

Are working on a cross to increase size, heat tolerance and dk brown egg production?

Jason @Hangtown Farms is dong most of the work. The big thing currently is to make sure each type of Penesesenca is bred to standard.

I think Black would be the first one to get into the Standard--It is a lot of work though.

 

[tommysgirl]

Well, I did get pullets that were supposedly 7 and a half months old midSeptember and finally got my first egg less than a week ago... That may color how obsessed I am

That, and I only have 5, and have a zoning-imposed maximum of 11, no roosters (I need a white layer, and a blue layer, and a dark brown layer, and a green layer, and/or an OE, and maybe some other color layer (the plum someone mentioned a few weeks ago, for instance)... I've got light brown pretty well covered.)

Amy if you don't mind my trying to sell you on a breed and even if you do,

The California Grey and the Dorking are my favorites of the white egg layers. Both are calmer than the avg white layer and here are some pros and cons of each.


CA Greys: True CA Greys are found at Privett hatchery. Because they are feather sexing I felt ok ordering them from there. (pullets are much darker) It is hard to find them from breeders. They are NOT a hybrid. They breed true and are derived from Barred Plymouth Rocks and White Leghorns but are far from a simple cross between the two. The originator and his son...The Drydens...didn't have any interest in getting them APA approved so they aren't and there is no standard but I can tell you the following:
* you will get a large bright white egg 5-7 days a week
* you will start to get them at around 16 weeks
* you will get friendly, funny, curious, bold birds
* Good winter layer
* non-setter
* you will be helping to preserve a quality dual purpose American breed that has flown under the radar to the point that it is seriously in danger
* The Dryden lines are available from Privett. So in other words, unlike with most breeds you get quality. I was really happy with all of my Privett chicks. They were/are higher quality than the hatchery chicks I purchased the previous year


Here is a pic of my girl Blanche at about 6 weeks. She has always wanted to investigate, hopping on my lap my shoulder and my head. She is happy to be picked up and I one day will breed these guys.



My other favorite white/slightly tinted egg layer is the Dorking.

@capayvalleychick and @ronott1 will be able to give you more accurate info on their productivity since I only have one at POL and she has only been doing it for about 5 days but I can tell you about their character
*docile and curious
*A variety of colors. the Silver Grey being the most common in the US
* The make the sweetest chicken sounds
* They are known to go broody and be good mothers
* One of the oldest breeds...maybe the oldest
* High quality gourmet meat
* The coolness of having 5 toes and really short legs



My first SGD pullet


One of Kim's


I also have Icelandics and a Dorking Polish X which I like very much but since you are limited in the number you can have I would recommend either of these. If you decide you want the CGs and you are worried about meeting the minimum order from Privett, I found it very easy to sell my extras. People like 6 week olds that don't have to be brooded and chicks don't count in your totals

 

[farmhand]

Amy if you don't mind my trying to sell you on a breed and even if you do,

The California Grey and the Dorking are my favorites of the white egg layers. Both are calmer than the avg white layer and here are some pros and cons of each.
...
CA Greys: True CA Greys are found at Privett hatchery.

...
If you decide you want the CGs and you are worried about meeting the minimum order from Privett, I found it very easy to sell my extras. People like 6 week olds that don't have to be brooded and chicks don't count in your totals

This could spell trouble! I really don't need more chickens but I would like to get in on this! I'm looking for a couple of nice white layers and had kind of settled to get Brown Leghorns from Belt hatchery stock since I can easily pick up whatever I need. Of course I'm south of Fresno so maybe too far away.
But I have been eyeing both the California Grey and the Dorking's. @tommysgirl

 

[farmhand]

It is like they have to learn it all over again. Probably from having such a small amount of brain for storing memories.

Though my chickens were exceptionally dumb

I love this hobby where we all have bragging rights for who has the dumbest birds.

 

[ronott1]

I love this hobby where we all have bragging rights for who has the dumbest birds.

that is so funny!

 

[WendyJeepchick]

Happy Birthday Ron!!!

Sorry I didn't catch it yesterday. Thank you thank you for all of your kindness and hand-holding for us beginners. If I could, I would elect you president of this thread

 

[CackleJoy]

I love this hobby where we all have bragging rights for who has the dumbest birds.

Made my day!