Please tell us what you know about them. Hendersons chicken chart says they are below average layers but what are the differences with the different types? Are the Partridge, wheaten or crele better layers? The Black ones are supposed to be better for meat.
Thank You!
I am not sure about the chart though I did read that, I have heard they are very good layers from numerous people. They lay better in the warmer months than winter. Probably due to there large comb. Black are dual purpose. Still not a large chicken but meatier. They still lay a nice medium brown egg.
The general thought is Partridge lay the darkest . ( However that said the ones we got are the lightest I have seen.) Penedesenca eggs seem to hold there color real good throughout the year.
Still will vary between molts. Crele are auto sexing and out of all the autosex varieties I can think of are the most obvious. When they hatch there is not doubt what they are. Rich nut brown is the girls. Males more much more grey. I had thought Crele laid the lightest. Though the eggs I hatched in the spring and one of the new ones I got where the darkest of all the penedesenca eggs I have recieved. The White Empordanesa ( same as a penedesenca ) solid color penedesenca other than white. In spain there is a red one and a Blue tail which is buff with a blue tail
The white Emp's as they are called are the second darkest eggs I have gotten.
Wheaten are supposed to lay as dark as partridge though the batch I got where not dark as I thought.
So quick reference. 4 to 5 eggs a week. less in cold areas with cold winters
Probably one of the hardiest heat tolerant Chicken ( IMO hands down are)
Extremely alert. My Emp rooster was amazing RIP
Partridge - Have been known to lay some of the darkest eggs however I have not seen them. Partridge are very flighty and more so than the others. Most Common.
Wheaten- Very pretty Medium brown egg. Flighty but not as bad as Partridge. Second most common.
Black- Largest. Dual Purpose. I have not tried to hatch any yet to look at the eggs. Third most common. Though very hard to find good birds.
Crele- Auto sexing. More Deep rich Terra Cotta than the others that are more true brown. Most friendly. Eye candy chicken. Extremely rare
White Empordanesa- Dark brown eggs- very alert. Very curious though they do not like to be picked up. Most personality of mine. Would think they are one of the rarest breeds in the U.S
on another note. Besides the alertness , dark egg laying ability and heat tolerance my favorite part about them is how they talk to each other.
They are very vocal to each other in a whispery way.
As far as egg color.On average They are not as dark as Marans but darker than Welsummers or Barnevelders I have seen.
That is about all I know.
And they are a pain to hatch
