Calling all Penedesencas Owners/Breeders

[Hangtown Farms]

They're all blacks too. I'm getting some unrelated chicks next Saturday. They're from the only pair that existed in Missouri before I got mine. He claims there were quite a few big flocks in Northern MO a few years ago and all either died, were sold off or eaten. He said all of his died of Marek's except for this one pair so that tells me they're probably resistant. That's a good thing.
None of my birds have ever been vaccinated regardless of the breed.

Hmm I have not heard much about Marek's being a issue with Pene's . Not that they where fully resistant but maybe a little. They seem to be the healthiest of any of the breeds I have kept with the exception of maybe mixed Easter Eggers

 

[ronott1]

Well I ended up setting 84 eggs in all. 8 shipped Blacks, 1 Ameraucana, 1 Minorca and 74 of my Blacks. I added the Minorca egg to check progress since it's the only one that's a cinch to candle. As luck would have it the Minorca egg doesn't appear to have been fertile. Day 11 and it's completely clear. There does seem to be development in some of the Pene eggs but it's too hard to tell for sure.
I weighed about half, the outside rows and the center row on both racks. Average weight loss is 8.4% and should be 7.3% so apparently I have been a little on the dry side. I only added water twice and humidity has ranged from 15-35 %. I'm going to keep it around 35 for the next few days and weigh again.
What I'm assuming from this experiment is that a dry incubation method may be best for these dark eggs.

Every time I incubate I take better notes.

The weight loss is ok! and it means they are developing. Yes, 35% for dry hatch for the first 18 days seems to work well with the dark eggs.

This is very exciting.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hmm I have not heard much about Marek's being a issue with Pene's . Not that they where fully resistant but maybe a little. They seem to be the healthiest of any of the breeds I have kept with the exception of maybe mixed Easter Eggers

They're the most robust and vital birds I've raised. Perhaps only because of the breeder that sent them to me but they went through hell and all survived.
I think free ranging is a big part of keeping that vitality in them as well as hatching a lot and culling hard.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
There are different strains of Mareks and some are worse than others. Usually the chickens die of Mareks Cancer at about 2 years old and not Mareks.

Stress can make things worse though.

I had one hen die of Mareks Cancer and the Necropsy report made it sound like I would have horrible problems forever now. All has been fine. It was just that one golden comet.....

 

[Hangtown Farms]

crele penedesenca on ebay now. 2 days left. from South carolina . dont think it is Luann as I believe she is in North Carolina

 

[ronott1]

I hatched two Black Penedesencas from shipped eggs!

The last couple of shipped eggs did NADA!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I hatched two Black Penedesencas from shipped eggs!

The last couple of shipped eggs did NADA!

I hope you have a pair or 2 hens at least

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
The one on the right looks like a pullet to me....

I have no idea....

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The one on the right looks like a pullet to me....

I have no idea....

Are they from the 8 you got on e-bay with the #5 written on them? I think I'm seeing development in some of mine that I got from the same guy due to hatch in 5 days.

You'll be able to tell pretty early. After just 2 or 3 weeks the males legs will be thicker and longer. After about 6 weeks the combs will be noticeably bigger.

I'm getting a pair of unrelated pullets today that have just started to lay.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Yes, they are from the 8 with the 5 on them.

I hope you get them to hatch! I have more coming from Our Fly Babies any time now.