Chicken Breed Focus - Euskal Oiloa (Marraduna Basque)

[3riverschick]

I wish I could find that citation on health problem with the blue Gene. I'd share it with you . Problem : people selling chicks , then they start to grow up and they realize the chick is Blue when they thought it was the another color. So they just breed it in anyway and see what happens. then you have more chicks with the blue gene and so and so and so . Pretty soon people are breeding wild colors to see what happens. It's not funny.
I watched it happen in Marans over the years. It really hurts a breeds integrity. It's sad.
The blue gene should be handled by experienced people like yourself. And national breed clubs should have a list of color mentors who can help guide newcomers in using colors wisely.
Best,
Karen

 

[The Moonshiner]

I wish I could find that citation on health problem with the blue Gene. I'd share it with you . Problem : people selling chicks , then they start to grow up and they realize the chick is Blue when they thought it was the another color. So they just breed it in anyway and see what happens. then you have more chicks with the blue gene and so and so and so . Pretty soon people are breeding wild colors to see what happens. It's not funny.
I watched it happen in Marans over the years. It really hurts a breeds integrity. It's sad.
The blue gene should be handled by experienced people like yourself. And national breed clubs should have a list of color mentors who can help guide newcomers in using colors wisely.
Best,
Karen

Still for myself i havent seen blue cause any trouble with marans or any other breed. Really havent seen that marans have had any issues that any other breed hasnt had. Except for egg color which of course isnt as big of an issue in other breeds since most arent known for egg color as marans are.
I can now see our difference though. You have different thoughts on breeding in general. You take it more serious than i do. Dont get me wrong i take it serious. I bred and showed and did well with it for more then ten years. But ive also cross bred and mixed for no other reason then to get more layers.
Theres about as many reasons for breeding as there are breeders. Some breed for no other reason then to produce chicks. Sounds like youre into breeding to preserve breeds and to better a breed. When thats your goal and your mindset then probably 95% of the ones breeding your breed or a breed of interest to you would be in your opinion taking the breed in the wrong direction, polluting the gene pool or ruining the breed.
I see the same few breeding the way you think they should be and the same many not but i dont see it as a harsh reality as you.
There will always be some breeding for the breed and they dont just breed it anyway or buy chicks that could of come from those who do breed that way. For me its two different words and in fact theres many different worlds in breeding.
Others never hurt any breeds i was working with in reguards to my birds. I did what i could to improve them and any new birds i brought in i knew inside out because i knew the breeders and their lines as they knew mine. The rest of the world could do what ever they pleased because our worlds didnt cross paths, it wasnt anything i could ever control, or cared to.
Overall in the big picture for the breed as a whole yes maybe they didnt do it anything good. but thats how breeding has always been and will always be.
I just cant see it as an oh my they bred blues into the breed and now theyre ruined. Or a you crossed colors? Now youve polluted the gene pool forever.
Now that ive defended the crazy breeders i will add that if youre breeding birds that you dont understand the breeds SOP and their genetics i would bet if you were to study a little and get a better idea about your breed or breeds you would have more fun with them. Even if youre just going crazy mixing colors (which im currently doing with one breed) find out the genetics and what will happen when crossing certain colors. Some colors really dont work well when crossed with other certain colors. I have a lot of fun figuring out what new colors i can get from colors i have and i sure havent even made a dent in ruining my breed. Imo

 

[3riverschick]

This is an exceptional essay. Hits the nail on the head on every point.
Yes, I am a strict breed purist. Cut my teeth on breed purity when we bred collies for 15 yrs. Then we retired the kennel and I started in standard bred poultry. My first serious breed was Marans. Starting in 2009.
See post below for rest of post.

 

[3riverschick]

I watched as the clubs fought for supremacy. Watched *cheerleaders*in the breed advocate for all kinds of colors . Yet not enough breeders to keep them improving. It was and still is, sad. I am a rabid student of any creature I breed. I e joy the extensive research necessary to found a strain successfully. It is not in my universe to understand value in simply mixing colors and,/or breeds to see what happens..Or to *found* a breed which 99 percent will never accomplish. However, along the way to their failure, they will gleefully spread *project*chicks, eggs and birds to other novices and among the breed. Contaminating the breed gene Pool with unwanted modifiers and heterozygous birds. Which other newcomers don't know how to properly breed. I tried 5 times go get started in BBR Marans ( Golden Salmon) . Only to be defeated by breeders sending me stock which was so compromised in color, there was no carrying them forward. I learned and became even more demanding in my beliefs.
When I created the foundation for my Light Sussex , I found a new wellspring in 2 places of pure English strains. Then spent 100's of dollars aquiring and combining them. Creating a brand new foundation unrelated to any of the other US or Aussie strains.
It is never about the money, it is always, always about the breed. In my world, if one doesn't wish best for a breed, one should find something else to do.
BYC makes me.ittle crazy sometimes with the lassifaire (sp?) Attitudes and unlearnt things I read. I try to be helpful And show better ways of doing things.
Right now I am in the middle of a multi year project to create a better chick.
I am excited about it. Right now it is all theory and hypothesis but if it works on the same principles as the protocol I created for puppies, it will mark a turning point in the quality of life backyarders can give their chicks.
Best,
Karen

 

[The Moonshiner]

It is never about the money, it is always, always about the breed.

Thats a statement i couldnt agree more with.
We all like money and we would all like to be making money from a hobby or passion we have but when it becomes about money or we start counting on money from it thats probably imo the worst thing for breeding.
Money or hopes of it can make even the best breeders start to make bad decisions.

 

[3riverschick]

Yep. I cringe every time I see somebody online saying I can't wait to get more rare breed chickens so I can sell the chicks and make money.

 

[3riverschick]

I sure wish they can get that real light gold laced Basque back again. I did a lot of research on the breed and found a lot of information from Spain
that one is real rare color . I can't remember its name . it's actually named after the color of the stones in the area of the desert came from. is beautiful though, it was like a light lemon colored bird.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yep. I cringe every time I see somebody online saying I can't wait to get more rare breed chickens so I can sell the chicks and make money.

Ive seen breeders that were making real strides then when their birds started getting noticed and sought after seems everything went out the widow. Quit showing up at shows and started focusing on producing a lot of chicks and marketing.

Ya places like GFF makes a lot of people think they can quit their jobs in 6 months and retire on chicken richs.

 

[gootziecat]

Incase anyone is interested, there are Basque eggs on eBay right now, to go off in a day.

 

[3riverschick]

Incase anyone is interested, there are Basque eggs on eBay right now, to go off in a day.

Oh I wish I had room for them .they're such a great breed .I don't understand why they are not more popular . they are so friendly . everyone is looking for friendly chickens for their kids and these are super friendly, even the baby chicks