Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[Maggiesdad]

Yes, all white feathers (wing or sickle) are a no no. We are eating our cockerels here, they are yummy!

Not a crime - a requisite for improving the breed!

 

[naturespace]

many people do eat them.

White sickle feathers or large sections of white are hard to get rid of. Every cock i've seen has them by the time they are a year old.

 

[ashandvine]

Yes, all white feathers (wing or sickle) are a no no. We are eating our cockerels here, they are yummy!

Not a crime - a requisite for improving the breed!

Maggiesday-- always nice to see you. Great point. Thanks.

many people do eat them.

White sickle feathers or large sections of white are hard to get rid of. Every cock i've seen has them by the time they are a year old.

This is a relief to hear. It isn't just my favorite cock then.

 

[OR4-hmom]

According to USPS we have eggs coming today! Now the wait continues, hoping for a good hatch and more girls than boys.

 

[HaplessRunner]

Maggiesdad,

Thanks for the pointers on sexing my chicks. At week 5, one is showing thicker legs and the beginnings of pink in the comb. He is also showing some nice colors. I will post pics when I get a chance. He is very friendly and climbs into my hand.

I have another, possible pullet, that is very light with significant white on her back. I have also noted that here legs are whitish. The other four EOs have very nice yellow legs. Based on discussions here, it sounds like this pullet may be a cull or has an egg laying future with my egg layers. The other three chicks have thinner legs and their combs have not shown any development yet.

Is there an EO organization? I see that you a few other posters are from Virginia as I am. Was wondering if there was in efforts to organize the EO family.

 

[FROMWHITEDOGHILL]

............I'm not Maggiesdad...at least Glen doesn't know it if I am!!!!

......but you are right smack in the middle of Basque Country USA. I'm sure Maggiesdad or Naturespace will contact you. They both are active in our organization and both very knowledgeable about EO's. Both also have NICE birds too...........stay tuned........they will contact you..............BTW.......WELCOME Mike

 

[Maggiesdad]

Maggiesdad,

Thanks for the pointers on sexing my chicks. At week 5, one is showing thicker legs and the beginnings of pink in the comb. He is also showing some nice colors. I will post pics when I get a chance. He is very friendly and climbs into my hand.

I have another, possible pullet, that is very light with significant white on her back. I have also noted that here legs are whitish. The other four EOs have very nice yellow legs. Based on discussions here, it sounds like this pullet may be a cull or has an egg laying future with my egg layers. The other three chicks have thinner legs and their combs have not shown any development yet.

Is there an EO organization? I see that you a few other posters are from Virginia as I am. Was wondering if there was in efforts to organize the EO family.

There's a loose knit group of us here , you are welcome to join us! Some of our friends from up north will be down for the Gilmanor Swap may 4th.

Back when I was just getting into this breed, we had some fun trying to sex youngsters here , there are three other threads linked to that one... it's still a good reference for sexing. Those chicks were from Skyline hatching eggs. The feathering can still throw you off at 5 wks.

Oh - and drop by over here and say howdy!

 

[Flat Rock farm]

Can't wait for the Gilmanor, will nice to see some familiar faces and hopefully some new ones

 

[buckabucka]

I tried hatching some of my own Basque eggs for the first time with mixed results.

I have two hens and set 5 eggs from each. The eggs were treated the same throughout the incubation period. All 10 were fertile and developing. At lockdown, I put the 5 from hen #1 in one incubator with some Ameraucana eggs. The 5 from hen #2 went into a different incubator (although same brand) with some olive eggers.

All of hen #1's eggs hatched, as did all the Ameraucanas they were with.

Hen #2, three chicks made it, but that was only because I helped them out. The other two were very late deaths. One never pipped and it is still in the incubator "just in case". I float tested it and it did not move. One pipped, zipped for about an inch and died. I peeled off much of the shell afterward, and it is fully formed. The other three zipped further, but could not get out of the egg. I helped them out after waiting a day and they look good so far. All other eggs in that same incubator hatched without issue.

I'm wondering why this might have happened. Do you think it could have anything to do with the hen, or is it likely some other issue or even some coincidence? This hen lays a bigger egg than the other hen, and the stuck chicks were really packed in there, although I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. Can malpositioned chicks be an inherited trait? I'm not even sure they were malpositioned, but they certainly couldn't kick their way out, and the membrane was not stuck to them (although it was drying out from sitting half-zipped for a day.

I would love to hear some insight from more experienced hatchers!

 

[ronott1]

I tried hatching some of my own Basque eggs for the first time with mixed results.

I have two hens and set 5 eggs from each. The eggs were treated the same throughout the incubation period. All 10 were fertile and developing. At lockdown, I put the 5 from hen #1 in one incubator with some Ameraucana eggs. The 5 from hen #2 went into a different incubator (although same brand) with some olive eggers.

All of hen #1's eggs hatched, as did all the Ameraucanas they were with.

Hen #2, three chicks made it, but that was only because I helped them out. The other two were very late deaths. One never pipped and it is still in the incubator "just in case". I float tested it and it did not move. One pipped, zipped for about an inch and died. I peeled off much of the shell afterward, and it is fully formed. The other three zipped further, but could not get out of the egg. I helped them out after waiting a day and they look good so far. All other eggs in that same incubator hatched without issue.

I'm wondering why this might have happened. Do you think it could have anything to do with the hen, or is it likely some other issue or even some coincidence? This hen lays a bigger egg than the other hen, and the stuck chicks were really packed in there, although I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. Can malpositioned chicks be an inherited trait? I'm not even sure they were malpositioned, but they certainly couldn't kick their way out, and the membrane was not stuck to them (although it was drying out from sitting half-zipped for a day.

I would love to hear some insight from more experienced hatchers!

I have two incubators too. My guess is that there was an issue with the incubator-temps slightly off or not holding temps steady from day to night.

OEs will hatch better under not perfect conditions because of hybrid vigor. EEs and OEs are tough little buggers and recommended for first time hatchers.

I hope the next hatch goes better!