Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[Flat Rock farm]

Started with 10, kept 2 pullets and got a cockerel from another source.
This is our breeding trio - the pullets come from GFF descendants and the cockerel comes from skyline descendants. I'm happy with our starting point. Just need more pullets!

VERY nice start!!

 

[CackleJoy]

That's a really good start! I like the barring on the first pullet. Does your boy have yellow legs? Track the offspring of the two pullets if you can, watching for who has yellow legs and more open tail. Try to move away from the pinched tail.

Thank you for the tips on the tail. If I can add more pullets, I'll try to choose some with open tails. The boy has lovely yellow legs. I should have remembered not to crop them off I wasn't sure that the barring was good on the pullets. That makes me happy not to have to stick with a solid ginger, because I like the color variation in that barring. Thanks again for the tips. These are the friendliest birds!

 

[CackleJoy]

VERY nice start!!

Thank you! We are excited to work with this breed!

 

[Maggiesdad]

That's a really good start! I like the barring on the first pullet. Does your boy have yellow legs? Track the offspring of the two pullets if you can, watching for who has yellow legs and more open tail. Try to move away from the pinched tail.

Thank you for the tips on the tail. If I can add more pullets, I'll try to choose some with open tails. The boy has lovely yellow legs. I should have remembered not to crop them off I wasn't sure that the barring was good on the pullets. That makes me happy not to have to stick with a solid ginger, because I like the color variation in that barring. Thanks again for the tips. These are the friendliest birds!

I wasn't saying to add more pullets - by all means use those girls unless you come up with something better!

The open tail is indicative of a better layer. The APA SOP delves into the structure of the bird underneath the feathers in the front section.
Are those girls laying yet? If not, take note of how many eggs per week they are laying after they have been laying steadily for 30 days. The when your pullets from this trio come on line, check them at POL+30 and compare to see if they are better than their mommas... that's what I was getting at!

I'd use that trio in a heartbeat.

 

[CackleJoy]

I wasn't saying to add more pullets - by all means use those girls unless you come up with something better!

The open tail is indicative of a better layer. The APA SOP delves into the structure of the bird underneath the feathers in the front section.
Are those girls laying yet? If not, take note of how many eggs per week they are laying after they have been laying steadily for 30 days. The when your pullets from this trio come on line, check them at POL+30 and compare to see if they are better than their mommas... that's what I was getting at!

I'd use that trio in a heartbeat.

Oh I plan to use these girls. But I was really aiming for an excuse to add more pullets!

Thank you for explaining the tail width issues. Interesting when you thing about a world class layer - leghorn type - and their lovely tails! I'm waiting anxiously for those eggs! They are from October hatch, almost 6 months! Waiting and waiting! I think I need to go put some Easter eggs in the nesting boxes.

 

[CackleJoy]

We got an egg!!!

 

[Flat Rock farm]

We got an egg!!!

 

[ronott1]

We got an egg!!!

That is very eggciting!

 

[stake]

Hey Folks:

I've decided to re-home my #2roo...he's about 10mos old, hasn't ever crowed, but, I do not have enough adult girls to support two boys. He's a Maraduna Basque, that I got from Motherhen,,,,He doesn't have a mean bone in his body but will only occasionally will eat out of your hand...he most definitely needs a free range situation and isn't suited for a pen...I have a situation worked out for him, but, if somebody is interested in good starter breeding stock, that'd be him...PM me if you have an interest....(PS, he has bigger tail feathers, but the fox got a handful of them)

 

[chickeemama]

I just bought a pair of these beauties at a local exotic animal swap. I was so impressed by the Rooster's color and pattern, brought them home, she laid and egg yesterday and today.....both were fertile! Yippee, plan on hatching some of these beauties later this spring. I am just so excited, had not planned on a new breed for spring, but what the heck, they are just plain purty.
I will get some pictures of them soon and post them.