Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[mzstre]

We are noticing some issues so far with two of our 4 week old Marraduna basque chicks. We hatched these from egg bought from a well known breeder of this breed. So far two of the chicks have developed a slipped hock joint on one leg..the leg kicks out to the side twists around and goes back. We have tried splinting these, but don't know if we'll have much luck ever getting them to walk properly especially when they get heavier. We are not sure if this is a inherited trait that is being expressed especially since the gene pool for this breed is so limited? Has anyone else here noticed any leg joint issues with their birds?

I have not had any splayed leg or joint issues.

 

[Maggiesdad]

I've been thinking about adding Basque to my flock of Opringtons and Australorps. Are Basques a loud breed? (When laying eggs and when not laying). I tried looking for videos on Youtube of what they sound like but they all have music playing in the background. Thanks!

The cocks crank it up pretty incessantly around here, but the hens are pretty laid back. They are not as loud as my Australorp girls, when one hen sings - everybody sings! Only the Basque hen that just laid sings in my flock.

 

[1muttsfan]

I had 2 birds last summer (out of 48 eggs) with tendon issues. My personal advice is to cull them now if they can't stand on the affected leg - they will not thrive. Hopefully this is not going to be a breed issue, and I will be watching my hatchlings for signs of leg problems.

 

[ashandvine]

The cocks crank it up pretty incessantly around here, but the hens are pretty laid back. They are not as loud as my Australorp girls, when one hen sings - everybody sings! Only the Basque hen that just laid sings in my flock.

I find mine to be really quiet in comparison to others here. I find the BCM to be the most noisy, but they all are in the morning. Its like a competition to see who can get the last crow in!

 

[Maggiesdad]

I had 2 birds last summer (out of 48 eggs) with tendon issues. My personal advice is to cull them now if they can't stand on the affected leg - they will not thrive. Hopefully this is not going to be a breed issue, and I will be watching my hatchlings for signs of leg problems.

My original hatch from late 2011 (purchased hatching eggs) had a couple with leg tendon issues. Subsequent hatches from this starter stock has shown similar results and other issues that point to inbreeding depression. Culling hard here for vigor.

Worthwhile things often are not necessarily easy.

 

[zekii]

My original hatch from late 2011 (purchased hatching eggs) had a couple with leg tendon issues. Subsequent hatches from this starter stock has shown similar results and other issues that point to inbreeding depression. Culling hard here for vigor.

Worthwhile things often are not necessarily easy.

Ok...we really like this breed, the chicks are so calm & friendly, but the leg issue so far has been
very upsetting. Hopefully some new blood will surface to supplement the old.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Quote: Agree. I've had to cull quite a few chicks with leg problems from my last few hatches. It very well may be inbreeding depression. I have also considered that these leg issues seem to occur more with pullet eggs than hen eggs.

 

[FROMWHITEDOGHILL]

On all the EO's I've hatched, last year and this year, I have had ZERO joint or leg issues. I am breeding Greenfire birds to Skyline birds.............no crooked beaks, no feather stubs, very few, if any side sprigs...........so far the only complaint about EO's I have is the price of feed!!!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Agree. I've had to cull quite a few chicks with leg problems from my last few hatches. It very well may be inbreeding depression. I have also considered that these leg issues seem to occur more with pullet eggs than hen eggs.

On all the EO's I've hatched, last year and this year, I have had ZERO joint or leg issues. I am breeding Greenfire birds to Skyline birds.............no crooked beaks, no feather stubs, very few, if any side sprigs...........so far the only complaint about EO's I have is the price of feed!!!

Thank you all for the heads up!

I will be getting the first 10 days of hatching eggs into the incubator on Sunday so I will be looking for these problems 21 days from them!

I will be getting some un related Marraduna to cross with my Skyline Basque later this year.

 

[zekii]

Where would you say we could find some unrelated to Skyline Basque? If I cull the two chicks with leg issues that will leave
us with 5 to grow out, hopefully we'll get both pullets & cockerels.