Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[ChestnutRidge]

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I can't wait!!! Patience, patience, I tell myself. All things in good time... That said, I am going to look at the calendar and see if I can finagle a plan for earlier hatching into my schedule....

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Awesome! Congratulations, and be sure to keep us updated - with pics!!!

Also, come join us over on the EO forum - http://forums.euskaloiloas.com/

 

[flowerchild59]

I really like that mille fleur pattern. I am sure I butchered the spelling.

 

[cherylcohen]

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Nope you did fine, Mille Fleur is spelled correctly. I raise heritage mille fleur leghorns

 

[salunra]

Hi folks,

I am curious about the basque hens. I stumbled on them on the Greenfire website during my weekly "drooling over the swedish flower hen".

Greenfire recommends the Flower hens over the basque as a free range homestead bird because they find the flower hens to be more personable and outgoing.While everything I see here says the basque are very social. I am really trying to decide between these two breeds and I did not know if anyone here had experience with both and could give me some insight.

Thanks!

 

[lagunitas]

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hi salunra,

i have both and they are equally "personable and outgoing". the swedes warmed up to me a little quicker than the marraduna's but i've come to find that the latter truly are not frightened of my presence and so they never really cared if i was near them or not. in that regard, i'd have to say the EO's top the swedes because there's a whole layer of intelligence and awareness built in there that (dare i write) no other chicken possesses. the swedes are a little bit flashier with their unique color patterns and crests, etc, but then again the EO's have a bit of that going on as well.
think of it this way; EO's are independent & laid back while the swedes are their super cute and bubbly cousins. if i had to choose between the two, i'd say GET BOTH.

 

[salunra]

LOL! I would love to get both, but right now I am not equipped to hatch and at $19/chick from Greenfire I need to pick one for this year and then maybe try for the other next year.

 

[lagunitas]

Hmm. Well ya never know, sometimes folks have a surplus of chicks so keep your eyes peeled...

 

[salunra]

That is very sweet.

We do not actually have any chickens yet. But my son has been obsessed with the idea of keeping chicks for 2 yrs now. We were going to get chicks last year, but had a death in the family and are now getting back on our feet. We have five acres and I am working on setting up a mini-homestead. I've got my veggie garden in last year, fencing up, my husband is a carpenter and has plans drawn up for our brooder and coop. I even have the most wonderful, well mannered, amazing great pyrenees. We're getting bees in the spring and I'll be plantings the beginnings of my orchard.

THEN in the summer I *promised* my boy we would be getting our chicks. We have been looking over websites, learning everything that we can, and trying to make our final decision on breeds. It's all so very excited and my little farm boy who loves compost and chickens and digging in the mud is beside himself excited. He asks at least twice a week when we'll have our chicks.

Anyhow.... that's my little introduction. I'll certainly be lurking here regularly. I love my pyr and since the basque hens come from the same region I am intrigued by them. The more I learn about them the more curious I am.

Thanks so much for the welcome,
Salunra

 

[Skeffling Lavender Farm]

Hey Welcome Salunra! What an exciting time. Glad you are getting back on your feet! I don't have the Swedish flower chickens, so can't compare them, but it sounds like you cant; lose whichever you choose. You have it down to 2 fine breeds.

I am so excited, it looks like myself and 2 other Euskal Oiloas Crazies from up here in the Great White North are going on a road trip to Richmond, Virginia early March (like 2nd) to meet Maggies Dad, Chestnut Ridge, and Naturespace. They'll get to meet each other too! What fun! It's amazing what this breed inspires you to do! Seems like a certain great kind of people get them! I'd love to see anyone else who'll be in the area or it's not to far to do the Euskal pilgrimage!

Put my honeys in the breeding pens now, thought I'd post pics
Speckled Jim and the girls




Sonny Jim and the Moms they just got the black after their molt, he is such a cuddly lad!

 

[skylinepoultry]

The birds are looking good Claire. I'm not keen on the Sweds as of yet. Right now I'm focused on EO's and my Projects more than anything. Thanks for the insight lagunitas between the two breeds. I love my EO's! I couldn't imagine not ever having them. As far as in chick prices for them. I sell EO'S chicks at $8.00 a piece. $19.00 a chick is a little to much for any chick.