Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[Maggiesdad]

...I don't know if recessive white can be used to lighten anything. It was my understanding that is is sort of an on/off-type thing - either you have two copies of the recessive gene and you are white or you have one copy and are a normal-colored carrier. ...

That's the way I understand it, too - Recessive white is like a primer coat on a car's paint job... you can't see it through the dominant color. But put two coats of that on there with no real color and - boop - there it is! So we know Mr Black carries a recessive white... I'll have to do some trapnesting to isolate which hen.

 

[buckabucka]

If you'd like to see how standardized a Spanish flock actually is, check out http://www.euskalroots.eu/galeria/gallery.html and click on "fotos" for a great slideshow.  EOs are shown in Spanish poultry shows and have a Spanish standard.

I don't know if recessive white can be used to lighten anything.  It was my understanding that is is sort of an on/off-type thing - either you have two copies of the recessive gene and you are white or you have one copy and are a normal-colored carrier. 

A side sprig is a point, or even just a bump, in the comb that is out of line and pops out of the side of the comb.  Hmm... here's a picture.

I guess I didn't realize (until I looked at the photos) that the hens are not supposed to have speckles.

I have a rooster much like yours that you call "way too dark" and mine is also very assertive. His comb is nice and his legs are bright yellow. He's the one I am working with each day, and sometimes he behaves well, and other times I think he needs to go.

My only other rooster choices though, are a big, rather pale guy with white legs, or a smallish guy, who's feather-coloring is very nice, legs are straw. The small one is petrified of me and he's in a grow out pen with other roosters. On days that the other two roosters (in with the hens) are feisty, I start to think maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a petrified rooster. I have about 6 more weeks to make a final decision.

 

[ronott1]

I will post some pictures of Seiji. How is his comb?





Ron

 

[MonsterClucker]

Seiji is such a good looking Rooster!

 

[bayocum]

Except, this race of poulry was bred to type and standardized by the Spanish Government,. Marraduna is a color, not a simple color cropping up from a landrace. The folk who "Made" this breed from the Basque landraces knew what they were doing and did standardize the colors. Now if one were working on Llodana(sp?) Basque, maybe white would crop up. Marraduna is a gold chicken, not a white chicken.
Karen

Karen,
Not to belabor this too much, but the point I'm making is that the "folk" who raised this breed were looking for the ultimate dual purpose bird to support their needs, and color was not the concern. So I would disagree slightly about those who "Made" this breed. It was the decades of Basque farmers who "Made" the breed, not the recent decision to select for a standard. It wasn't until the 1970's that Fernando Orozco decided to try and preserve this "farmyard" breed. The birds were "selected that exhibited different colors to get different varieties. The study and selection continued into the eighties." It wasn't until the 90's that the Basque government selected four varieties and one naked neck version, and the "standard" wasn't drafted until 2000. That said, I appreciate your concern for conformance, and even though I believe that the "true heritage" of this bird is a farmyard landrace where color is unimportant, I support the efforts of all my Basque amigos who want to develop a standard for show in the U.S. I would not sell hatching eggs from my lovely white hen, but will continue to enjoy her as part of my farmyard flock. (source: click here). Also, check out this month's Greenfire newsletter, dated August 12: "Reading the SOP for first time, one is left with the impression that the natural state of chickens is to conform to these rigorous and detailed standards. But, reality is quite different. The natural state of chickens is to change, not remain the same." (source: Greenfire Farms, August 2012 newsletter)

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Thank you bayocum. The thing that I like the most about the basque is that they still have Utility. I am also working towards keeping heat hardy breeds since it is so hot here. I am switching from Marans to These Spanish breeds. I am going to try Penes again soon.

Ron

 

[FOGELLY]

Thank you bayocum. The thing that I like the most about the basque is that they still have Utility. I am also working towards keeping heat hardy breeds since it is so hot here. I am switching from Marans to These Spanish breeds. I am going to try Penes again soon.

Ron

Ron,
Thanks for your kind words on our yellow legged cockerel.
We also are looking for a hardy utility bird, and our Basque are fast becoming one of our favorites. They really handle the heat here, along with our Heritage RIR. Our Colombian Rocks suffer the most I think.
Last week we over a 100 every day and one day it was 115. We lost a few Rocks that day, the EO's handled it very well. I now have a misting system on all the pens.
Our EO's maturing very fast, have good meaty bodies, and if they will lay as advertised their place here will be secure.

Ron

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Karen,
Not to belabor this too much, but the point I'm making is that the "folk" who raised this breed were looking for the ultimate dual purpose bird to support their needs, and color was not the concern. So I would disagree slightly about those who "Made" this breed. It was the decades of Basque farmers who "Made" the breed, not the recent decision to select for a standard. It wasn't until the 1970's that Fernando Orozco decided to try and preserve this "farmyard" breed. The birds were "selected that exhibited different colors to get different varieties. The study and selection continued into the eighties." It wasn't until the 90's that the Basque government selected four varieties and one naked neck version, and the "standard" wasn't drafted until 2000. That said, I appreciate your concern for conformance, and even though I believe that the "true heritage" of this bird is a farmyard landrace where color is unimportant, I support the efforts of all my Basque amigos who want to develop a standard for show in the U.S. I would not sell hatching eggs from my lovely white hen, but will continue to enjoy her as part of my farmyard flock. (source: click here). Also, check out this month's Greenfire newsletter, dated August 12: "Reading the SOP for first time, one is left with the impression that the natural state of chickens is to conform to these rigorous and detailed standards. But, reality is quite different. The natural state of chickens is to change, not remain the same." (source: Greenfire Farms, August 2012 newsletter)

Bayocum, you've done a great job with your research. If you are interested, there is a great history at http://euskaloiloa.wordpress.com/retrospectiva/, which is in Spanish, so you can read a translation here: http://translate.google.com/transla...kaloiloa.wordpress.com/retrospectiva/&act=url

The breed, Euskal Oiloa, comes in four colors or types (beltza [black], zilarra [Colombian], gorria [red], and marraduna [barred red]). The marraduna variety was imported to Canada and has trickled down. The name "Euskal Oiloa" is in Basque and literally translates to "Basque Hen." This name is associated with the breed itself as created by Orozco and the Basque government, so Karen is correct. Just like how Marans are named as such because of their region, "Basque Hen" refers to the breed rather than the landrace in general. If you want to refer to the less differentiated farmyard birds originally found and utilized in the Basque region, maybe we could use a different term, like "traditional Basque chickens" or "Basque fowl," to avoid unnecessary conflict over something we all essentially agree about.

I think all of my EOs are beautiful. I want to steer away from the recessive white for my flock because I free range and white chickens don't do as well with predators. However, it might be a great advantage to someone who wanted to focus on the meat aspects of the bird and wanted a cleaner-looking carcass. I will keep all of the colors I enjoy, but when I am breeding, I will choose breeders with a different set of criteria.

 

[Meg2000000]

I'll have to go out and get some better pictures of the chicks from your flock later today. I can't find anything good, but here's a couple.

I have 10 chicks from you, 9 of which are EOs. Can you see which one does not belong?

The Australorp cockerel is gorgeous, though - shiny black-green like a feathered beetle. There are five cockerels - one Australorp, three recessive whites, and the fellow in the foreground. There are 5 pullets - 2 nice, golden, Marraduna colored (left front and left rear above); a "mille fleur" pullet;a light, milky-colored pullet; and one of Rosie's (the chicks under my broody are smaller for some reason so a little behind in growth) which looks to be a more brown or deer-colored pullet.

Let me say, MD, that I am THRILLED with them.

Here's a few more lousy shots. I'll try to do better later today. My husband and I are looking at land in the Ozarks right now and trying to put in an offer, and I am applying to go back to graduate school full-time next fall, so things are sort of insane around here.

Here's one of the cockerel with the "mille fleur" colored pullet on the left.


Here's the light "milky" colored pullet. They all have nice, yellow legs.


As for my older, Skyline birds, I'm thinking I'll keep this cockerel. He was the tiny one, if you remember, but he's caught up and has more width in the back. He's got a calmer temperament, the best coloring, and nice yellow legs. His comb points are not evenly distributed - I'm not a real fan of his comb, and the pinched tails are killing me. I'm not 100% decided.


Here's my other possible guy from the Skyline birds. Way too dark, but more even comb, decent size compared to the others, yellow legs, a bit assertive. Longer tail feathers, but just as pinched.


Okay. I'll try to take some pictures of the chicks later today.

Great pictures! Gorgeous flock!!

I will post some pictures of Seiji. How is his comb?



Ron

Seiji is so handsome Ron!!

 

[Meg2000000]

Thank you everyone for the answers about side sprig! I'm keeping an eye out for that! I took some pictures of our one week old chicks!


Basques:
EO Black:


EO Blue:


EO Brown:


EO Green:


EO Orange:


EO Pink:


EO Purple:


EO Red:



Pita Pintas:
PP Blue:


PP Green:


PP Orange:


PP Pink:


PP Red:


PP White:



Ok I'm done being a post hog tonight! LOL