Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[Meg2000000]

FINALLY I got my hands in a couple young Basque chicks about around 2 weeks old. Thanks a lot to papabrooder for coming off of those chicks for us, it was really a favor. Here are the 2 chicks.. Chick #1 Chick #1 wing Chick #2 Chick #2 wing I'm hoping for 2 pullets. Can anyone see any early signs? I read the females have more of a grey wing coloring and males have the more black in the wing? If that'correct, i think I might have 1 boy and 1 girl. Either way I super excited to grow these out!!

They're sooo adorable!! Just looked back at my week two photos and both genders show the lighter and darker wing feathers. If I'm wrong I have some hidden roosters on my hands! Lol

Nice! Nice! I wish I would have known them before I picked them out Lol. But I'm happy they will grow up together, they're gonna be my first breeding pair in a few months. About how many weeks do the pullets start laying? Oh Ron my Rooster attacked my feet this morning. Lol. Idk what's wrong with him. You think he might be angry he's away from his old flock? Or did he ever challenge you? What should I do? Me and him are gonna have to learn to get along because this is home now. The first day I brought him home he was fine. He followed me around the garden for a few hours, he ate out of my hand and was super friendly. Do they have mood swings? Could it have been my white socks showing through my scandals?

He's probably just an annoying teen! Chema, my EO roo that's the same age as yours and is also from Ron, hasn't copped an attitude yet. Fingers crossed!

Good gracious, one of my EO pullets just laid her first egg and it is Plum coloured!!! Very pretty! Is this a normal colour for these girls to lay??

No way! How awesome!! How old is she?

 

[buckabucka]

It has what looks like a white powdery glaze and is a lovely purpley brown...... It is just impossible to get  a good photo that really shows the colour.  I don't have any white egg layers or I could photograph her egg up against the white ones so you could really see the" purpleyness".   Pretty....

Can you set is on a white cloth and take a picture?

I would really love to see it.

Ron

I'd love to see the egg too!

Yesterday, I heard a racket and looked in to see my dominant roo was mating one of the hens! It seems like that must be a sign that she is getting ready to lay (is it?).

I am using 5 gallon bucket nest boxes for the first time. Tha Ameraucanas, which are already laying, seem to like them. But every time I fill the Basque buckets with shavings, they eat them, fling them around and have a ball. The next day, the bucket is basically empty. I stopped putting more in there for a while, but want to be ready for that first egg!

 

[lawatt]

They're sooo adorable!! Just looked back at my week two photos and both genders show the lighter and darker wing feathers. If I'm wrong I have some hidden roosters on my hands! Lol

that's so interesting, Megan -- i'll hold off on any conclusions about the gender of my two, then!

 

[naturespace]

my one pullet started at 26 weeks and the other started at 22 weeks.
my cockerels didn't start dancing around the girls until 21 weeks or so.
one just started to crow at 23 weeks and the other still doesn't crow.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I'd love to see the egg too!

Yesterday, I heard a racket and looked in to see my dominant roo was mating one of the hens! It seems like that must be a sign that she is getting ready to lay (is it?).

I am using 5 gallon bucket nest boxes for the first time. Tha Ameraucanas, which are already laying, seem to like them. But every time I fill the Basque buckets with shavings, they eat them, fling them around and have a ball. The next day, the bucket is basically empty. I stopped putting more in there for a while, but want to be ready for that first egg!

Normally it is around two weeks after they start mating when you get the first egg. Of my three Easter hatch pullets, one is getting pink in the face. I don't think they will be red, but they are definately growing their wattles. No rooster action yet though.

Yours are very close!

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Quote: The wing feathers are the first ones that come in. You have to look at those within the first three days or so. The ones you see now will molt out and then the first real look will come in. Then there will be the third Mold that happens at around 16 weeks. Actually, I am still getting a feather change right now. My Cockerels are starting to change color as the new feathers come in.

They are beautiful. I will get pictures of the two I am processing this weekend so you can see what they look like.

Ron

 

[Maggiesdad]

my one pullet started at 26 weeks and the other started at 22 weeks.
my cockerels didn't start dancing around the girls until 21 weeks or so.
one just started to crow at 23 weeks and the other still doesn't crow.

He can crow, he's just laying low... doesn't want a butt whuppin!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Yes, I think that is going on with mine now. One crows and the other two don't.

Ron

 

[buckabucka]

Same situation here, one crowing, and now mating, the other I have caught crowing once, but it is unusual. The quiet one is bigger, but definitely not dominant.

 

[qball53]

Has anyone seen a floppy comb on their rooster? We have two nearly mature roosters and the biggest, prettiest one has a floppy comb. We have pulled him out and set him aside but dang I like everything about him except that comb!