Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[naturespace]

I hope to get some EO's next Spring.  Right now I have too many chickens (Jaerhons, production reds, EE's and a few others - I like them all) and we can't eat all the eggs so some of our new laying pullets will go up on Craigslist.  The EO's sound like such the perfect farm free ranging chicken.  I'm thinking about standardizing on mainly that breed.  Seem so perfect, lay a lot of eggs, don't eat too much, great foragers, broody and raise their own chicks, extra roosters good for the table, very friendly birds...  what else is there?

As side note, I noticed a couple of you from Northern California.  I was born in Woodland and grew up in Orland!

Jerry

Hi Jerry, looks like you pretty close to me. I'm in Virgina near Staunton. I think you will like the breed a lot.

 

[ronott1]

I hope to get some EO's next Spring. Right now I have too many chickens (Jaerhons, production reds, EE's and a few others - I like them all) and we can't eat all the eggs so some of our new laying pullets will go up on Craigslist. The EO's sound like such the perfect farm free ranging chicken. I'm thinking about standardizing on mainly that breed. Seem so perfect, lay a lot of eggs, don't eat too much, great foragers, broody and raise their own chicks, extra roosters good for the table, very friendly birds... what else is there?

As side note, I noticed a couple of you from Northern California. I was born in Woodland and grew up in Orland!

Jerry

You will love them!

I was Born in Red Bluff and moved to Corning During my Junior year in High School. I worked for Safeway as a Meat Clerk until 1992. Orland is the next town to the South from Corning on I-5. In 1992 we moved to Woodland, CA.

It is a small world!

 

[JerryR]

You will love them!

I was Born in Red Bluff and moved to Corning During my Junior year in High School. I worked for Safeway as a Meat Clerk until 1992. Orland is the next town to the South from Corning on I-5. In 1992 we moved to Woodland, CA.

It is a small world!

Oh wow Ron. Isn't that something? I worked at Corning a couple of summers at Sunsweet (long time ago!) and used to drive by Red Bluff all the time in my way to Shasta College.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I worked at the dehydrator in Corning one summer while I was going to Shasta college!

 

[JerryR]

I worked at the dehydrator in Corning one summer while I was going to Shasta college!

I did too! I drove forklift, unloading the bins of prunes and feeding the big machine. That would have been 1971 and 1972. Maybe 1970 too.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I worked there during the summer of 1979, so not too much after you. Growing up, we were members of Sunsweet too. We took our fruit to Red Bluff but my Grandfather often took his to Corning or even Yuba City depending on where his "Shares" would allow him to go.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

I have had many broodies and a few I let raise babies. They have all been fabulous Moms. We just butchered 26 Euskal Oiloa Roos this weekend and they averaged 4-5 lbs at 20- 25 weeks. I roasted two and the meat was perfect! Tender and full of flavour. Not tough and not.... Squishy like grocery store Frankenchicken

That must have been a project with 26 roosters.. Frankenchicken..

Oh how I hope I end up with some broodies!

 

[PatS]

Happy December 1st!

How many Basque hens of laying age do you have and how many eggs do you expect they'll give you today?

 

[Maggiesdad]

Happy December 1st!

How many Basque hens of laying age do you have and how many eggs do you expect they'll give you today?

My one year old girls (5) have stopped, and are in full molt. So, If they are on holiday for the next 8-10 wks, they'll need to avg 4 and 5 eggs per week to maintain their 200-220 standard...

My pullets (6) are just coming into lay and are hit and miss, but the little eggs are sooo cute!

 

[Flat Rock farm]

Happy Dec. 1st. PatS

5 mature hens that have just come out of a molt, get maybe 2 a day from them. 15 young pullets and have been getting about 6 a day on average sometimes less. I have started lighting the barn so they have longer daylight hours.