Greetings from the very south of Europe!

[SoMississippi]

Welcome to BYC. I can sympathize on the dog causing some losses. We too have one that is murderous, and of course, she only kills the expensive show quality hens too, never the hatchery specials that you keep just for breakfast eggs! I guess it's the joy of free ranging your chickens, since the chickens went to the dog to meet their demise, as she was on a cable for their safety already. We've had to get creative to keep everyone happy.

 

[Stiletto]

I'm looking forward to seeing some of your photos, it's nice to have you here with us!

It's such a pleasant change to be somewhere where people actually want to see chicken photos! Thank you!

Thank you for the links @Meg-in-MT I'll be checking them out, I look forward to settling in a rocking chair and sifting through some of that experienced chicken wisdom.

Thank you! @Melky Spring is here!!

 

[Stiletto]

Welcome. Nice breeds. Are you anywhere near Catalonia? Have you seen Penedesencas or Empordanesas?

We're at the very other end of Spain, so over 100km (620 miles) away from Catalonia. I've not seen either of those breeds (I looked them up!) and the place I prefer to source chickens from does not list them in their Spanish breeds section.

In the south (Andalucía) the Andaluza Sureña (which predates the British Blue Andalusian) is popular, as well as other local variants (that I do not know enough about to write with any authority!) in different colours.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Closer to Portugal I guess. (1,000 km)
Most Mediterranean class breeds lay white or cream eggs.
The two breeds I mentioned are the exception to the rule. They are also the exception to the suggestion that chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs. Emps may have white earlobes but all Penedesencas are supposed to and both lay very dark eggs.
Also famous for the flavor of their meat, the black variety have their own festival the last weekend before Christmas in Vilafranca del Penedes called Fira del Gall (fair of the rooster). It is a big foodie event. Supposedly Catalonia is the oldest wine region of Europe.

 

[Stiletto]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. In answer to your question of what breed 007 Sean's avatar is, I believe it is called a "Prairie Chicken." He has a vast knowledge of birds, and raises some spectacular pheasant varieties.

Ah, I appreciate your letting me know! I Ducked it (I use DuckDuckGo as a search engine which is very fitting for this forum!) and when I saw some other pictures, I remembered seeing them in a documentary ages ago - those air sacks are very distinctive!

Thanks again for satisfying my curiosity!

 

[Stiletto]

Welcome to BYC. I can sympathize on the dog causing some losses.

Thank you ~ and a warm welcome to BYC to you too!

We too have one that is murderous, and of course, she only kills the expensive show quality hens too, never the hatchery specials that you keep just for breakfast eggs!

Ack! I can sympathise with that. Not long after we got him, our dog killed my favourite chicken. I remember thinking, why did it have to be that one?

I guess it's the joy of free ranging your chickens, since the chickens went to the dog to meet their demise, as she was on a cable for their safety already. We've had to get creative to keep everyone happy.

Oh gosh... of all places to wander to.
I do agree with you; there's a price to pay for freedom, there is risk involved. It's been a journey for me over the years to find a balance that feels right for me.

 

[Stiletto]

Closer to Portugal I guess. (1,000 km)
Most Mediterranean class breeds lay white or cream eggs.
The two breeds I mentioned are the exception to the rule. They are also the exception to the suggestion that chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs. Emps may have white earlobes but all Penedesencas are supposed to and both lay very dark eggs.
Also famous for the flavor of their meat, the black variety have their own festival the last weekend before Christmas in Vilafranca del Penedes called Fira del Gall (fair of the rooster). It is a big foodie event.

Ah, so cool! I do like the idea of dark eggs!

Previously I've have Spanish breeds: Pita Pinta Asturiana, Eskal Oiloa, Castellana Negra and Blue Andalusian. It had been my plan to keep to indigenous breeds, but after losing my little flock last year, I wanted to get more chickens sooner rather later and the Spanish breeds I'm interested have not been available where I'd buy them from. So, I went international this time!

I'll probably get two pullets this spring and already I was having difficulty deciding what indigenous breeds to go for ~ and you've just added to that! I don't know how possible it would be for me to source a Penedesca or Empordanesca, but it's in my awareness now.

Supposedly Catalonia is the oldest wine region of Europe.

I didn't know this! They do boast of some excellent wine regions.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Aloha! Glad you joined in! With your love of photography along with your love and experience of chickens in your exotic part of this planet- wow!!! Please share

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I like Minorcas, White Faced Black Spanish and Barbezieux too.
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Penes/BRKPenes.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Empord/BRKEmps.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/Barbez/BRKBarbezieux.html

Since the Penedesenca was brought back from extinction in the 1980s, they have also developed a larger black variety called the 'improved'. In the process of making them bigger, they lost the dark egg and the white earlobe of the 'classic' variety.
If you happen to stumble across breeders of classic blacks in your travels, please let me know. Some day I'll be going there to bring more eggs back.

 

[Stiletto]

Aloha! Glad you joined in! With your love of photography along with your love and experience of chickens in your exotic part of this planet- wow!!! Please share

Back at you!! Wow, Hawaii!!

*giggles* You say "Aloha", I say "Hola"...
(I'm kidding around. I remember reading that Aloha has deep and nuanced meaning ~ a beautiful word!)

It's a pleasure to "meet" you!