Poultry Breeds of Spanish Ancestry

[gjensen]

Lacy, as far as going to the show, it will depend on the day before and that morning. That is the way this stuff is. This stuff waxes and wanes, flares and remits. It runs the gamut between being completely disabling and partially disabling. I am getting better at dealing with it, but the mornings are the toughest. Takes a while to get it all leveled out. It seams that I can push it and instigate a flare, so I should be careful. I have to be at Duke that Monday for a long an very uncomfortable test.

I am guessing that by the fall shows, this will be better managed. That is my goal right now. With this, you are looking for small victories. I would really like to show a few birds, and get around some more poultry people.

That was thoughtful of you to notice and comment. Thank you.

And back to your birds . . .

There is no way I could name the birds. I am a sucker as it is.

Egg eating is tough to deal with. Good luck. I hope that busting the party up, and making a change will turn it around. Maybe you can find an instigator . . . . I do not know. I have ideas, but no good advice.

I want to see them all growing out. As far as I know, no one around here raises them.

Did you see the Andalusions posted on showbird? They were amazing. I did not know there was any out there like that. If I were you, I would track them, and see what come of them.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Lacy, as far as going to the show, it will depend on the day before and that morning. That is the way this stuff is. This stuff waxes and wanes, flares and remits. It runs the gamut between being completely disabling and partially disabling. I am getting better at dealing with it, but the mornings are the toughest. Takes a while to get it all leveled out. It seams that I can push it and instigate a flare, so I should be careful. I have to be at Duke that Monday for a long an very uncomfortable test.

I am guessing that by the fall shows, this will be better managed. That is my goal right now. With this, you are looking for small victories. I would really like to show a few birds, and get around some more poultry people.

That was thoughtful of you to notice and comment. Thank you.

And back to your birds . . .

There is no way I could name the birds. I am a sucker as it is.

Egg eating is tough to deal with. Good luck. I hope that busting the party up, and making a change will turn it around. Maybe you can find an instigator . . . . I do not know. I have ideas, but no good advice.

I want to see them all growing out. As far as I know, no one around here raises them.

Did you see the Andalusions posted on showbird? They were amazing. I did not know there was any out there like that. If I were you, I would track them, and see what come of them.

No, I didn't see them. I generally forget that showbird exists as the times that I check there are few to no birds listed. But I will check it out. Thank you.

I try not to name them. But it drives me crazy to refer to them as "that male in this pen" or "that big male that I showed you earlier" and I don't have any numbered bands for them right now... so some of them have names.

Just went and looked and I see no Andalusians. But it seems a bit difficult. Maybe its just me. I'm not up for looking through 25 pages of files and a lot of them just say birds for sale, instead of listing the breed. I seem to remember it being easier to find the classified listings... maybe I'm just brain-dead today.

 

[gjensen]

No, I didn't see them. I generally forget that showbird exists as the times that I check there are few to no birds listed. But I will check it out. Thank you.

I try not to name them. But it drives me crazy to refer to them as "that male in this pen" or "that big male that I showed you earlier" and I don't have any numbered bands for them right now... so some of them have names.

Just went and looked and I see no Andalusians. But it seems a bit difficult. Maybe its just me. I'm not up for looking through 25 pages of files and a lot of them just say birds for sale, instead of listing the breed. I seem to remember it being easier to find the classified listings... maybe I'm just brain-dead today.

They were in the med section. I think. I will dig it up and let you know. You would appreciate them.

 

[gjensen]

With permission, I decided to post these comments. They reflect my experience.



Hi George,

Thought that I'd check in and see how you're doing. I wanted to let you know that I am absolutely loving my Catalanas. They have way out-performed all the other breeds here this (nasty) winter so far. I was so worried about the rooster's combs and wattles getting frost-bite, but they have actually fared the best of all. They barely have any damage while all my other roos with smaller head gear do. The hens have been laying like champs all winter. And, I love these roosters, they are such gentlemen. They don't go around constantly raping the hens, but instead just do the job that they are supposed to and the girls love them. Some of them got a little scared/flighty for their "teenage" spell, but they have calmed back down and are all friendly again.

I just cannot understand how this breed is not more popular. They seem to have everything going for them.

Lisa


I believe that this could be true for a lot of our birds, and we should be mindful of the reputation that we contribute to.

 

[Lacy Blues]

So, say I was to start selecting for that temperament... I always cull mean birds but I had never considered culling scared birds before a couple of weeks ago and I've been pondering it...

The first ones to cull for being scared are those that see you afar off and take off in the other direction? Or those that always hide when you come in the building?

What's the first step?

 

[gjensen]

So, say I was to start selecting for that temperament... I always cull mean birds but I had never considered culling scared birds before a couple of weeks ago and I've been pondering it...

The first ones to cull for being scared are those that see you afar off and take off in the other direction? Or those that always hide when you come in the building?

What's the first step?

I think it is a matter of knowing your birds. Obviously whatever strain tendencies you have, you have. So much of the bird's behavior depends on how they are managed etc. I do not picture getting too deep into it, but I am mindful of it. I have a pullet that may go. I liked her enough to keep her, but she is more difficult than the rest. Since I have an option, why would I want more that are difficult to manage?

If all is equal, I would only be concerned with the extremes. Personality tendencies is heritable. Just like with people. How they were raised and managed has an influence to, but the tendencies are passed along.

I know that I did not say anything helpful. I do not know your birds etc. I would only suggest that we are mindful of it, and stay away from the extreme cases. They are no fun to own. Not for us or who we might pass them along to.

Part of what I wanted communicated is that our birds do in fact have potential. They are good birds to own. Productive birds that are easy to manage, and have personality. They are sharp birds. They are what a chicken should be.

I can't say enough about how pleased I am with these birds.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

here are a few babies
3 empordanesa
4 crele 1 boy and 3 girls

 

[Hangtown Farms]

hatched a real light color crele boy. First I have seen this light. From a egg I hatched from a friend over my hens

 

[Hangtown Farms]

also some Empordanesa and Crele Penedesenca x Silver Ameraucana crosses

 

[Lacy Blues]

hatched a real light color crele boy. First I have seen this light. From a egg I hatched from a friend over my hens

Are you going to keep him? He is quite different isn't he? I like him! His foot color matches the rest of him. I've never seen feet that color before. If you keep him, I'd sure like to watch him grow up.