Poultry Breeds of Spanish Ancestry

[gjensen]

They were bred with other breeds to expand their genetics. Because most of the original population was almost extinct. There are 3 varieties, the black and white, white and a white and red/orangey color. You will get a white one every now and then from black and whites. And the white ones produce the red/whites.

I think that the red/whites would be interesting. Are any here?

 

[ronott1]

Yes, I have read some of the new and old. Frankly, I think we will learn a few more things before it is over. If I get too far into that stuff, my eyes glaze over.

Regardless, white is dominant. My point was that it should be relatively easy to get past. I would do some test mating and see where it is coming from. I would keep more than a couple cock birds around to. Maybe that and some cooperation among the different people keeping them? I certainly would not use a bird with white legs. I am dealing with white/slate legs. White is certainly dominant, but does not mean I will still not see a hint of slate. Someone used a Buff Minorca x Black Minorca as an outcross at some point. That is were my white legs are coming from. The good point is that slate is sex linked.

I think as Lacy mentioned, you may be able to visually see the birds it is coming from.

Someone did not finish their work, and it will be up to all of you to finish it. They are an attractive, and fascinating breed so should be enjoyable doing it.

My project is not without it's hang ups. That is the way it goes with rare breeds.

What about type? Do you guys have a visual picture of an ideal bird? A consensus among the keepers as to what that ideal bird looks like?

I am not worried about the leg color. It is a much worse problem with the Basque hens.

We are still working on getting the Spanish Standard figured out. The PDF from Spain has quite a few examples of type as pictures but we do need see it in the Spanish SOP.

I should find the research article--It did say that it was more than one Gene and not White Dominant for White Vs. Yellow shanks. That would explain how two yellow shank parents produced white legged chicks. That would be proof that it was more than a white dominant Gene. It is likely the combination of 5 genes.

 

[ronott1]

It appears that they are saying that their birds averaged 140 eggs per year, and 15 1/2 per month. Laying for 9 months. Then that they have good longevity. If you hatch and raise enough birds, and a couple do better than the average, you could get the numbers up with good effort. That would help broaden their popular appeal. I do not know what you guys are getting, but 160-180 might be a good long term goal.

Ron, I appreciate seeing the description. It would be nice to be able to get a well translated description of all of the Spanish breeds that this group keeps. For those that have a standard here, I think we should use that standard, but it is still an interesting reference.

How is Jason doing with his birds?

We should contact the club in Spain to see if they already have a translated version. There is also a big group of Pita Pintas in Germany so we need to check thee too.

I looked at their egg laying chart and they did not count eggs for three months. I did read in a description that the Pita Pintas are winter layers so thee should be eggs in the winter for them. My Guess is that they already lay in the 160 to 180 range. If they can keep that up for 5 years, they would be amazing. I have Hatchery Hens that laid more per year but pretty much stopped after the second year.

 

[gjensen]

I am not worried about the leg color. It is a much worse problem with the Basque hens.

We are still working on getting the Spanish Standard figured out. The PDF from Spain has quite a few examples of type as pictures but we do need see it in the Spanish SOP.

I should find the research article--It did say that it was more than one Gene and not White Dominant for White Vs. Yellow shanks. That would explain how two yellow shank parents produced white legged chicks. That would be proof that it was more than a white dominant Gene. It is likely the combination of 5 genes.

I think you should worry about it. Not worry meaning stress, but I would certainly deal with it. They will do best at their best.

Do not worry about the article for me. I have seen mention of it, and I like to stick with what I am dealing with. The white I am dealing with is clearly dominant, but does not always completely cover. I agree that there can certainly be more or something else at work. I have not seen that here though.

I would be interested in what you guys figured out with your birds. That would be relevant and interesting to me. Maybe use a white legged bird and see what the offspring was like? I would be interested in figuring it out, if they were my birds. I enjoy the puzzles. I am not beyond setting up a pen, just to see how something works. I guess I just like to see for myself.

What makes you think it is the combination of five genes? The article?

 

[gjensen]

We should contact the club in Spain to see if they already have a translated version. There is also a big group of Pita Pintas in Germany so we need to check thee too.

I looked at their egg laying chart and they did not count eggs for three months. I did read in a description that the Pita Pintas are winter layers so thee should be eggs in the winter for them. My Guess is that they already lay in the 160 to 180 range. If they can keep that up for 5 years, they would be amazing. I have Hatchery Hens that laid more per year but pretty much stopped after the second year.

160-180 for five years, would be amazing. I would be pretty skeptical though. I have never seen any breed fail to decline after their pullet year. The only variation that I have seen is the rate of decline. What I have experienced is the better layers as pullets, are the better layers in the subsequent generations. The only exception has been some commercial layers that declined rapidly due to limitations related to health. Similar to your experience, after a couple laying cycles.

A translated version would be interesting, and to include the articles. There is a German Breed site related to the Catalan breeds, but German is more difficult for me than Spanish. That, and I do not care what they think. LOL. For a Spanish breed, a Spanish reference is interesting. It is interesting to see what other countries are doing.

 

[gjensen]

Regardless, you guys have an interesting breed. Good luck with them. I hope that all of you do well with them.

 

[ronott1]

I think you should worry about it. Not worry meaning stress, but I would certainly deal with it. They will do best at their best.

Do not worry about the article for me. I have seen mention of it, and I like to stick with what I am dealing with. The white I am dealing with is clearly dominant, but does not always completely cover. I agree that there can certainly be more or something else at work. I have not seen that here though.

I would be interested in what you guys figured out with your birds. That would be relevant and interesting to me. Maybe use a white legged bird and see what the offspring was like? I would be interested in figuring it out, if they were my birds. I enjoy the puzzles. I am not beyond setting up a pen, just to see how something works. I guess I just like to see for myself.

What makes you think it is the combination of five genes? The article?

160-180 for five years, would be amazing. I would be pretty skeptical though. I have never seen any breed fail to decline after their pullet year. The only variation that I have seen is the rate of decline. What I have experienced is the better layers as pullets, are the better layers in the subsequent generations. The only exception has been some commercial layers that declined rapidly due to limitations related to health. Similar to your experience, after a couple laying cycles.

A translated version would be interesting, and to include the articles. There is a German Breed site related to the Catalan breeds, but German is more difficult for me than Spanish. That, and I do not care what they think. LOL. For a Spanish breed, a Spanish reference is interesting. It is interesting to see what other countries are doing.

Good points as always!

I am not worried about the white shanks because I have not had them this year. I only kept two pullets and one Cockerel from the first hatching and they all have nice yellow legs. The pullets shanks are fading but are still yellow. I will not need to breed from any with white shanks because I am on target, as far as I can tell, for body shape.

I hope we can continue improving them and getting a good Spanish Standard would be a nice way to start.

 

[PDPercherons]

Very excited to see this thread. I'm new to this all the way around but have some young Andalusians that I'm hoping to raise. I really liked the look of the breed so jumped in. My chicks aren't from a breeder and just hatchery. Can't wait to get through 21 pages and see what everyone has to say

 

[ronott1]

Very excited to see this thread. I'm new to this all the way around but have some young Andalusians that I'm hoping to raise. I really liked the look of the breed so jumped in. My chicks aren't from a breeder and just hatchery. Can't wait to get through 21 pages and see what everyone has to say

Welcome to BYC!

You made a good choice with Andalusians.

 

[PDPercherons]

I'm very happy with them all so far. Great personalities and easy to handle.