The Pita Pinta Asturiana

[PetRock]

Can we get in on it? I could go for a couple dozen....

I'll ask him if we can contribute to the project!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

The longest time would be to arrange for a vet to inspect the flock and fill out the certificate. The rest is regular shipping. I would try for International next day and would use hatching eggs not live birds.

@Hangtown Farms
was looking into getting Penedesencas from Spain and if he does, I hope he can get come Pita Pinta eggs too.

Spain is not exporting at this time according to Dr Francesch but maybe you could look into Germany that is another option I slowed down on the looking as my friend Jewelee was going to fly there and bring them back but then the dr said we will need to wait, there is also a dorking import thread that may have good info as well

 

[Hangtown Farms]

How did everyone get their birds? Its my understanding that for most of us Debi is the pusher of all things Pita. Is  there anyone who may have birds that came from the set of eggs that were brought over that are not descendants of Debi's birds.

It would be nice to know where those original bloodlines went or be able to expand on  the gene pool a little. 

How many generations removed from the original hatching eggs are everyone's birds?

I only have the one pullet and one cockerel now but I really like these guys.

You may want to hatch as many as possible and set up a few pens then hatch from them keeping the best pullets to breed back to the dads , most of the birds in Europe where likely from a few as well as many breeds where decimated during the world wars

 

[ronott1]

Spain is not exporting at this time according to Dr Francesch but maybe you could look into Germany that is another option I slowed down on the looking as my friend Jewelee was going to fly there and bring them back but then the dr said we will need to wait, there is also a dorking import thread that may have good info as well

Pita Pintas are very popular in Germany.

Another way to get breeds here is to send them to Canada and then on to the US.

You may want to hatch as many as possible and set up a few pens then hatch from them keeping the best pullets to breed back to the dads , most of the birds in Europe where likely from a few as well as many breeds where decimated during the world wars

This is a very good idea!

I hope to dot this in the future. I would have to give up a breed though. I currently have plans for the Arkansas Blues and Partridge Penedesencas.

 

[caychris]

What is a good ratio of cockerel to pullets?

I'm thinking that if I had 1 cockerel over 5 pullets I should be able to gather 20-24 eggs a week easily.

I'd have to plan the incubating and grow out situation pretty well. I don't think Ill have broody's to do the work

Does anyone have a good link to trap boxes and any way that will help me determine which hen has layed the egg?

 

[ronott1]

What is a good ratio of cockerel to pullets?

I'm thinking that if I had 1 cockerel over 5 pullets I should be able to gather 20-24 eggs a week easily.

I'd have to plan the incubating and grow out situation pretty well. I don't think Ill have broody's to do the work

Does anyone have a good link to trap boxes and any way that will help me determine which hen has layed the egg?

That is a good ratio. You could go up to 10 or so.

He will tread up the feathers though so you should have a place to keep him for most of the time. Brand my Partridge Penedesenca liked the Rhode Island Reds more than the Penedesenca hens. They still have some messed up feathers on their saddle.

Keep them together a couple hours a day to keep them fertile. Be prepared to use saddles on them if the backs go bare. Also, make sure his claws are trimmed.

 

[caychris]

That is a good ratio. You could go up to 10 or so.

He will tread up the feathers though so you should have a place to keep him for most of the time. Brand my Partridge Penedesenca liked the Rhode Island Reds more than the Penedesenca hens. They still have some messed up feathers on their saddle.

Keep them together a couple hours a day to keep them fertile. Be prepared to use saddles on them if the backs go bare. Also, make sure his claws are trimmed.

Do you have a good recommendation for saddles?

 

[ronott1]

Do you have a good recommendation for saddles?

There is someone on BYC that makes them. I have seen posts about them and there are patterns for making your own saddles. Mine have never gone bare yet so I have not needed them.

 

[PetRock]

You may want to hatch as many as possible and set up a few pens then hatch from them keeping the best pullets to breed back to the dads , most of the birds in Europe where likely from a few as well as many breeds where decimated during the world wars

I spent a few hours today studying up on line breeding and planning. I currently have Zorro and his seven hens in a pen at the farm. They hatched from eggs from Megan's original flock so the hens are probably either full sisters or half sisters to Zorro. I'm not sure if she only has 1 cock or more than 1. My plan for this year is to put 8-10 of my best pullets in a pen with Zorro. Then choose the best cockerels to put in the pen with the 7 hens. I am going to choose 2 more cockerels to keep just in case. Then the next year, I will put Zorro and this year's best cockerel with the best of the pullets that I hatch this year. And the two best cockerels from the 2015 hatches will go in with the best of the original 7 hens and the daughters who will be hens by then. So, this year, I will need 2 breeding pens and then next year I will need 4 or I will just rotate the boys. Working with a single breed with only 1 color pattern is sure easier than thinking about breeding a breed with multiple colors like my BBS Langshan. I may have to stick with just the blacks with those or I might overwhelm myself!

 

[PetRock]

We took 6 pullets out to the farm to meet their father Zorro. He is in with the 7 hens from last year so for now just added the 6 daughters to the pen. Everything went smoothly with no conflicts. I was very pleased with how my flock looked. They had a round with mites and molting and some of the girls were looking like naked neck Pita Pinta. Their feathers have all grown back in and they are beautiful! I need to get back out there this week and take some pics of them. Zorro and his new girls are going to make some beautiful babies!