Penedesenca
A pair of Wheaten Penedesencas
Photos by J. Wolters, courtesy of
Amadeu Francesch
This Spanish breed is the exception to the rule that birds with white earlobes lay white eggs. I understand that the first eggs laid by these pullets are nearly black.
This breed was nearly extinct in the early '80s, but has not only been brought back but four varieties now exist: Wheaten, Partridge, Crele and Black (the last developed as a meat bird and known as Gall del Penedès).
As you can see in the above photos, these birds have a different type of comb than most chickens. It starts as a single comb but expands into several lobes at the rear. In the Catalan language they refer to this as a "carnation comb" (cresta en clavell) or a "king's comb" (cresta de rei).
Very closely related are the Empordanesa.
Breed clubs:
German Club for Catalan
Breeds
Penedesenca Links:
Amadeu Francesch's page Les varietats de Gall Autòcton del Penedès has a lot of information on the breed, as he was the leader in saving it. However, the page is in Catalan, one of the co-official languages of Spain.
Some more info on the Penedesenca
A scientific study of Penedesenca egg color is available in pdf format
There are Penedesenca at Royal Oaks Ranch
Penedesenca eggs
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.
A pair of Black Penedesenca or Gall del
Penedès, the variety developed as a meat bird
Photos courtesy of
Amadeu Francesch
Crele Penedesenca
Photos courtesy of
Amadeu Francesch
Partridge Penedesenca
Photos courtesy of
Amadeu Francesch
Another pair of Wheaten Penedesenca
Photos courtesy of
Amadeu Francesch
My Crele Penedesenca rooster "Harley"
One of "Harley's" descendants
Photo courtesy of Ginger Carson
This Mottled hen was a sport in my friend Ray's pure
Black flock
Photo courtesy of Ray Seney
More Penedesenca eggs
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.
Penedesenca chicks, a Crele (left) and a
Black More chicks, this time a Partridge (left) and a
Wheaten Another view of a Black Penedesenca chick
Partridge Penedesenca chicks: The light chicks are
generally males and the darker ones or more striped ones females -- this works
about 80% of the time;
note the dark blotches on the heads of the darker females
or
Direct questions and comments to Barry at
FeatherSite -- questions and
comments
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Pool
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