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 often 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 dual purpose fowl 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:

Penedesenca USA

Wheaten Penedesenca at Flying A Farm

Heritage Habitat Farms

Gar Creek Poultry has various Wheaten Penes

Penedesenca (Ireland)

Penedesenca at Our Flybabies


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

Wheaton Penedesenca eggs
Photo courtesy of Taryn Koerker

My Crele Penedesenca rooster "Harley"

One of "Harley's" descendants
Photo courtesy of Ginger Carson

Crele, Partridge and Wheaton hens
Photos courtesy of Taryn Koerker

This Mottled hen was a sport in my friend Ray's pure Black flock
Photo courtesy of Ray Seney

And this Mille Fleur pattern hen was the result of a cross of Partridge and Wheaten Penes
Photos courtesy of Jewelee Chastain

Another Crele rooster
Photo courtesy of Deann DaSilva

More Penedesenca eggs
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.


Penedesenca chicks, a Crele (left) and a Black
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.

More chicks, this time a Partridge (left) and a Wheaten
Photos courtesy of Harley E. Hamrick, Jr.

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
Photo courtesy of Jerry Pool


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