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:
Wheaten Penedesenca at Flying A Farm
Gar Creek Poultry has various Wheaten Penes
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
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