{"product_id":"basque-hen","title":"Basque Hen","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVibrant, hardy, and full of character, the Basque Hen is a true gem of the western Pyrenees region. Celebrated in Spain for generations, this striking breed combines beauty, personality, and utility in one unforgettable package.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Us\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Basque Hen, or Euskal Oiloa, is a hardy, medium-sized breed from the Pyrenees, valued for its foraging skills, resilience, and steady egg production. Shaped by generations of natural selection in a challenging mountain environment, these birds reflect the strength and endurance prized by the Basque people. Preservation efforts began in the 1970s when Dr. Fernando Orozco collected native eggs to protect the breed from hybridization due to commercial egg production. Dr. José Antonio Mendizábal helped formalize the breed standard, and in 2001 the Spanish government officially recognized the Euskal Oiloa to conserve its genetic diversity. Basque Hens come in five color varieties, with the striking red cuckoo (marraduna) featuring prominently at Greenfire Farms. Roosters weigh around 7 pounds, hens about 5, and the birds are confident foragers with moderate broodiness. You can expect roughly 180-200 eggs per year from Basque Hen ladies. While visually stunning and robust, Basque Hens can be challenging to integrate into established flocks, requiring careful introductions due to their strong social hierarchy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBreed History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Basque Hen, or Euskal Oiloa, is prized for its resourceful foraging skills and steady egg production. Originating in the Pyrenees—the rugged mountain range dividing Spain and France—this breed reflects the resilience of the Basque people themselves. Known for their unique language, customs, and fiercely independent spirit, the Basques have long valued strength and endurance in both their livestock and their way of life. In this challenging landscape, only the hardiest animals could thrive, and the traditional landraces of Basque chickens, often called “peasant breeds,” were shaped by generations of natural selection. These birds are tough, adaptable, and capable of thriving under conditions that would overwhelm less resilient breeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1975, Dr. Fernando Orozco began collecting eggs from the native chickens of the Basque region to begin the preservation of this historic breed. Their numbers began to dwindle when the commercial production for brown eggs in Spain resulted in producers crossing the Basque Hen with other breeds. This resulted in hybrids with less focus on adhering to the appearance and attributes of the pure birds. He continued this effort through 1976 at the Department of Animal Genetics INIA and then spent the following three years carefully breeding the birds and distinguishing the various color varieties. During this period, Dr. José Antonio Mendizábal helped formalize the breed’s characteristics, establishing the standard that defines the Basque Hen today. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 2001, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries officially recognized and regulated the Euskal Oiloa to support the conservation, restoration, and improvement of the breed. The Basque Government acknowledged the vital importance of preserving genetic diversity and protecting indigenous breeds at risk of extinction in the region—a commitment that continues in Spain to this day. We have kept this attractive medium-size breed at Greenfire Farms for several years, and have enjoyed its hardy, easy-going nature. If you are looking for an excellent homestead bird, look no farther.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAppearance and Behavior\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Basque Hen comes in five recognized color varieties, beltza (black), lepogorri or gorria (red or reddish-brown), lepasoila (red naked neck), marraduna (red cuckoo), and zilarra (colombian). Here at Greenfire Farms, our flock features the red cuckoo, or marraduna, variety. These birds boast a stunning mix of white, black, buff, cream, and rich mahogany tones. The roosters are particularly eye-catching, with a pronounced cuckoo pattern and deeper shades of buff and mahogany across their wings and backs. A medium-sized breed, Basque Hen roosters typically reach around 7 pounds at maturity, while hens average about 5 pounds. A rooster-to-hen ratio of 1:10 has worked best for our flock. Hens are prolific layers of medium, tinted eggs, roughly 180-200 per year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBasque Hens are confident, active foragers and are not overly flighty. Hens may show some broody tendencies, but this breed is not ideal if you are seeking consistently broody hens for hatching eggs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis breed can be challenging when it comes to flock integration. Established flocks develop a strong hierarchy, and introducing new birds—whether hens or roosters—can be difficult. Roosters may display aggression toward newcomers, and hens often compete heavily with new additions. If you are integrating Basque Hens into an existing flock, patience and careful, gradual introductions are essential to minimize conflict.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBreed Standard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe marraduna (red cuckoo) Basque Hen is distinguished by a striking cuckoo pattern of alternating white and buff, bright red earlobes, feather-free yellow legs, and a straight comb. Roosters feature abundant hackle and saddle feathers, a long back that slopes gently toward the tail, and a well-rounded breast. Hens display a subtler cuckoo pattern, with an overall buff coloration accented by black in their hackles and at the tips of their tail feathers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor a closer look at the Basque Hen breed standard, visit the North American Basque Hen Association’s website, linked below! This site also offers fascinating details about the breed’s history and heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nabha.weebly.com\/standard-of-perfection.html\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStandard of Perfection - North American Basque Hen Association\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHatching Eggs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe incubate at 99.5F and 55% humidity. Typically, we achieve around an 80% hatch rate for eggs placed in the hatcher. Most chicks hatch right on schedule, on day 21 of development.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDefects\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOccasionally, chicks may hatch with feathers running down their legs. These birds should be carefully inspected and culled if necessary to prevent introducing this trait into a breeding program. Very rarely, a chick may hatch with an unusual or “singed” appearance in its fluff. We cull these chicks on hatch day, and we recommend doing the same to maintain the quality of your flock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNotes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur flock is still small as we work to carefully grow our numbers. Please be patient—availability is extremely limited, and we can only accommodate very small orders at this time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImport Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreenfire Farms first imported the Basque Hen in 2018.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ebasque hen for sale\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ebasque chicken for sale\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003echicken from basque\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003echicken from spain\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ebasque for sale\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greenfire Farms","offers":[{"title":"Basque Hen Day-Old Chick Unsexed \/ 03\/25\/2025","offer_id":48922322436289,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Basque Hen Day-Old Chick Unsexed \/ 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