The Poultry Keeper

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

Hi, I am reluctantly getting rid of my pure breed Andalucian girl, she has just finished moluting and is looking fab. I have had her for 1.5 years and purchased her from a rare breeds centre as a POL . I have her running free with some hybrids and the only reason for sale is to free up space for some table birds. She should be coming into lay again any week now, and produces the most tasty chalk white ,almost round eggs. She is always trying to sit on the eggs, and I am sure would make a good mum given the chance. £20.00
I may be able to deliver locally.

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CP · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

She's lovely. Very Happy

She doesn't look that big - is she a bantam? Question

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

Hi, yes has broken a few hearts!!, she is not a bantam, I think she is just a bit diddy compared to modern hybrids.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

She's very beautiful, but not a pure breed - which really doesn't matter as blue hens are always popular.

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 667 Location: Norfolk

Looks like a Bluebelle to me Confused

Andalusians have largish white earlobes, blackish neck/head and crisp black lacing to the feathers....

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

Hi, She came originally from Cholderton rare breeds center in Hampshire, She has the white earlobes, ( I think they look smaller/ not there as the head is turned) and has lovely lacing on the feathers, but you are right, it isn't that crisp ( but the photo doesn't do it justice). I have spoken with my friend there just to make sure that I am not going mad, and it is from their breeding trio of Pure breed Andalucian birds. That said, currently she doesn't have the crisp lacing that you mention, he did say that can happen with winter moultings and it can also fade in the sun...so I guess spring and autum are its best time....??...?? That said she still needs a new and kind home.. so all offers considered.

...I have added another photo showing her with my rir based hybrids... excuse the state of my garden... work in progress!

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CP · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

Did you get her from here?
http://www.sustainable-cholderton.co.uk/

And your friend wouldn't be Vivienne by any chance?

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

Hi,
no sorry, she came from the rare breeds park along side " rabbit world", must be local as Cholderton is not a big place...

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

There are two other points that Magpie omitted - large floppy comb and dark legs. She's still a beautiful bird though.

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

this is copied from a breeders site:
Andalusians are a typical example of the unstable blue color we see in the poultry industry. It is the result of a cross of black and white. When two blues are mated, they produce offspring in the ratio of one black, two blues and one white. These whites and blacks when mated together will produce mainly blues. Andalusians are beautiful when good, but the percentage of really good ones runs low in many flocks because of this color segregation. Hence, they are not widely bred and never in large numbers.

So pure bred, from a rare breeds farm, with pure bloodline etc, but not displaying all the characteristics of true breed type.... is that a fair description?

Please see within breed photos of a pure breed with light legs and usual comb size.. which is not floppy so back to square one.... So in summary

Revised advert now follows.......

A blue chicken is for sale now £10.00, does not have DNA proof of anything,or a driving licence / recent utility bill or bank statement.. it does have has complete breeder traceability, but I promise you is is a chicken, with wings and 2 legs, who knows it may even lay another egg!

I hope that is OK?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

Sorry if you took this as being hyper-critical. I go by the British Poultry Standards and the 5th edition only has a standard for the blue. Of course, the new edition may have a differing standard if the other colours are recognised.

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

no its not hyper -critical, I am just trying to re-home a chicken.

It has a pure breed mum and a pure breed dad... it is pure breed. It may not display every characteristic of a priceless show bird.. and nor would I want it to, but very few of these do, hence the high price for show birds not the £10.00 I am asking,

I am trying to let people know what it is , I am not selling it as a show bird, it is just a cracking looking hen that is an andalucian, it is the show size, show colour ( less the vivid black edge to feathers) lays the chalk white eggs, has the classic aloof type temprement, and if crossed with another andalucian could by the power of recesive genetics produce a range of colours including a stunning award winning world class showbird, in the same way that an award winning hen is just as likely to produce a black/white offspring, its evolution in practice . I can only describe the hen as it is... and include 2 photos to avoid ANY confusion.

Quite frankly for the time I am spending trying to argue the toss about recesive genetics and the spread of inherited colouration ratios ..... I am going to eat it, life is TOOOOO short.

To Avoid any confusion the cooked chicken illustrating this is a Ross Cobb " Ross 308" NOT an andalucian

Tia Maria · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

I think your hen looks lovely - very tempting as you don't live too far away !!!
but then I would have one Andalucian to go along with my one of everything else and I really would like to build up at least a little flock of the same breed
Sorry - I suppose I have to forget your very pretty hen

piersyboy · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 11 Location: andover

Hi Thanks for your reply,
as in the earlier post,I would not keep a flock of Andalucians as they are a nightmare to breed true, only a few are blue and it is an unstable colour within the breed, very few of those are show quality. If I was keeping her, I would put her with a RIR chap and breed fab looking good laying utility birds that lay well and should be bomb-proof. Had you considered doing something like that?
Thanks anyway

Tia Maria · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

I have a Welsummer cockerel and a Maran cockerel - seperate from each other - and a white Jersey Giant that looks increasingly like a cockerel though he's not crowing yet