The 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.

In 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. 

In 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.

Our flock at Greenfire Farms is the red cuckoo variety also called the marraduna variety. These birds showcase an amazing display of: white, black, buff, cream, and mahogany. The roosters display more of the noticeable cuckoo pattern with deeper tones of buff and mahogany on their wing and back. The Basque Hen are a medium-sized breed with roosters normally weighing about 7 pounds at mature weight and the hens will weigh about 5 pounds at mature weight.

We have noticed that this breed is not overly flight. They are confident birds who are active foragers. The birds only moderately vocal. The hens seem to be slightly broody, but this breed is not the best choice if you are searching for a consistently broody hen to hatch eggs. 

The 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.

For 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.

Standard of Perfection - North American Basque Hen Association

We 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.

Occasionally, 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.

Our 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.

Import Notes

Greenfire Farms first imported the Basque Hen in 2018.