Penedesenca
Cock birds near Santa Margarida i els Monjos, in the comarca of Alt Penedès, in the province of Barcelona
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): critical/endangered[1]: 109 
  • DAD-IS (2025): at risk/critical[2]
Other names
  • Gall del Penedès
  • Gall de Vilafranca del Penedès
  • Villafranquina Negra
Country of originSpain
DistributionCatalonia
Useeggs
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    2.3–3 kg[3]: 669 
  • Female:
    1.7–2.3 kg[3]: 669 
Egg colourdark reddish-brown
Comb typesingle
Classification
APAno[4]
EEyes[5]
PCGBrare soft feather: heavy[6]

The Penedesenca or Gall del Penedès is a Spanish breed of chicken originating in the autonomous community of Catalonia, in the area around Vilafranca del Penedès, the principal town of the historical Penedès region.

History

[edit]

It is not known for how long country people in Catalonia have raised chickens that laid dark brown eggs. The first documentation of them is from 1928, when attempts were made to avert the extinction of the type.[3]: 670  In 1932 selection of a black type was begun by a group of breeders in a town near Vilafranca del Penedès. A breed standard for this black Penedesenca was approved in 1946, with the name "Villafranquina Negra", or black Vilafranca chicken.[3]: 670 

Use

[edit]

Hens lay about 160 dark brown eggs per year, with an average weight of approximately 60 g.[7]: 204  They are among the darkest-coloured eggs laid by hens of any breed.[8]: 66 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ Breed data sheet: Penedesenca / Spain (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Miguel Fernández Rodríguez, Mariano Gómez Fernández, Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo, Silvia Adán Belmonte, Miguel Jiménez Cabras (editors) (2009). Guía de campo de las razas autóctonas españolas (in Spanish). Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. ISBN 9788449109461.
  4. ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
  5. ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  6. ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
  7. ^ Luis Planas Puchades (foreword) (2019). Razas de Ganado del Catálogo Oficial de España (in Spanish). Madrid: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Archived 28 August 2025.
  8. ^ Carol Ekarius (2007). Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781580176675.