About me and my experience raising chickens

Chicken coops in construction, almost finished

It all started with this beautiful and fascinating activity that is poultry farming. Without a doubt, when you’re working to make a living, you’re very busy, and on top of that, within the social fabric—which includes bosses, colleagues, friends, children, and family—it’s practically impossible to enjoy this connection with your hobby.

It is a hobby, yes, but it is essential to recognize that there are many aspects that are overlooked; it is not simply a matter of collecting objects, as many tend to think. We are talking about living creatures with distinct personalities, social hierarchies, illnesses and ailments, the molting process, and the rearing of their offspring, among other things.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, when attending a poultry show, we’re sure to be dazzled by all the birds on display. In that moment, we’d love to have this or that breed; we’re captivated by these varieties, and they certainly bring us joy.

So we decided to get a couple of chickens; we figured it would be easy: all we needed was a bag of feed and some water, and soon we’d have fresh eggs at home.

The idea is, undoubtedly, good; however, we still have not adequately considered the small details and the responsibilities that come with it. This is one of the most frequent problems: often we wish to acquire the birds before they have properly prepared your accommodation (in this link you can see photos of the construction of my chicken coops y las mejoras realizadas, donde se explican todas las fases constructivas). Hay que asegurarse de contar con comederos, bebederos, nidales, percheros para dormir y una cama de virutas; en otras palabras, un gallinero adecuado.

As we are moving forward on this issue, we have prepared everything you need to get to our birds. We are full of joy, and for anything that is said to us and our partners, respond affirmatively, with the hope that you will let us have our few chickens; everything seems to be in place.

We welcome our beloved birds, and everything seems to be going wonderfully—until one day we start noticing a few chickens looking lethargic, with ruffled feathers, difficulty breathing, and droppings of various colors. At that point, worry begins to set in.

Of course, it’s no easy task; it’s at this very moment that we start looking for home remedies. Sometimes they work, other times not so much. We seek information from friends and on Google and start buying books. Our desire to be well-informed to ensure our birds’ well-being grows, and we want to spare them any suffering.

So was as I began, as I account, and I have decided to share with you all the information about my personal experience, together with data about the ancestors of the poultry Spanish sources I have been able to consult, both through their writings and by purchasing books on the subject. My goal is to clearly organize the sections of this website, aiming to make it as enjoyable and easy to understand as possible.

I hope this proves useful in helping you gain some basic knowledge so that you can enjoy this hobby and your birds. It’s essential to make it clear that you should always consult your veterinarian, who will guide you on what to do and answer any questions or concerns you may have about your beloved chickens.

John Villalon

Author, creator of the Black Castilian chicken

In my homeland, In León, Spain, at my beloved grandparents’ house, there were always animals: cows, sheep, rabbits, poultry, and those black Castilian chicken, since they worked the land and raised livestock.

Back then, tractors and farm machinery were just starting to appear, but they were far too expensive for the meager budgets of the time, so people grew crops both for their own household consumption and to sell at the town square. Those were the days. I loved it, and I remember this very rewarding experience from my childhood.

These experiences are what inspired my hobby—a way to relive those unforgettable moments from my childhood—and led me to raise this hardy, native breed, the Black Castilian chicken.

My intention is to breed this magnificent breed and learn as much as possible about it, as well as to share insights and exchange experiences, resources, and more with all breeders and enthusiasts who are just starting out in the breeding of these exceptional animals.

On this website, I’ll try to help anyone interested in raising the Black Castilian chicken or other breeds or varieties of chickens, sharing my own knowledge and experiences in the hope that they’ll be useful to everyone.

I’ll show you the basics, such as eggs, chicks, hens, roosters, Castilian chickens, our beloved broody hens, photos, videos, chick incubation, and more.

And also more technical topics: history of the Castilian rooster, the ancestors of Spanish poultry farming, the precursors of the domestic rooster (Gallus gallus, Sonneratii, Lafayetii, and Varius), antique engravings, breed standards, physical description of the chicken or rooster, and types or shapes of combs.

A comprehensive breakdown of anatomy by section: the hierarchy, major poultry shows, how judges score entries, judging criteria, the reproductive systems of roosters and chickens, and the different types of droppings—such as poop and feces, which, when identified, can indicate the health or illness of our chickens, etc.

A wealth of resources—in PDF format or via direct external links—so you can explore books, documents, and articles related to our birds, and, of course, chicken coops, a key topic that’s often overlooked because we’re always in a hurry and want to get the birds before we’ve even prepared their living quarters, along with some interesting blog posts.

We will speak removable nesting boxes, roosting perches, how to build a trap nest box, and chicken diseases—organized into easy-to-understand sections that cover the most common ailments affecting our beloved chickens: bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases, as well as sporadic conditions (feather pecking or cannibalism, injuries, etc.).

The important aspects of feeding and diet for our birds—nutrition, which includes vitamins, their properties and uses; minerals for our chickens (calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc.); seeds such as corn, wheat, and oats; cleaning our chicken coops or sheds, waterers and feeders, etc.—there are countless things we need to know and use correctly.

I always advise that you consult the site mapif there are new topics or sub-pages added to the web from your last visit.

In short, the purpose of this website is to help beginners build a foundation in raising and caring for the Castilian Black chicken or other breeds you may wish to raise, even with minimal prior knowledge, so that this wonderful hobby brings you great joy with your beloved chickens.

I would be very pleased if some of you found this information useful (there’s a site-specific search bar on the right-hand side).

Even so, if you’d like to contribute to this website—whether with information about the Black Castilian chicken breed, such as breeder contacts, links, documentation, photos, or videos, or if you have any questions—please don’t hesitate to do so; I’ll get back to you.

If you've made it this far and found the information on this website helpful or useful, I sincerely thank you for visiting my site. Best regards.