heirloom fowl

[tashak]

Does anyone here do heirloom fowl?
I just added a Rhode Island Red hen and she is terrorizing my Black Cayuga and White Crested ducks. Queen of the fowl kennel, the newbie!

[GreenZone]

I raise some...Ancona and Rouen ducks other breeds occasionally.

[JereGettle]

I just bought a trio of Sultans see photos at www.feathersite.com.

They are such nice, gentle birds, white with crest and beard.

at last I have a few chickens again.

Jere

[tashak]

Nice sites, including Ideal. Thanks.

[Okie]

Aracauna's mostly. Black Java's in the past.

[scakya]

Americaunas for now with a handfull of Nagarasett turkeys and muscovey ducks. This spring I'll be adding some heirloom breeds of chickens as will have my new poultry house done finally. Will also buy some more Nagarasett turkeys from another source as want to raise them for the handfull of folks that seem to have moved in near us and want fresh turkey for the holidays. Don't want to do too much inbreeding thus seeking out another breeder source.

scakya

[lacy]

Hi! I have a small flock of Buff Orpingtons.

[flowerpower]

I would like to get a few birds just for eggs. I was thinking maybe 1 rooster and 3 hens.

Any suggestions on breeds? I would prefer a med/lg bird that lays brown eggs. I just find the brown more appealing to the eye.

[wilderness1989]

flowerpower get Barred Rocks from Murray McMurray in Webster, Iowa. They are super gentle birds that lay brown eggs all winter.
"The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl. Our strain has the narrow, clean barring so desirable in appearance. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety. Whatever you call them, you can't beat them for steady, reliable chickens. Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body." (Quote fom McMurray catalog)
I raised Barred Rocks for years and had NO PROBLEMS, can't say that much about other breeds I've tried. Cornish Rock Crosses are fast growers but are mean and Bantums always roosted in the top of the barn and pooped on anything below. Thats my 2 cents. Thanks for listening.
John Gray
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/barred_rocks.html

[flowerpower]

Thanks, John. I am not really familiar with the breeds so I looked at the pic. I did recognize it, as my neighbor has one in his mixed flock. So I know the birds will do ok here.

[40lb farmer]

i like the dark cornish and lavender guineas for thier unique coloring. barred rocks for sheer quantity of brown eggs. and some ducks for eggs.

[TastyofHasty]

Here are some more links to hatcheries that look good:

http://www.strombergschickens.com/stock.htm

http://www.martipoultry.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=RB

http://www.welphatchery.com/

Guineas:
http://www.guineafarm.com/

I have lots more links ... got my chicks from Welp Hatchery in Bancroft Iowa two years ago ... best price for what I was looking for. They also had Welsumers which are pretty rare. The Welsumer roosters are a bit aggressive, and also oddly fragile in that they seem to antagonize my dog who killed some, I am sorry to say. Welsumers are beautiful and have huge dark brown eggs. My best "survivors" are Speckled Sussex, which lay medium light brown eggs, but are such nice clucky smart scavenging chickens. I'd like to try silkie bantams, buff orpingtons, and some of the giant chickens just 'cause they're big.

[gypsy camp]

I have auracanas, bantams without tails, and regular size with tails. The bantams are loose right now and so busy. When the garden gets going they all have to be locked up. But my covered (a cool looking arched top) run is right next to the garden, so as I weed, (ack red rooted pig weed) I just toss them next to the fence and they eat em up. I also grow tubs of cherry tomatoes next to the fence and they grow up and over and keep them shaded in our hot summers. I would love to get some Marans to add to my flock.

[flowerpower]

I think the Bantams are so cute, but so small. I am going to get my first chickens this spring. I am going big.lol If I can find a turkey, I will keep one as a pet. I love how huge they get.

[Phillip]

I don't have any breeds of chickens that are over 100 years old.

[bluelacedredhead]

Polish, Both in Bantam and Large Fowl; Nankins; Wyandottes; Bourbon Red turkeys; Australorps; Iowa Blues; White Chanteclers. I also have a few Blue and Black Silkies and a few oddballs such as one Delaware hen, one Partridge Chantecler hen...leftovers in the mixed layer pen after I stopped consciously breeding and showing those particular fowl.

We also breed Tamworth hogs and American Paint Horses

[CruzAK]

I have Blue cochins and Partrige cochins as well as 3 heritage turkey batchelorettes. I like the mellow temperment of the cochins, they are very non agressive, but do have a 'pecking order' within the flock(normal occurance) they lay medium to large brown eggs but are not 'heavy' layers, they will lay around 4-7 eggs a week each. The drawback to this breed(as with some rare/heritage breeds) is that they mature slower and dont lay eggs until they are 9 months or more old. The Partrige roosters especially take a long time to feather out. I would like to get Marans eventually for the 'chocolate' eggs though.

[Pharmerphil]

just some Buffs here, the other day, came home, many feathers, one bird dead, one missing...it was really wet and muddy, and there were NO tracks..I'm thinking that Red tail hawk, that has been checking them out, made a visit while the wife and I were gone to work!

[flowerpower]

ok I am able to order the Barred Rocks. I have to order at least 6 if I want them sexed. Can I go with 1 male to 5 females?

Phil, sorry to hear about your birds. We have both red-tail and red-shoulder hawks around. The red-shoulder is very aggresive. I watched one try to grab a chickadee right in a tree. Now if he'd only grab the pigeons, I'd be happy.

[dirtundernails]

flowerpower- You are aware that you don't need a rooster to get eggs? 1 to 20 probably works as far as fertilization goes. Roosters keep busy. They will break the feathers of the hens after a season, so if you are only interested in eggs and beauty from your hens, I suggest no rooster. Of course, we felt funny not hearing the crowing. Roosters are georgous, too. But they will abuse the poor girls. Just a thought.


dun

[bluelacedredhead]

On the other hand, a Rooster will serve to protect the hens and also seem to encourage them to lay.

[vprince]

I would like to get a few birds just for eggs. I was thinking maybe 1 rooster and 3 hens.

Any suggestions on breeds? I would prefer a med/lg bird that lays brown eggs. I just find the brown more appealing to the eye.

Hi, Flower:

Barred rocks are a good multi-purpose breed, but if you're just looking for eggs, there are a whole lot of options out there. I agree with John that the commercially bred Cornish Cross are a poor choice. They have a tendency to get "flip" from being "honed" to grow extremely fast and is literally eating themselves to death. There are a whole lot of breeds listed as endangered under the albc-usa.org website and it would be great if you could find one of the non-commercial breeds which suited your needs.

Some that immediately come to mind are Buckeye, Chantecler or Delawares...

Buff Rocks are probably my favorite of the Plymouth Rocks for a backyard chicken. They are sweet tempered and have a beautiful gold plumage. They aren't as heavy a layer as the Barred Rocks but they lay enough for home-use.

Best of luck in your search for the perfect chicken!

Vicky

[flowerpower]

Thanks everyone. I did think I "needed" a rooster to encourage egg production. So I guess I am getting all pullets. Hens are easy to sell and I wouldn't have the heart to cull out the males.

One of the neighbors is getting $3.50 a doz. for fresh eggs. And he mixes sizes in the carton. Too many mediums for the price. And since he is on my last nerve these days, I will give away eggs just to irritate him. The last straw was when I found out he went in my barn while I was out. Says he was looking at the goats. I don't really care about his reasons, I thought it was out of line.

Vicky, I would feel way worse if I accidently killed an endangered breed.