One of the requirements of the ALBC (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy) for heritage chickens is that the breed needs to have been around since about the mid 20th century. It also needs to have been listed by the American Poultry Association's (APA) Standards of Perfection. Over time, chicken breeds were developed for quite specific purposes and many of the old breeds have become rare.
Heritage breeds have value for their genetic diversity. Their background is one of free-ranging over quite large areas. There was little extra feed offered to these chickens and no special care. Their traits include being hardy and healthy. They also reproduce naturally which isn't always possible with some of the fancier breeds.
They are fertile. The hens have a long productive life. They will breed for between 5 and 7 years and cocks for 3 to 5 years. The hens of many modern breeds do not go broody easily and are not necessarily good mothers.
The old-fashioned breeds, however, go broody as soon as they've laid a clutch of eggs. They have excellent maternal instincts. This was important in the colonial days to ensure the continuation of a farmer's poultry flock. With a number of chickens in the backyard, the temporary loss of an egg a day from a broody hen would not have been important.
Heritage chickens are slow to mature. The skeleton and organs have plenty of time to develop before being stressed with increasing weight gain. Some modern chickens bred specifically for meat are barely able to support their own weight by the time they are ready for sale.
Many households in years gone by kept poultry but didn't specialize in a particular type. A lot of the old-fashioned breeds were dual purpose, being bred for both meat and eggs. Those not eaten while relatively young would have been dressed for the table when their productive life was over.
Two heirloom breeds which are relatively familiar are the Rhode Island Red and the Barred Plymouth Rock. Others that are less known are the Partridge Chantecler, Euskal Oiloas or Basques hens, Wheaten Ameraucanas, Black Sumatras and Lavender D'Uccles. The first of these is a rare Canadian breed while the last is from Belgium.
The Rhode Island Red chicken has been recognized with two monuments, giving testimony to its importance in colonial days. It is also the state bird of Rhode Island. Massachusetts also played a part in its establishment. These red fowls were developed on Rhode Island from the Malay breed. They are a deep red color, with a robust constitution. The breed may have a single comb or a rose comb. It is a dual-purpose breed although recent breeding has been towards improving the egg-laying qualities as the dark pin-feathers make the carcass less attractive on the table.
The Barred Plymouth Rock was developed back in 1865. The Dominique and the Black Cochin are the parent breeds. It was a common backyard chicken during World War II. Meat and eggs were in short supply and the Plymouth Rock supplied both. The eggs are very large, averaging four eggs per week. When the demand for white eggs increased, the brown eggs of the Plymouth Rock became less popular. Heritage chickens are an important source of genetic diversity. Luckily many people are happy to produce these older breeds.
Heritage breeds have value for their genetic diversity. Their background is one of free-ranging over quite large areas. There was little extra feed offered to these chickens and no special care. Their traits include being hardy and healthy. They also reproduce naturally which isn't always possible with some of the fancier breeds.
They are fertile. The hens have a long productive life. They will breed for between 5 and 7 years and cocks for 3 to 5 years. The hens of many modern breeds do not go broody easily and are not necessarily good mothers.
The old-fashioned breeds, however, go broody as soon as they've laid a clutch of eggs. They have excellent maternal instincts. This was important in the colonial days to ensure the continuation of a farmer's poultry flock. With a number of chickens in the backyard, the temporary loss of an egg a day from a broody hen would not have been important.
Heritage chickens are slow to mature. The skeleton and organs have plenty of time to develop before being stressed with increasing weight gain. Some modern chickens bred specifically for meat are barely able to support their own weight by the time they are ready for sale.
Many households in years gone by kept poultry but didn't specialize in a particular type. A lot of the old-fashioned breeds were dual purpose, being bred for both meat and eggs. Those not eaten while relatively young would have been dressed for the table when their productive life was over.
Two heirloom breeds which are relatively familiar are the Rhode Island Red and the Barred Plymouth Rock. Others that are less known are the Partridge Chantecler, Euskal Oiloas or Basques hens, Wheaten Ameraucanas, Black Sumatras and Lavender D'Uccles. The first of these is a rare Canadian breed while the last is from Belgium.
The Rhode Island Red chicken has been recognized with two monuments, giving testimony to its importance in colonial days. It is also the state bird of Rhode Island. Massachusetts also played a part in its establishment. These red fowls were developed on Rhode Island from the Malay breed. They are a deep red color, with a robust constitution. The breed may have a single comb or a rose comb. It is a dual-purpose breed although recent breeding has been towards improving the egg-laying qualities as the dark pin-feathers make the carcass less attractive on the table.
The Barred Plymouth Rock was developed back in 1865. The Dominique and the Black Cochin are the parent breeds. It was a common backyard chicken during World War II. Meat and eggs were in short supply and the Plymouth Rock supplied both. The eggs are very large, averaging four eggs per week. When the demand for white eggs increased, the brown eggs of the Plymouth Rock became less popular. Heritage chickens are an important source of genetic diversity. Luckily many people are happy to produce these older breeds.
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Checking the web pages at www.whynotfarm.net describes details about heritage chickens. For more info, go to the links at http://www.whynotfarm.net today.
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