American Vorwerks

I believe the only thing we have in the US that is similar to the Vorwerk is the Golden Lakenvelder, correct? Nobody has ever tried to import any true Vorwerks? Because I was thinking about attempting to breed my own homemade Vorwerks using Buff Orpingtons and Blue Bresse. But I won't bother if the real thing is going to be available anyways.

I got the idea when I Googled for blue bresse and discovered that they were discontinued by Greenfire and are now kept by very few people. Many of the remaining birds often have a Lakenvelder pattern it seems. I don't know if that had anything to do with the reason why they were discontinued or not. Here is a picture from the internet of a Blue Bresse with the Vorwerk color and pattern:



Since the Vorwerk is a heavy, dual purpose breed, a Golden Lakenvelder patterned Bresse seems like it would be a good place to start if you wanted to try to construct something similar. Bresse already have a good amount of the meat and egg qualities that might be lacking if you used true Lakenvelders.

I think I would cross them on Buff Orpingtons because the original Vorwerks were bred using BO's (along with Andalusians, Buff Sussex, and Lakenvelders) in their creation. Plus I have seen buff/ blue or buff/ black orpington crosses, and they tend to have the required solid black heads, like this:



Anyways, I think it would be a fun project, and not terribly difficult. I am too busy caregiving for my grandpa to get started on it at the moment, but hopefully the blue bresse will still be around for at least another year or two, and I will be able to give it a try then. If anybody is already working on a Vorwerk project, I would love to see your progress!

There is a breeder near me who claims to have actual vorwerks. I'll see if I can find the website but it is Killeen TX. I always thought they were not common but available.

It is called JBJ Poultry. They have are member profile on byc but it looks like they haven't been active in the while.

Wow, I will have to ask them if those are the real deal, thanks!

These are stunning! I'm gonna have to research these further and see what I can dig up and see if I could start a project or find some. Hopefully a U.S breeder pops up or someone imports more.

I glad you think so too! The pics I used were of a bresse roo and two orpington pullets, but they have a very similar look to Vorwerks. Here is a pic of the actual German Vorwerks from JBJ Poultry in Texas:



I asked the man who owns them, Brian, if these are the true Large Fowl from Europe, and he said yes! He said he obtained the eggs from someone who specializes in importing rare breed eggs. I'm happy to see they are able to keep two males together. One of the traits of this breed is that the roosters are supposed to be very non-aggressive, and can live together in peace. That's something I would have had a hard time achieving with my project birds!

Fowlcraft said:

I glad you think so too! The pics I used were of a bresse roo and two orpington pullets, but they have a very similar look to Vorwerks. Here is a pic of the actual German Vorwerks from JBJ Poultry in Texas:



I asked the man who owns them, Brian, if these are the true Large Fowl from Europe, and he said yes! He said he obtained the eggs from someone who specializes in importing rare breed eggs. I'm happy to see they are able to keep two males together. One of the traits of this breed is that the roosters are supposed to be very non-aggressive, and can live together in peace. That's something I would have had a hard time achieving with my project birds!

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I just did a bit more research on JBJ and they don't ship... Welp, guess me and the SO are going to have to take a little trip to Texas in the Spring. We've already fallen in love with our Sulmtalers, why not try another Landrace breed?

I live about a half hour from their place and have considered getting some myself. My only hangup is we added 3 pens of Seramas this year and that would mean one more pen to build. It used to be that my wife kept our chicken math in check as she wasn't a big fan but she discovered seramas and boom. I still have them on my list for next year though.

Well dang, they won't even ship hatching eggs? That sucks, but Croamagna, I hope you do go for it. Such a practical AND attractive breed needs to be more widely known and available in this country.

Without having kept them yet its hard to pass judgement, but from everything I've read so far they sound like my ideal breed. Basically a chunky "dual purpose" layer with a good temperament, similar to a barred rock or an Australorp, except with that striking gold Lakenvelder pattern. Striking, but still dark enough that it won't draw more predators, in case you ever want to let your flock free range. And the single comb helps keep them cool in the summer. Where I live in AZ the heat kills more poultry than frostbite.

I have pestered Greenfire Farm about importing some Vorwerks, and they thanked me for the suggestion, but I haven't seen any signs that they intend to. Foo. I may have to go ahead with my fake Vorwerks project after all, unless a miracle happens and I can afford a road trip to Texas for the real thing!

Maybe just maybe I can get ahold of some and ship them. I have never shipped chicks or eggs but there is no time like the present to try. Let me look into it.