Rarest breed of chicken in the US?

Quote:
They do not appear to be of very good quality in the pics.

Walt

I've seen quite a few of the pidly little production strain orps, but only a few of the truly huge and meaty orps. I've found that the Buffs have a bit of the better body type, cause they aren't generally bred for color.

I'm sorry, but some of those who claim to have the true heritage stock are mistaken. Not just Orps, but other breeds as well.

Oh of course! It is why we mentioned Rhode Island Reds being a rare breed all the time. Rose combed ones are really, really rare. (and RIW's) but even true Heritage Type, I've only seen four people on BYC have them. . .

Another thing I've noticed is that Rosecomb varieties of many breeds are a rare thing to see. I am yet to see any rosecombed Standard Leghorns either. I'm talking the browns and not the whites. These also tend to be larger than their production counter parts.

Many of the larger and meatier breeds have been ruined by the demand for egg layers. RIR's, Orps, Leghorns, it's the same story every time.

i'm sure there are more out there. Most of the True Heritage breeders are old timers who can't even use a computer.

What about the "red caps" by McMurray? Sorry if that was already stated, didn't read all of the replies.

Quote:
I saw some beauties at the Eastern IA Chicken show this past weekend. Adorable!

Mcmurray seems to have quite a few rareish breeds on there. I'm always afraid I'll get some stupid production strain if I order from hatcheries, though.

Quote:
Think I heard Craig Russell had some, he is the president of the SPPA.. If nothing else, I'm sure he can point you in the right direction for a new start. http://feathersite.com/Poultry/SPPA/SPPA.html


-Daniel

Thank you I was thinking of this fellow last night when I was trying to help this fellow find some names to contact. One of the problems I get my self in to is people say they have a breed of chickens like you mentioned Orps or Reds ect then when we dig in and see the picctures they are Hatchery stuff. Dont even look close to the breed. If you start out with this stock it would take twenty years to get to the level that say Craig Russell has right now. So its always better to go for the best stock available and then try to improve them as best you can. That is the purpose to be a good student to the standard of perfection and to try to keep the gene pool going for the breed you wish to have.

I just found out last night in my home state of Washington there is some nice White Cornish large fowl and Black Austrolorp large fowl out of Calif. So at least we got to sources that we may be able to get to that are above average type and colored birds.

I have a freind who could get eggs from these two people hatch them and then ship the chicks at five weeks to me or a person who would want this stock to start with.

I am thinking of the White Cornish as they are the old Lewis Strait line.

Thanks for helping on the Dorkings. I will also tell him about your whites I was on your web site and remembered seeing them a week ago but it takes me a while to try to figure out all the breeds I have seen and liked.


Also super rare are light sussex large fowl I remember seeing these on your web site from Washington State. I dont know much about this breed but the color sure looked sharp. They came from Europe and how long ago? bob

http://www.rarefeathers.com/apps/webstore/products/show/958446

Who knows what the next breed will be. I got a message from a lady in the deep south who says she has Stantard Rhode Island Reds from a master breeder who shows at the Lake City Fla show. Dont know who this person may be but may find another lost strain of Reds maybe my old line.

I am still looking for Partridge Plymouth Rocks from the old Tommy Stanley line from Virgina. Joel Gilman sells hundreds of chicks per year surely some one out there got chicks from him . He has very good Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. bob

The two standard white cornish breeders in WA state that I know of have very few of them.

Ilia
At the show in Caldwell, ID there were some very nice, large, and very very dark mahogany rose comb RIRs in standard. They were very impressive.... I can't remember who had them, but you might check with the Idaho Bird Breeders club if you are seriously looking.