A Heritage of Perfection: Standard-bred Large Fowl

[bnjrob]

Does anyone know of a local breeder of Plymouth Rocks (not barred) in the Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania (lower) areas? I'm looking for chicks.

Have you checked the online directories at standardbreedpoultry.com and the Livestock Conservancy? The APA also has listings in their yearbook for breeders.

Be aware that not all breeders will sell chicks, since they wouldn't be able to guarantee that the chicks would grow up to adhere closely to their breed standard.

 

[gjensen]

Does anyone know of a local breeder of Plymouth Rocks (not barred) in the Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania (lower) areas? I'm looking for chicks.

Dick Horstman has Partridge and Silver Laced, if you want to try something other than the common varieties Barred and White. Dick does sell chicks etc. There is a breeder of Buff in Virginia, but I do not know if he sells chicks. As already mentioned, many breeders do not sell chicks. Most do not.

The ALBC breeder list is largely made up of hatchery quality birds. It is a buyer beware.

 

[Sweetpea325]

Quote: Thank you! I started to realize The ALBC breeder list is not accurate for true heritage poultry as I contacted many people they had and they all got there heritage chickens from hatcheries claiming to have true heritage poultry.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The whole "heritage" label is in itself a ball of confusion and used as marketing flim flam in far too many cases. Buyer beware. "Imported" is another boondoggle that merely raised lots of money for the sellers from gullible buyers.

What people SHOULD be looking for it the term "Standard bred" or "bred to the Standard" when searching for fowl. And, for that to be verified, the birds need to be publicly and independently judged as such. Peer critique is essential.

 

[bnjrob]

Thank you! I started to realize The ALBC breeder list is not accurate for true heritage poultry as I contacted many people they had and they all got there heritage chickens from hatcheries claiming to have true heritage poultry.

Ugh, that sucks. Does pay to ask questions about the birds. I had a talk with a guy at the feed store the other day about poultry and even then, I still don't think he believed me that there is a difference between standard bred and hatchery stock.

 

[chicken pickin]

The whole "heritage" label is in itself a ball of confusion and used as marketing flim flam in far too many cases. Buyer beware. "Imported" is another boondoggle that merely raised lots of money for the sellers from gullible buyers.

What people SHOULD be looking for it the term "Standard bred" or "bred to the Standard" when searching for fowl. And, for that to be verified, the birds need to be publicly and independently judged as such. Peer critique is essential.

Is it common practice for a small flock owner who is breeding to Standard to have someone come out to your home and view your birds. I know many go to shows and will have birds judge that way, but for those that don't show what might be some suggestions.

On a Barred Rock note, I had a woman drive to me to pick up one of our males very recently. She has Standard bred Barred Rocks from her fathers flock and has been looking for a new male to introduce new blood. She is the daughter of a long time Standard bred Rock breeder who now currently resides in PA. Im not certain of the quality of his lines but she says she was raised with Rocks and growing up attended many many shows with her Father. While she was here we had some good Rock conversation and she was impressed with our birds, she wanted to purchase a few pullets along with the cockerel but I wasn't quite ready to let any pullets go. She was very impressed with one of my males and said, to her, he had great type

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Is it common practice for a small flock owner who is breeding to Standard to have someone come out to your home and view your birds. I know many go to shows and will have birds judge that way, but for those that don't show what might be some suggestions.

On a Barred Rock note, I had a woman drive to me to pick up one of our males very recently. She has Standard bred Barred Rocks from her fathers flock and has been looking for a new male to introduce new blood. She is the daughter of a long time Standard bred Rock breeder who now currently resides in PA. Im not certain of the quality of his lines but she says she was raised with Rocks and growing up attended many many shows with her Father. While she was here we had some good Rock conversation and she was impressed with our birds, she wanted to purchase a few pullets along with the cockerel but I wasn't quite ready to let any pullets go. She was very impressed with one of my males and said, to her, he had great type

The New Hampshire show is always the 2nd Sunday in October. it's held at the Deerfield Fair grounds/ Search the web for "The New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers Association."

 

[Fred's Hens]

The New Hampshire show is always the 2nd Sunday in October. it's held at the Deerfield Fair grounds/ Search the web for "The New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers Association."

What Joseph, aka YHF, a newly minted APA judge himself, is trying to say is pretty simple. If you want your birds judged against both the written word of the Standard and compared and contrasted to others of your peers who are also working with the breed, take some of your best, put them up in a conditioning cage, clean them up and handle them until they are well conditioned to handling and take them to a quality show near you.

There you will be able to compare/contrast them to your breeding peers and have a judge handle them and critique them. It'll only cost you $4 a bird to enter them and you'll have a terrific weekend of endless chicken talk.

 

[Wisher1000]

I went to Newnan, GA this past weekend to the Chattahoochee Valley Poultry Show. There were 14 Campines there. I took 13 Campines and a youth exhibitor took one. I didn't win anything, but the young lady won Reserve Champion Large Fowl Youth with her Silver Campine Cockerel!

We hugged and high-fived and grinned ear to ear! It was fun to see the excitement on her face as well as the faces of her parents. I was just a proud as they were.






Oh, I forgot to mention, she bought the cockerel from me two weeks ago.

 

[chicken pickin]

I went to Newnan, GA this past weekend to the Chattahoochee Valley Poultry Show.  There were 14 Campines there.  I took 13 Campines and a youth exhibitor took one.  I didn't win anything, but the young lady won Reserve Grand Champion Large Fowl Youth with her Silver Campine Cockerel! 

We hugged and high-fived and grinned ear to ear!  It was fun to see the excitement on her face as well as the faces of her parents.  I was just a proud as they were. 






Oh, I forgot to mention, she bought the cockerel from me two weeks ago.

I left an ovation but my phone incorrectly auto corrected.

Congrats, to her and you.