Ancient Breeds

[noitulover]

For some time now, I have been interested in obtaining a few flocks of ancient breeds of chickens.

The two that interest me currently are Dorkings and Egyptian Fayoumis.

Are there other breeds you consider to be significant in the history of poultry? (excluding of course, breeds developed in more recent times, preferably breeds traceable to B.C. or early A.D.)

Information on the two has been kind of hard to come by. The information I find, is all the same, just reworded slightly.

Anyone have any facts on these?

 

[saladin]

Other Ancient Breeds:

Asil (Oldest historically documented breed)
Games (Now called Old English, American, Spanish, Irish: these have been crossed within the last few hundred years but are still considered "pure")
Malayoid type fowl
Ga Cua
Ga Don

 

[becky3086]

Polish are one of the oldest known crested breeds being pure bred as far back as the 16th century. Maybe not quite ancient, lol.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

I believe Silkies are quite old. I remember reading something about how Marco Polo was introduced to them. Not quite BC time but still a loooong time ago.

 

[TimG]

Something to consider: the current version of a 2000 year old breed probably doesn't look exactly like the ancient version. In fact, probably looks a lot different.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Bingo

They're SO underappreciated and underrated, and amazing breeds! Definitely worth keeping, but sadly also rare to find and often if found - They're crossbred.

 

[Chris09]

noitulover,
I believe that you are going to find out that most game fowl like the Oriental, Spanish, Irish, Old English, etc. are going to date back pretty far, some if not most even further back than the Dorkings and Egyptian Fayoumis.

Chris

 

[Birch Run Farm]

How about ancient South American breeds?

 

[saladin]

Quote:
Bingo

They're SO underappreciated and underrated, and amazing breeds! Definitely worth keeping, but sadly also rare to find and often if found - They're crossbred.

Mine aren't!