Breeding Buff Leghorns

[Birch Run Farm]

That is a blue wheaten ameraucana cock.

 

[danhonour]

Today was so nice of a fall day ,I was enjoying the chickens for a long time.Here is a current photo of a Buff Leghorn

[/img]hen near the grape vines. Dan Honour

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Nice hen, Dan!

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
Personally I think all this 'heritage' bird breeds is a bunch of hype. What does it have to do with anything? Just breed your birds and enjoy it. Almost all breeds should be considered heritage if you go by when they were first bred and not when they were accepted into the standard. Take black crested white polish, by most people it's not heritage because it wasn't put in the standard until 1996 but most people think it was actually the first variety of Polish. I think its just a big selling gimmick. But if you must do this 'heritage' thing, then all of the Mediterranean breeds should be heritage. But once again if you go by the standard not all varieties should be, even though they were around before such breeds as the Delaware was even a twinkle in the creators eye.

Just my two cents.
David

 

[jake mashburn]

David I think you are missing the point that dan was pointing out its all about years of breeding we were around and knew the old time breeders personally and it was they who passed it all on to us , as for me I am a 5th generation poultry breeder, yes we love our chickens but without the history of poultry breeding and the past breeders and present we would not be where we are today it is about genetics , as with all breeds there is a story behind each and every breed and with the buff leghorns there is a story and history behind them, maybe you are not interested in this but most breeders that know anything about breeding does it is only the people who does not know a lick about breeding poultry gets a breed and all of a sudden they are experts and winning at the shows but give them 6 to 10 years and they have ruined what they have and will have to buy a blue ribbon winner from a master breeder to keep there own birds on track. Keith

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
I wasn't really meaning that. I am talking about how everybody is going 'heritage' now. The APA now has a heritage committee. Just visit the heritage thread on this Forum. I myself love the history of lines and strains of birds. That is not what I'm trying to say. The reason Dan even mentioned this, I believe, (I can't really speak for him), is because of the other thread on this forum. All they are pretty much talking about is Rocks, Reds, and Delawares. I posted pics of my Blue Andalusians on there and they just skipped over it. If you know anything about this 'heritage' poultry movement then you should know what I'm talking about. Even the newest breeds in the standard have history behind them, and that's fascinating, but they aren't heritage by most peoples terms. That's what I'm trying to say. There is a difference between heritage birds and the history of the breed or strains. I am saying 'heritage' birds are a selling gimmick. For example: everyone and there brother that has hatchery rocks, reds, leghorns, etc are selling them as heritage just to make a buck. To them it's not about the history, its about the almighty dollar. If I am not making my point clear, let me know. I'll try to better explain myself.

David

 

[danhonour]

Keith and David are both right.I appreciate quality and I think many of the old master breeders were plenty wise. I also agree that commercialism gets annoying and tiresome.It seems there has to be a quick and cute term to popularize;"Green","Organic","Pet quality",and "Heritage" .To name a few. Common sence ,just is not very common,and worse it is out of fashion.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

http://www.heritagepoultry.org/2010/07/heritage-chicken-definiton/#more-102

Definition
Heritage Chicken must adhere to the following:

1.APA Standard Breed
Heritage Chicken must be from parent and grandparent stock of breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) prior to the mid-20th century; whose genetic line can be traced back multiple generations; and with traits that meet the APA Standard of Perfection guidelines for the breed. Heritage Chicken must be produced and sired by an APA Standard breed. Heritage eggs must be laid by an APA Standard breed.
2.Naturally mating.
Heritage Chicken must be reproduced and genetically maintained through natural mating. Chickens marketed as “heritage” must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock.
3.Long productive outdoor lifespan.
Heritage Chicken must have the genetic ability to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems. Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.
4.Slow growth rate.
Heritage Chicken must have a moderate to slow rate of growth, reaching appropriate market weight for the breed in no less than 14 weeks. This gives the chicken time to develop strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass.
Chickens marketed as “heritage” must include the variety and breed name on the label.

Terms like “heirloom,” “antique,” “old-fashioned,” and “old timey” imply “heritage” and are understood to be synonymous with the definition provided here.

Abbreviated Definition
A Heritage Egg can only be produced by an American Poultry Association Standard breed. A Heritage Chicken is hatched from a heritage egg sired by an American Poultry Association Standard breed established prior to the mid-20th century, is slow growing, naturally mated with a long productive outdoor life.

Prepared and endorsed by the following:

Frank Reese, Reese Turkeys, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Standard Bred Poultry Institute, and American Poultry Association;
Marjorie Bender, Research & Technical Program Director, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy;
D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD., Technical Advisor, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and Professor, Veterinary Pathology and Genetics, Virginia Tech;
Don Schrider, Communications Director, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy;
Don Bixby, Technical Program Manager, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy;
R. Scott Beyer, PhD, Associate Professor, Poultry Nutrition Management, Kansas State University;
Danny Williamson, Windmill Farm, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, and American Poultry Association;
Anne Fanatico, PhD, Poultry Program Specialist, National Center for Appropriate Technology;
Kenneth E. Anderson, Professor, Poultry Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University; and
Anne Malleau, BSc. Agr, MSc., MBA Agr, Director of Research and Education, Animal Compassion FoundationTM;
Barbara Bowman, Boss Dog Marketing, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Board of Directors, Slow Food USA​

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

This is what the ALBC are using as a guide for heritage. On their website they show a White face Black Spanish as a heritage. So by that standard, the Buff and all Leghorns would be heritage.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
No, by that standard the SINGLE comb Buff would be 'heritage' but the ROSE comb wouldn't be. And that's not right. One of many examples I can give, but since this is a thread about buff leghorns, I'm trying to get it back on track after I derailed it.

David