Chicken Breed Focus - Maline

[JRNash]

Greenfire!!

6just doesn't seem like enough.

 

[JRNash]

6hens and two roosters would run 480

 

[JRNash]

That type of investment requires a return. The type of work i do would allow it.AS LONG AS DW DIDN'T FIND OUT.

 

[Bine]

I don't know how you can conceal the new chickens from your love but if you are successful tell us, please.
But before I would buy at a hatchery, even one that is into rare breeds, I would contact the breeders club or a livestock conservation club.
Just to get better connected, even when the breed is not in the SOP. Not every breeder is on the internet and many older folks are great in clubbing but not so great with techno.

 

[Our Roost]

Aak!! You are not going to find this breed in any U.S. breeders club period! Any stock you purchase would have came from Green Fire Farms. I am the only other sole source that owns them to my knowledge unless the Canadian sources have been able to ship some hatching eggs across international borders. So nix to that line of thinking. Starting with and purchasing is the easy part. Acquiring future breeding stock of another bloodline is the difficult. If you don't want inbreeding issues, you will need another bloodline to move forward. You might want to question Green Fire on how thy are handling that concern before you purchase them. This breed has yet to be recognized or introduced to any U.S. clubs or Orgs. as yet to my knowledge. It will be a major shock to every one on how they got here in the first place!

 

[Shellz]

I'm betting Greenfire imported 2 or more lines. They do this sometimes with breeds they think may become more popular. They might even hold back a second line for a time, in order to get numbers up & be able to supply demand when inbreeding issues come up for their previous clients.

This is all just speculation on my part, for the most part.

 

[JRNash]

Its definitely worth checking into. Ive also done some research into "clan breeding " puts me back at 6 but with an even split on hens and roos

 

[Bean789]

Aak!! You are not going to find this breed in any U.S. breeders club period! Any stock you purchase would have came from Green Fire Farms. I am the only other sole source that owns them to my knowledge unless the Canadian sources have been able to ship some hatching eggs across international borders. So nix to that line of thinking. Starting with and purchasing is the easy part. Acquiring future breeding stock of another bloodline is the difficult. If you don't want inbreeding issues, you will need another bloodline to move forward. You might want to question Green Fire on how thy are handling that concern before you purchase them. This breed has yet to be recognized or introduced to any U.S. clubs or Orgs. as yet to my knowledge. It will be a major shock to every one on how they got here in the first place!

Hmm...there are others who have importing capabilities, completely legal, here in the US and crossing international borders is not an issue. They choose what breeds they will make money from. I don't own any Malines at present, but perhaps will get some when I visit GFF in July. I will definitely ask them about their lines and inbreeding issues, etc. as I am concerned with other breeds I have from them. Even with the CCLs and FBCM they brought in new blood lines so when/if Malines are included in that line up, I am sure they will introduce them if the economics of doing so would be beneficial to their enterprise. If a person is only obtaining them because they are unique, or pretty or just 'want' some and aren't concerned with the breeding and selling, then it doesn't matter how many lines you have in your coops. You will eventually lose them to old age or illness unless you inbreed but then you can do that a couple of times before it becomes an issue. By that time, more Malines will probably be available from different blood lines to incorporate into your flock or they will disappear completely from the US or those who want more will have to pay the price to people who think they are the only ones who have them. Remember, breeds have been found where there were only a 'few' left in isolated places in the world. Malines are meat birds in other countries like the leghorns and other popular breeds are here in the US. No big deal to them.

 

[JRNash]

We agree to disagree. To me it is a big deal. With a limited supplier and the media fanned hysteria on the flu, it will get harder and harder to move birds across state lines. And if and when it makes the feared fatal jump, NO PUBLIC entity will be able to legally bring birds across international borders. I guess in the end it really boils down to wether you wish to have a sustainable flock of pure breeds or If they will be used for cross breeds

 

[Shellz]

Much like the Sulmtaler...a small breeder got the jump on them first before Greenfire.

In any case, yeah...borders are closing for importation even between Canada & U.S. with all this AI stuff going on. One can hope the hysteria will die down & the flu will be dealt with/eradicated at some point. Who knows when though?

One can also take on the project of out crossing to another breed. This takes time, but the end result would be creating one's own line/strain of Malines. If you can breed them consistently to look like Malines again, they can be called Malines. I'd like to see someone try using Langshans to achieve this, since Langshans were used to create Malines. Would be a great project for someone interested in the possibility of creating a more robust line & bragging rights.

Seek out a mentor who can assist with such a project. An understanding of genetics is very important to get to the finish line faster.