Chicken Breed Focus - Maline

[yudash2000]

Or Dominique? I am so ignorant

 

[JRNash]

60$ a bird is looking better and better

 

[Shellz]

Not a Dominique or Barred Plymouth Rock. Not a Marans either. Not many are aware of this breed south of Canada. There's probably still places in Canada that haven't heard of them either.

The Malines in Canada are usually $60-$75 for a dozen hatching eggs. Chicks $15 each. Adult birds $25 each.

 

[Bean789]

I think what gets me about these rare breeds is that it takes a lot of time, $$, patience to grow them out and work with them. Then you eat them.

I understand the food chain, people raise chickens for food and if the Zombie Apocalypse occurred tomorrow, I am sure I could harvest one of my flock for food.

GFF at least has words to the effect of trying to preserve this breed while at the same time bringing them to the US so that we can join in that campaign and enjoy these beaties. I don't think you will see this breed on a hatchery listing any time soon.

Perhaps GFF and others who are importing the hatching eggs from Belgium, will be able to share/exchange/introduce new blood lines. I guess the problem would be mostly that every few years is not quick enough for this to happen.

In my above comments, it was not my intention to chastise anyone for eating their birds, no matter what the breed. I guess I am a bit jealous in that you have them readily available and I will have to pay a small 'fortune' from my earnings to get them from GFF and they are 'just up the road a piece" from me here in FL. I also have Sulmtalers but only because I love crested breeds and they are nice chickens for that purpose as well as the eggs they will lay, and I hatched them from purchased eggs. I have not been able to find the Maline hatching eggs....yet....

 

[Shellz]

Sulmtalers are no slouches either. Glad you have them. I looked into Sulmtalers at one point, but found them hard to acquire in Canada at the time.

The time will come when Malines will be more affordable in the U.S. It just takes time!

 

[Our Roost]

Bean789, I trust that GFF is no backyard chicken owner and they have a great knack of working with breeds. They have the rare breeds that others don't and yes, you will pay for what you get. I don't know what they have as far as malines stock now, but only know what they started with. Check with me next spring for hatching eggs.

 

[JRNash]

Their add points out its more of a utility strain. That they have had some yellow skins hatched. It's a very hefty price for something that "needs work " Just depends what your after.

 

[JRNash]

For the same money that the minimum 6 chicks cost I could buy over 60 barred hollands. 8#roo 6#hen. Not in the same class as the malines. But like the malines a Starting point for my own dual purpose needs. I prefer a yellow skin and white eggs.

 

[JRNash]

I'd love to get some malines at a future date. Solely for the size and beauty

 

[IamSamSam]

Ok million dollar question Do Australia have this bred?