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Well, the breed I'm working on is Partridge Plymouth Rocks. Rocks are traditionally dual purpose but the actual numbers of PR's that are APA standard, near SQ and doing dual purpose are almost non-existent. There may be one decent sized flock in the US. If it still exists, it was sold, I haven't found the buyer.
So with a lot of help, I'm acquiring birds to create a heritage flock. Partridge cochins helped create the Partridge Rocks and I'm talking to folks about getting those in. I've got a SQ White breeder to help. There are several people at Crohio helping me try to track down anyone with young high quality PR's and to find the old Krueger PR flock. I'm set to bring in dorkings, also a part of the breed.
It's true if they just lived here and all I did was have them as dual purpose birds, then yeah, I'd have done little. But... I will show, I will donate good young birds to 4H/FFA and other interested youths, because only if someone else takes up the reins later will it make any sense. I will network with the people who already love their hatchery PRs, I'll sell eggs eventually. I'll help others interested in widening the genepool, because it's so small now it needs help. I've already had people ask for birds. LOL Not parting with anything for at least a year.
It means having, in the end, far more good birds than a simple small laying/meat flock. I have nine acres, that's okay. And in the end my daughter gets house, land and the flock. She's jazzed. I can't stand the idea that the breed, bred to standard, has all but fallen away.
If I can, even just within my own community, get more people interested in good quality PR's then I will have done something for the breed. It is all I can do. This week is scrounge more lumber, put up more fence and dink along to getting in those PC's next month.
