Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[Yellow House Farm]

Almost all large/XL in my experiences. As an example, I just set a Dozen Buff Leghorn Eggs that dwarf the Brahma and Langshan eggs I put in the same batch. Minocra eggs are bigger yet.

Our Ancona run large; the Dorkings run large/XL.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

I missed where it was mentioned where the Dominique would grow faster than a NH. They shouldn't, but really I know nothing of Dominiques. I do find them interesting. I do know NHs.

I think you get my point on size. This thread is called Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry. I think they are two different things Yes, esoecially when you explain your view. I like my NHs, and they fit me. I would not recommend them as homesteading birds, because they are not low input. Different birds for different times. I see breeds like the NH and Delaware as the link between before and now. These two came about as we became serious about large scale intensive rearing of poultry meat. They were it in their time. Their short time. I will say that it was more of a farming, product oriented view that I was discussing the Rocks, Reds, etc... I'm with you on this.
I cannot help but consider the what goes in and what comes out part. When I think of the word homestead, I picture a system where commercial production is the anti thesis. Many of the more modern breeds were developed when grain was cheap and plentiful. The system depends on it, and NHs and Delawares are commercial birds of a different time. I picture lighter more active breeds for "homesteading". That would be like going back in time to me. A time where poultry meat was an extra and seasonal. I like the Mediterranean breeds for this, and to me the Dominique are a bridge between the large dual purpose American breeds and the Mediterraneans. From this view, this is quite sensible.
I like to mention this, because I have come to appreciate the lighter more active breeds. I have not understood why there is not more interest in the Mediterraneans. I probably bought into the flighty notion myself. I get 25% more eggs from my Catalanas and they eat a good bit less than my NHs. They have 100% more personality. I have been surprised to realize that they are more hand tame than my NHs. The cocks/cockerels are especially bold. They have a way about them that wins you over.

This post speaks of experience. They, the Meds, really are much more personable than one is often led to believe, and one does get more with less. For birds that convert forage into food, they're quite something.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Their panic button for "tall being in close proximity" is well developed, but they are excellent on range, and yes, I found that it did calm them and make them more personable.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Their panic button for "tall being in close proximity" is well developed, but they are excellent on range, and yes, I found that it did calm them and make them more personable.

 

[glddog]

The difference between a determined dog and the production of fowl is that it is actually body type. 

Eureka!

 

[mountaindog66]

The difference between a determined dog and the production of fowl is that it is actually body type.

Eureka!

Agree, good lessons here, thanks all. I never would have thought to look into those lighter breeds if not for this discussion. The Dominique has always interested me as well, I like rose-combed birds, cold here in upstate NY. However, we are interested in good meat birds too, and can settle for less eggs in exchange, so as I read here more and more, Yellow House has me very interested in the Dorking. (I like their long history as well).

My interest is not in total homesteading, as in living completely off the grid and self-sufficient (although that would be nice if I had the youth and energy). We are more interested in being able to have some level of food independence, along the lines of the WWII victory gardens and chicken keepers. I know from family there at the time, that having a few hens in the backyard saved many a family in London from going hungry during the days of food rationing in the 40's. Likewise for my husband's family in France during and just after the war - everyone kept chickens if they could.

Perhaps this relegates us to the category of just backyard flock keepers, but I still want to raise them correctly, and I also don't want to raise the chicken equivalent of a $40 tomato

A high-input breed would not be ideal in my case either, neither would the expendable high-production hybrids.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: You have hit the heart of my goals.

I will scale back my flocks bothe chicken and sheep in favor of a different model. I'm not interested in commercial grain any more as that keeps me dependent on the system. Working toward independence and something less than a $40 tomato!! lol Love that analogy.

THank you all for the input of the last several days. Very good real material.

 

[Fentress]

Hello Yellow House Farm,

I have posted the below in a couple of places and have gotten a few responses. Don't you have Dorking's, if I am not mistaken? I need a group of core hens in the flock that would go broody within 4-6 weeks of each other, preferably in the spring. If they are spread out throught the spring and summer and maybe the fall too, it creates management issues with setting up breeding pens, culling cockerels etc. At least at this point I think it would be a problem. Nothing I can't handle, just extra work. thanks.




I posted this on a broody hen thread and did not get a response, so maybe it is more of a breed question.

My first season with broody hens and I have a few questions. Did not expect to have any broodies this year, so I ordered a game breed to use next year. I have BR, NH and SS from a commercial hatchery(Welp). I thought I had made the right decision until late May when 2 Speckled Sussex went broody. I isolated them in the same coop with the flock and they did OK. They did not protect the chicks all that well, but the dominant hens in the flock were only mildly irritated with the whole situation for a few days and then every thing calmed down. NO chicks hurt! I also have lots of free range (room) so everyone could spread out. Then in July 4 more hens went broody, 1 BR, 1 NH and 2 SS. About a third of my hens went broody this year. This is their first season. I thought that was a respectable percentage. Why did the hens go broody so late in the year? Will they go broody earlier next year in their second season? Chicks are for spring? Right? I have heard that late season chicks will never reach their full potential as compared to chicks born in early spring. Can that be true? I have some breed decisions to make. No need to keep a game breed just for brooding, if the other breeds can do it. Also, it seems that standard bred chickens may be more broody that hatchery birds. I guess you need to ask the breeder, but that is the direction I appear to be headed in.

Is late season broodiness characteristic of the heavy breeds? Do game breeds brood more in the spring?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Broodiness is something that you need to select for. Our Dorkings are most broody in late-Spring. I want chicks in March--incubators. For early hatches, incubators are best. Silkie crosses are often praised for natural incubation.

For late spring hatches, dual-purpose breeds are appropriate. You can tempt early brooding by putting fake eggs in the nest. Sometimes it works.

There's a whole learning curve, and it actually takes a good few years of high volume to learn it fast, otherwise, it probably takes the better part of a decade. Eventually, one learns that broodies, especially in the first several weeks, should not be out with the rest of the flock.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

So here's a photo series of prepping 12-week Ancona spatchcocks for the grill. They're delicious. Yes, their size is different than what one has come to expect, but they're an old-fashioned "cut" that is perfect for summer. It allows you to breed heavy and then cull mid-season when growing birds need more room. We have two friends, one a small-scale farmer with a CSA, the other a rigorous home food production gal, who do everything with Anconas. I love our Dorkings and am glad to see interest in them, and all good DP breeds, grow, but I cannot stress enough that I think that a lot of folks would really find their needs met by a good Mediterranean breed. They're gorgeous and elegant, great foragers, solid layers, hardy and vigorous, and good eating. The only place they fail is in the whole roaster department in comparison with a Dorking. However, cut up at roaster age, they're great. I remember a dinner party once at our CSA farmer friend's, she did Chicken Marbella with a couple of roaster age Anconas all cut up--delicious!: