there is a fairly sizable and stable feral chicken population in the state woods just south of where I live( guinea fowl too, though there isn't quite as many of them), that has grown from escaped farm birds and has been there (according to DEC) since the 80s... I know a couple people who call them summertime pheasant, because you can legally hunt them during the summer months, and they present the same challenges as any other game bird... I have seen them once or twice when I am out in the woods... they are a little scrawny looking, mostly shades of brown and black, and small single combs, but what occurs to me is that the must be hardy as all get out to not only survive the harsh winters here in upstate NY, but also to not have been wiped out by the various predators we have... I was talking to a local farmer/breeder who is interested in possibly developing a breed from them, if he could catch some... take what mother nature has done in the last few decades and try to get a few stable bloodlines out of it... needless to say, since I am starting to develop an interest in poultry breeding, I was intrigued...I imagine it would sort of be the mustang of the chicken world... I am going to try to keep in touch with the guy, maybe try to get a bird or two off of him if he starts breeding them, if for no other reason that the novelty... does anyone on here have any knowledge or experience about breeding or raising feral birds?
