Getting to know the different breeds

[chickenliz]

Hi there,

I'm a novice chicken-keeper. I've been the go-to person in my town for placing your hens when you have to move for about 4 years, and have ended up with a lovely flock of popular breed mutts. I've only had standard-sized birds, and I've only had hens. We just moved and have a lot of space, and I have my first chance to start a flock from scratch. Since I plan on having a flock for many decades, I'm interested in getting more serious about raising and maintaining rare or heritage breeds. Now it's just a matter of finding and falling in love with that special breed, or breeds. We live near a small hatchery that specializes in rare and heritage varieties, and I've spent way to much time trying to order chicks. My original plan was to order 3 varieties, get a rooster and 5 hens of each. But I'm curious about too many of them and can't narrow down to three. My order sheet looks like one or two pullet chicks from 8 different varieties...has anybody done an into-to-chicken-genetic-diversity sampler pack and had it work out okay? And if I get half a dozen varieties of chickens just to learn from (I've tried to pick birds that are listed as being docile so nobody will be predisposed to bullying), who should I pick for roosters?

Also, if anybody is interested in editing my list, I've got silkies, marans, speckled sussex, mottled java, plymouth rocks (I just like them, I know they're more common), gold brabanters, and ameraucanas (my kids like the eggs).

Thanks,

 

[DaddyBird]

If you want to get involved and serious with heritage breeds I strongly encourage you to reach out to and join the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (www.albc-usa.org) They are a great group of people and are extremely supportive. They will even help you determine what breeds might be right for you based on your particular preferences and geography. It is inexpensive and they have a master breeder program that will help you get where you want to be with the breeds you choose. They can also help you identify stock to start your flock as they are tracking, collecting and archiving genetis from heritage flocks across the country. Many of the "heritage" breeds from hatcheries have had another breed (usually leghorn) crossed into the stock to up egg production. After all- more eggs = more chicks= more money.

If you want to be a serious breeder and aid with the conservation of our agricultural history, please check them out.