Heritage Breed?

[seriousbill]

I agree that "heritage" has to do with sustainability, but, to me, it also has a sense of the historic. The SPPA, for instance, tends to focus on this aspect of it.

Also, a lot of people do use the term "heritage" to refer specifically to American heritage breeds, because it offers a tidy way to differentiate these historic birds from other "rare" types. I'm not saying it has to be defined this narrowly, only that this is one of the more common usages.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Heritage to me would depend on an individuals heritage.
There are many old breeds that pre-date America and depending on ones heritage --- it would determine what I deem heritage breeds.

I think.

Lisa

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Marans were originated in the mid 1800's in Marans, France. I know they are relativly new to the US but they are most definately a old breed.

 

[herbsherbsflowers]

It may be difficult to find a good strain of heritage breeds. We came into this not knowing much about chickens, but having read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. She advocates raising heritage breeds for a variety of reasons, and we were convinced. We looked online and found a description of the Barred Holland, which seemed like a good breed for us, so we ordered some from Ideal. We got cute little gray fuzz balls and immediately fell in love. They imprinted on my husband who spent the most time with them. Anyway, we have been through the whole process of raising 10 chicks, harvesting the extra roosters, building a coop and everything and now they have begun to lay. Barred Hollands are supposed to lay white eggs. The eggs we get from our chickens are not white. They are tan. I called and talked to the folks at Ideal and they said wait a few weeks, sometimes they are different when they are young. Well, it has been about 4 weeks now and they are still the same color. Only two or our five hens are laying. The other three are beginning to show color in their combs and we hope they will start soon. I'm curious to see what they lay. So now what do I do? We have put a lot of effort into these chicks and are attached to them. I don't want to get rid of them and start over again. Raising chicks is hard work. So we have decided to go with whatever we have got. I think they may have been crossed back with Barred Rocks and therefore they have the tinted eggs. Do more research about breeders if you really really want a pure heritage breed or any breed.

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
I'm sorry for your disappointing experience. Unfortunately, some of the hatcheries do outcross rare breeds in order to have enough birds to fill their orders. In your case, the tinted eggs were a dead giveaway that this was the case. With other breeds it can be a little harder to tell, but the traces are usually there to a trained eye. When you think about it, if a bird is "rare," how could it be that all you have to do to get it is pick up a phone and call a hatchery? I know folks have good intentions about saving heritage breeds when they do this, but I think if they really sit back and think about it, they'll realize that, in the case of birds that are on "critical" lists, this simply doesn't add up.

If they say to themselves, "Okay, I'm going to get some Dominiques, or some Delawares, or some Hollands, but I'm not going to get hachery birds...so now what do I do?" Then they get an idea of what "rare" really means, LOL.

So, as you so rightly say: people need to do some research.

Hollands are extremely rare. The only hatchery I know of that actually has them is Sand Hill, and I can't even guarantee what those would be like, but that's probably your best bet short of a breeder, and those are scarce. Hopefully, someone else will be able to point you toward one.

 

[klf73]

Quote:
That is the problem with the hatcheries. So many times people post about ordering one breed only to have them grow out with the wrong comb, wrong leg color, wrong pattern, etc. All of my breeds came from breeders that do not have hatchery stock(with maybe the exception of the Ancona, not sure where she got those). I ordered some Delawares from a hatchery then cancelled when I found out about the difference between heritage and hatchery. I am now on a list for Heritage Delawares for next year. If you don't have to wait for the birds, then it is probably hatchery stock. It seems like most of the people with heritage stock have a wait list.
It all depends why you have your chickens. I love a challenge(hence, half my breeds) and love to have projects(again, a lot of my birds will be used as such). I have always been into the rare and unusual. If you are limited by the number of chickens you can have then you need to make a decision, keep the ones you have or get what you really wanted. If you are not limited then I would keep them as egg layers. If you are limited then I would suggest finding a breeder and getting yourself on a list, it may take a year or more depending on the breed. You can easily sell laying hens, it's not hard, when the time comes to get the new birds. If you love your birds, then keep them and enjoy them and look for a breeder in a few years for replacements. It really is all about what you are looking for.....JMHO. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[speckledhen]

If they say to themselves, "Okay, I'm going to get some Dominiques, or some Delawares, or some Hollands, but I'm not going to get hachery birds...so now what do I do?" Then they get an idea of what "rare" really means, LOL.

Ain't it the truth? I'm so happy to have my Delawares. They are considered critical and it's very hard to find any that are not hatchery stock. Thanks to you, Janet, I have an awesome start on a nice flock of Delawares. It's a fitting breed, a true American breed, and goes quite well with our the theme we started with heirloom, rare apple trees that my DH and I love.​

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Ain't it the truth? I'm so happy to have my Delawares. They are considered critical and it's very hard to find any that are not hatchery stock. Thanks to you, Janet, I have an awesome start on a nice flock of Delawares. It's a fitting breed, a true American breed, and goes quite well with our the theme we started with heirloom, rare apple trees that my DH and I love.

Thanks, Cyn!

I'm glad you like them. It took me a couple of years of research to find the breeders I put my flock together from. But my job wasn't as hard as herbsherbsflowers is. Goodness, Hollands are like hen's teeth.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree on the Hollands. The only pictures of their eggs I've seen, from a BYCer maybe a year ago, have been tinted, not white. If you get a good Holland, count yourself extremely fortunate.

 

[walkswithdog]

Cyn lol and we will be dealing for barred and delawares next year. I'm watching you. LOL

Delawares were used in creating the partridge because of the size issue. I did the whole gene thing sorting out how many I have to use, keep, etc. This ought to be difficult. chuckle

Several pullets and a few of these cockerals have it going on, so I'm content growing the monsters out til spring. Ponder is putting on weight and is out in the main flock/coop with everyone else now. So far so good.

Spring is going to be a better time to raise the next batch.

I thought Partridge Rocks weren't rare until I tried to find heritage and show quality flocks. LOL the three biggest flocks of SQ Partridge Rocks were combined sold, traded and culled two years ago. The man who has the remainder for show - has a fertility problem. (screaming now)

That's culling too hard for pretty.

The two heritage flocks I've located... are just that, two of them and still under construction.

Finding and creating a heritage flock is no simple thing. I am going to try some Sandhill birds for comparison. Both PR's and Dels.

At least Sandhill is TRYING to get quality going.