HOLD THE PRESSES: Duane Urch is Done?!/Future of American Purebred Poultry

[Frog Bog]

Are the flocks being dispersed?

I apologize if this has been mentioned before.

 

[exop]

I absolutely agree that a source like this can be an excellent stockpile of genetic material. We also need to remember that Duane ran a HATCHERY, and while he may have selected a bit more carefully towards the standard, his breeding flocks would have been very similar to what we see in the Cackle flock videos. He wasn't exactly doing pairs and trios and toe punching, etc.

I've always appreciated Cackle's birds in every breed I've got and I'm thankful they're there and maintaining flocks of a number of rare breeds for those of us that want to try our hand at them.

Duane Urch was very close to pairs and trios in many breeds toward the end. Remember how many breeds and varieties he (70-80 years old) and his son in law (50s -60s) were caring for and selling. Not just large fowl, but geese, turkeys, bantams. This was not a large commercial hatchery.

 

[exop]

Are the flocks being dispersed?

I apologize if this has been mentioned before.

Mr. Urch's? They were dispersed some time ago.

 

[exop]

Let's change this around a bit. I still have Houdans ordered from Duane Urch in 2013, along with a couple of other breeds. Who else is out there with Duane Urch stock? Let's make this a roll call.

Starting a new thread.

Roll call at:
Duane Urch stock locator thread

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Maybe this is crazy talk and far fetched but is it? There's people keeping chickens in their houses. Dressing them up in clothes and putting diapers on them. People out walking chickens on leashes.
I'll end my rant there but the tides are turning.

There was a video on YouTube about a guy sailing across the ocean with his pet chicken aboard. I commented that hopefully he won't get stranded on some deserted island for a long time otherwise his chicken friend would serve as sustenance.
Needless to say the snowflakes jumped on board and tried to crucify me digitally it was hilarious. But yes sometimes you have to step back and ground yourself and understand what chickens are and what they're for.

 

[Independence]

I know this is an old post but based on my correspondence with breeders and conservancy groups around the country, backyard flocksters are keeping many of the rare and endangered breeds from going extinct. That should count for something in my book.

 

[allosaurusrock]

I know this is an old post but based on my correspondence with breeders and conservancy groups around the country, backyard flocksters are keeping many of the rare and endangered breeds from going extinct. That should count for something in my book.

There have always been these people, and they are super important. The problem is that there are a lot less of them. I see less people at shows each year. All of my local poultry clubs, save for the serama group, are disbanded. The shows are now put on by individuals rather than clubs.

Edit: I’m realizing what you mean by your reply now after rereading the first page of this thread. I disagree with what they were saying. If we want to preserve various poultry and livestock breeds, we need to encourage backyard pet people to join us at shows and to help them get the education they need surrounding poultry. I got into it through backyard pets, as did a lot of breeders that I know, and I’m now an SCNA judge (yes I know, not your preferred heritage breed) and do intend to breed and show Andalusians at some point in the future, assuming my health inproves.