Old and Rare Breeds

[saladin]

I'm glad it was helpful. Both Craig and myself had been getting questions regarding the 'how' and 'why' of grading on an almost daily bases for the past couple of months. Monte and I decided we should dedicate this past Bulletin to the subject. For those raising extremely rare breeds 'grading' can mean the difference between saving and extinction. It is also extremely useful in improving a breed.

 

[preventec47]

Obviously there are some experts here that really know all about the old breeds.

On the theory that modern breeding from old breeds to produce higher performing
though more fragile types that are less hardy, less self sufficient, require more
attention and drugs etc ( kind of like race horses compared to donkeys )....

I'd like suggestions of breeds that I can turn loose in Atlanta GA inside
a 3 acre fenced in area with a 1 acre pond with 15 ducks and a variety
of bushes and trees. I am in an urban area and dont really see foxes
and coyotes but I'd like to think these chickens would be flyers and roost
in the trees. My ducks are self sufficient though I do feed chicken scratch
on the coldest of winter nights.

For conversation purposes, If I could also help perpetuate an old rare
heritage breed etc. I would spend the extra money and limit the birds
to just the one type to prevent interbreeding between types that is so prevalent
with my ducks. Just like the muscovy ducks are the better survivors ( because
they are closest to their wild ancestors ) I'm thinking there must be similar
chicken breeds that are closer to their wild ancestors as well.

I had a friend who suggested guineas when I described my intentions but
to me chickens would be far more interesting. Their only requirement is
to provide entertainment and survival... I dont need eggs or meat etc.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

 

[cgmccary]

Obviously there are some experts here that really know all about the old breeds.

On the theory that modern breeding from old breeds to produce higher performing
though more fragile types that are less hardy, less self sufficient, require more
attention and drugs etc ( kind of like race horses compared to donkeys )....

I'd like suggestions of breeds that I can turn loose in Atlanta GA inside
a 3 acre fenced in area with a 1 acre pond with 15 ducks and a variety
of bushes and trees. I am in an urban area and dont really see foxes
and coyotes but I'd like to think these chickens would be flyers and roost
in the trees. My ducks are self sufficient though I do feed chicken scratch
on the coldest of winter nights.

For conversation purposes, If I could also help perpetuate an old rare
heritage breed etc. I would spend the extra money and limit the birds
to just the one type to prevent interbreeding between types that is so prevalent
with my ducks. Just like the muscovy ducks are the better survivors ( because
they are closest to their wild ancestors ) I'm thinking there must be similar
chicken breeds that are closer to their wild ancestors as well.

I had a friend who suggested guineas when I described my intentions but
to me chickens would be far more interesting. Their only requirement is
to provide entertainment and survival... I dont need eggs or meat etc.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

I would like to suggest La Fleche as a possibility. They are somewhat undersized and what i will be working on but mine are great layers.

I am about an hour just west of you across the state line in Alabama (off I-20). I have some La Fleche I have recently acquired & stated with and they are quite the flyers & remind me of Guineas in the foraging habits.

As I have not culled because I am letting them grow up, I have them aplenty right now. They're fast, so far as I can tell also hardy (I have only lost one to my large Buckeye rooster hitting him just right), self-reliant, and they are rare. I find that they are more people friendly than given credit.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

LaFleche is a good idea. I've not raised them but a poultry judge friend of mine has a lot of flocks of them as his primary bird of interest.
2 other breeds I would suggest for your situation are Hamburgs and Black Penedesencas. Both very predator resistant. Hamburgs are more of an egg breed and produce very well. A lighter bird that flies well.
The Black Penedesenca is a little bigger as a DP breed but lay very well and a bonus is the very dark big eggs. They don't like to fly but run like the wind. I love them.
Both breeds are very wary. Nothing can sneak up on them.

Nighttime will still be an issue for possums, coons and owls love trees too.

 

[cgmccary]

The Spring Bulletin of the SPPA focused entirely on 'Grading.' I've heard nothing but great things concerning the articles. The Summer Bulletin will focus on the Sussex breed. Now would be a great time to send in dues and become a member.

I enjoyed the articles on grading as well. It was a great read. Thanks a bunch!

 

[preventec47]

LaFleche is a good idea.
2 other breeds I would suggest for your situation are Hamburgs and Black Penedesencas. Both very predator resistant. Hamburgs are more of an egg breed and produce very well. A lighter bird that flies well.

The Black Penedesenca is a little bigger as a DP breed but lay very well and a bonus is the very dark big eggs. They don't like to fly but run like the wind.
Both breeds are very wary. Nothing can sneak up on them.

Nighttime will still be an issue for possums, coons and owls love trees too.

I think being wary is good for survival. The ducks that swim all night survive whereas
the ones that sleep on the bank tend to disappear over time.

Also, being lighter probably helps the LaFleche to fly better and for my purposes
probably survive longer. Thanks for the great info

 

[Hangtown Farms]

LaFleche is a good idea. I've not raised them but a poultry judge friend of mine has a lot of flocks of them as his primary bird of interest.
2 other breeds I would suggest for your situation are Hamburgs and Black Penedesencas. Both very predator resistant. Hamburgs are more of an egg breed and produce very well. A lighter bird that flies well.
The Black Penedesenca is a little bigger as a DP breed but lay very well and a bonus is the very dark big eggs. They don't like to fly but run like the wind. I love them.
Both breeds are very wary. Nothing can sneak up on them.

Nighttime will still be an issue for possums, coons and owls love trees too.

My Penedesenca are the most alert birds I have seen. A added bonus is they are super heat tolerant as well

 

[fowlman01]

Obviously there are some experts here that really know all about the old breeds.

On the theory that modern breeding from old breeds to produce higher performing
though more fragile types that are less hardy, less self sufficient, require more
attention and drugs etc ( kind of like race horses compared to donkeys )....

I'd like suggestions of breeds that I can turn loose in Atlanta GA inside
a 3 acre fenced in area with a 1 acre pond with 15 ducks and a variety
of bushes and trees. I am in an urban area and dont really see foxes
and coyotes but I'd like to think these chickens would be flyers and roost
in the trees. My ducks are self sufficient though I do feed chicken scratch
on the coldest of winter nights.

For conversation purposes, If I could also help perpetuate an old rare
heritage breed etc. I would spend the extra money and limit the birds
to just the one type to prevent interbreeding between types that is so prevalent
with my ducks. Just like the muscovy ducks are the better survivors ( because
they are closest to their wild ancestors ) I'm thinking there must be similar
chicken breeds that are closer to their wild ancestors as well.

I had a friend who suggested guineas when I described my intentions but
to me chickens would be far more interesting. Their only requirement is
to provide entertainment and survival... I dont need eggs or meat etc.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Maybe you have been reading too many posts on BYC. Real breeders make real strong birds.....and usually don't medicate. There is no reason that any breed can't be strong if they are bred correctly. If these heritage birds don't perform they will die out. So IMO this is not a donkey/racehorse situation with accomplished breeders. The birds that aren't disease resistant and don't perform well end up planted in the garden here.

Roosting in trees is just inconvenient to racoons......they will push them off the tree and kill them in the dark on the ground. You may think you don't have some of these predators, but once you put some birds on the ground you will find out that you probably have a lot of them around. I have something killing 25 lb geese and I thought it couldn't be a raccoon....but guess what....it is. The time is correct in this photo, but the year etc I don't set. Now that I know what it is I should have it by tomorrow morning. you need to have some kind of security if you raise chickens....you can't count on them getting away from a predator.



Walt

 

[catdaddyfro]

I have a friend that gave me a couple of American Game chickens a few years back. he lets them sleep out in nature I asked him once about if he doesn't have problems with critters, owls and such he said no these are games man they are tough they can handle their own selves. Well here a few weeks ago his Dad asked if I still had one of those game boys left, I told him I did he was in a coop awaiting to be used as a service male, he asked if they could borrow him to put with their leftover game hens I told him no but that I would be glad to hatch him some out though. I keep mine in lock up at nightime, they still don't so if I gave them this boy then this strain would be forever more gone.

Jeff

 

[gjensen]

Everything likes chicken. They do not know or care what kind it is.