Old and Rare Breeds

[Yellow House Farm]

Great post, what do you mean by Historically significant varieties?

There are varieties within these multi-varietied breeds that are the reason for which the breeds hit the map in the first place. There are others varieties that always enjoyed a level of popularity in a way riding the coat tails of the original varieties. Then, there are other varieties that never really were anything but a project.

Take Dorkings. Whites are, within dependible recorded history, the original variety, and were the variety that made the reputation of Dorking meat. Eventually, SG Dorkings rose to the fore in the US. Red Dorkings have been a constant presence in the side lines. Colored Dorkings have probably sung their last song. Cuckoo Dorkings have never had any real historical relevance in comparison to the other varieties.

A similar list could be built for ther multi-varietied breeds, and certain breeds "own" certain colors.

Buff: Cochins, Orpingtons.
Barred 1: Rocks
Barred 2: Campines
Cuckoo: Dominiques
Partridge: Cochins, Chanteclers
Ermine or Columbian: Brahmas, maybe Wyandottes
Blue: Andalusians
White: Dorkings, Rocks, Wyandottes, Leghorns, Chanteclers
Red: RI and NH
BBR et al: OEG, Leghorns, Dorkings
Black: J Giants, Australorps, Orpingtons, La Fleche, Crevecoeur, Minorca, Spanish, OEG
Silver Duckwing: Dorkings, OEG
Speckled: Sussex
Mottled: Houdan, Java, Ancona
Spangled 1: Hamburg
Spangled 2: OEG, Aseel
Laced: Wyandotte
Double partridge: Cornish, Bernevelder
Silver Penciled: Brahmas


Take Buff Rocks. They're awesome. My folks had some growing up. They certainly had their hay day. But they're still one of those varieties riding the coat tails of the principal varieties: Barred and White. If Buff Rocks disappear, it's a sign of the times, but it's not the end of the line. If Buff Orpingtons disappear, there's a real blow. In the same way, Barred Rocks disappearing would be poultry tragedy.

Blue Rocks disappeared. They never had a place to begin with.

 

[Bentley]

Bentley is of course right. Time is not something that I take into much consideration with chickens. Having been in chickens my whole life, I just think in the terms of generations. I don't mind shortcuts though. lol.

bentley I just think your stock is to good to pass up.

I understand. My stock is not kept secluded, i would love to see more Spanish scattered everywhere. This is one of the reasons why I raise these birds, to breed and improve them and get them in the hands of more people. And thanks for the compliment, I am proud of these birds.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

There is a breeder of Houdans in the Northeast?

Yes, but my impression is that it's a very small program and getting rather tight blood-wise. I imagine it is the 11th hour.

 

[OSUman]

Ok, I was just curious if you were talking about the original varieties or the varieties that made the breeds. Like Minorcas were originally accepted in White and Black in 1874, though now whites are incredibly hard to find.

There are varieties within these multi-varietied breeds that are the reason for which the breeds hit the map in the first place. There are others varieties that always enjoyed a level of popularity in a way riding the coat tails of the original varieties. Then, there are other varieties that never really were anything but a project.

Take Dorkings. Whites are, within dependible recorded history, the original variety, and were the variety that made the reputation of Dorking meat. Eventually, SG Dorkings rose to the fore in the US. Red Dorkings have been a constant presence in the side lines. Colored Dorkings have probably sung their last song. Cuckoo Dorkings have never had any real historical relevance in comparison to the other varieties.

A similar list could be built for ther multi-varietied breeds, and certain breeds "own" certain colors.

Buff: Cochins, Orpingtons.
Barred 1: Rocks
Barred 2: Campines
Cuckoo: Dominiques
Partridge: Cochins, Chanteclers
Ermine or Columbian: Brahmas, maybe Wyandottes
Blue: Andalusians
White: Dorkings, Rocks, Wyandottes, Leghorns, Chanteclers
Red: RI and NH
BBR et al: OEG, Leghorns, Dorkings
Black: J Giants, Australorps, Orpingtons, La Fleche, Crevecoeur, Minorca, Spanish, OEG
Silver Duckwing: Dorkings, OEG
Speckled: Sussex
Mottled: Houdan, Java, Ancona
Spangled 1: Hamburg
Spangled 2: OEG, Aseel
Laced: Wyandotte
Double partridge: Cornish, Bernevelder
Silver Penciled: Brahmas


Take Buff Rocks. They're awesome. My folks had some growing up. They certainly had their hay day. But they're still one of those varieties riding the coat tails of the principal varieties: Barred and White. If Buff Rocks disappear, it's a sign of the times, but it's not the end of the line. If Buff Orpingtons disappear, there's a real blow. In the same way, Barred Rocks disappearing would be poultry tragedy.

Blue Rocks disappeared. They never had a place to begin with.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

If this breed is in the standard then I stand corrected. I am wrong some times. I got beat by a Canadian Honker Goose about 15 years ago. She beat out one of my best Red Males for fourth best bird of the show. I could not be l eave the judge could do this but he would put anything up on Champion Row to make sure the prizes got spread around to the exhibitors. I latter looked into my standard and saw that the DAM goose was in there. How and Why a wild goose got in there is beyond me.

In this breed I have been to allot of chicken shows and read allot of poultry presses and I dont ever remember seeing or reading about them. Any way get some breed them up and keep them going. We hate to see any standard breed of fowl die off and then have to be crossed up to rebuild them again like the White Rhode Island Reds.

Wish people would consider some of the Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks that are fading away. Some day they will be all gone I guess they just dont have the popularity like other breeds have today.

Bob, check the Standard. Canadian Geese were admitted in 1874. We used that last year to stop a ban on ownership/possession of all domesticated waterfowl by our Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Blue Rocks disappeared. They never had a place to begin with.

I cannot even begin to imagine trying to breed a blue bird with yellow legs, skin, beak etc. It's difficult enough with the proper coloring of slate and horn. Its understandable how they wouldn't have had a place to begin with!

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I cannot even begin to imagine trying to breed a blue bird with yellow legs, skin, beak etc. It's difficult enough with the proper coloring of slate and horn. Its understandable how they wouldn't have had a place to begin with!

When we used to have blue araucanas, it was so much trouble trying to get the perfect bird with all the right traits. I think in the years we had them, we maybe got 2 good blues that had good color, decent leg color, a decent comb, and tufted/rumpless. With blue and even black birds with yellow legs, you need either a male line or a female line because of how the genes work. I have never seen good yellow legs on both genders from the same line. If I dig deep enough in my memory and my files on my old computer, I am sure I can find a link that mentions why it is that way. That is one reason I like sumatras. They have the yellow skin and everything but they have black legs, all I have to worry about is keeping the bottoms of the feet clear

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I am not super familiar with these yet but am very interested. Crele Dominique
Lee penny asked me to post these.
If you want to know more his info is
Marans and More on byc. I also have his email if you want to message me for it.
What I know.
Like Crele's they are autosexable . Lay a cream color egg

 

[Yellow House Farm]

I cannot even begin to imagine trying to breed a blue bird with yellow legs, skin, beak etc. It's difficult enough with the proper coloring of slate and horn. Its understandable how they wouldn't have had a place to begin with!

Black Leghorns pose the same problem. With our Anconas, we keep the black to a minimum, but clean yellow legs? Oiweh!

 

[saladin]

I cannot even begin to imagine trying to breed a blue bird with yellow legs, skin, beak etc. It's difficult enough with the proper coloring of slate and horn. Its understandable how they wouldn't have had a place to begin with!

It's not hard to do at all. I keep Blue Asil along with my Black Asil line. The Blues have strong yellow legs,skin, and beaks.