Old and Rare Breeds

[Pyncheon guy]

Thanks Jon.....

 

[flgardengirl]

Thank you for some insight into the breed. It is so hard to find information on some of the rarer breeds sometimes. I really love the crests on them. Are they a cold climate breed? It seems like the breeders live in cooler climates. Would they do well somewhere hot and very humid? Where do they originate from?

ETA: Ok I just read the article and see that they may have come from Belgium.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
Yep no problem.

 

[saladin]

I really enjoy this type of information. Rusty's story is one you'll not find in a book anywhere: you have to get it directly from the source.

 

[Pyncheon guy]

The Pyncheon.... I believe that Mille Fleur colored bantams from Western and Northern Europe...where several other breeds very similar reside were probably brought to America.....here they were raised on the eastern coast by a few farmers who recognized the breed's hardiness and beautiful color and decided to keep a few.... smaller birds eat less and can be kept in a smaller environment..... When the larger, meatier and better laying breeds came along...I do believe that chickens like the Pyncheons were pushed aside and kept by very few....ie: Nathaniel Hawthorne...etc.....there was a "Pyncheon Craze" at the beginning of the 1900's.....by the early 50's the breed was almost gone.... They are coming back...slowly but surely!!!!!

 

[joedie]

This thread has alot of information that I've been looking for. I started with a mixed hatchery flock, then last year bought BCM chicks from a breeder. I think what I've learned from these birds, is that I want to raise non-hatchery old hardy breeds that lay well, and are cold/heat tolerant. I think I've narrowed it down to Javas, Sussex, or Delawares. I would like to choose just one breed. Any input from people that own either of these breeds? Or where to buy eggs from a good breeder that I could incubate?

 

[Pyncheon guy]

All of these breeds need help...I used to have Speckled Sussex from a reputable breeder.....beautiful chickens....hardy and great layers of light brown eggs. They did great up here in Northern Michigan....(4 degrees here this morning) They do need more breeders....

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
Do you know if its true that the people in Nathaniel Hawthorne's book House of Seven Gables were based on the activities of his Pyncheons?

 

[Pyncheon guy]

That's what I heard.....(???) I also heard he (Hawthorne) would observe his bantams from the windows for hours....admiring how they carried on with their daily "chicken" routines. I'm just happy that I have some of history out in my coops....

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
Ok cool I dont remember where I heard/ read that but it might have just come from you lol.