Old and Rare Breeds

[Chris09]

I thought about getting some Bantam LaFleche at one time from Shady Lane Poultry but never got around to getting them.
If anyone is interested in the bantam here is a link http://www.shadylanepoultry.com/bantams.html

Chris

 

[saladin]

Matt from Shady Lane actually exhibits his birds. He's a great fellow to deal with.

Monte Bowen has been working with bantam LaFleche for several years too.


On a personal note, if I were going to add another breed to my flock it would be the LaFleche. The quality of their meat is outstanding and they lay well too. The cockbirds are extremely docile (for meat and egg breeds). Their pure black bodies with their devilish comb make them real yard ornaments. Though never an extremely popular bird in the UK or the US, they should be.

 

[poularde]

I have been drawn to the La Fleche for a while now. I really would like to find some LF that have some weight to them. Most I have seen have been way to light. Do you have a suggestion for someone to get hatching eggs from?

 

[saladin]

No I really don't. Sandhills ships LaFleche chicks and the ones I've seen from there a not bad at all. Matt Johns at Shady Lane might be able to point you in the right direction as well. He may even carry them. I can't remember if Duane Urch has them, but if he does they would also be good.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
It looks like Urch Turnland does have them. There is a full list of what they have on this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=437644

 

[poularde]

Thanks!

 

[OrloffTom]

Quote:
Does your Orloff have white/cream shanks?

 

[saladin]

If I were purchasing LaFleche from a hatchery (which is most likely what you are going to need to do since finding a breeder is going to be difficult) I would purchase chicks from 2 different hatcheries: in this case Urch/Turnlund and Sandhills or Shady Lane. I would toe punch each set of chicks so that as adult you could know who came from which hatchery.

Then, as adults I would cull keeping the best from both hatcheries: at least a trio from each; more birds would be better but six is a great start.

When I started breeding I would crisscross: using the best cock from one hatchery over the best hens of the other hatchery.

 

[saladin]

Speaking of breeders.

I do not consider anyone a breeder that has not been breeding a group of birds for at least 5 years. Here's why.

If you want to admit a new breed to the APA Standard (several of us are working on getting the Nankin in) you have to sign saying you have raised the bird for a minimum of 5 years. There is a reason for that. This 'hoop' demonstrates that 1) the breeder knows what he's doing and 2) the birds are coming uniform in type and consistent in color.

When you purchase birds or eggs, your first couple of years of mating them will produce birds more like what the original breeder had. It is in the third generation that you begin to see just how good your selection is.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Does your Orloff have white/cream shanks?

He has Yellow Shanks.

Chris