Rarest breed of chicken in the US?

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Welp Hatchery in Bancroft, Iowa has very nice Russian Orloffs.

Very nice as in pretty, or APA standard nice?

I believe a couple other hatcheries do, too, but we're listing them in terms of Orloffs of type, not production-bred Orloffs.

At this point, I wouldn't say there is such a thing as a "production bred" Orloff. That seems to imply they would be productive!

And Welp's birds (Also Privett's stock) are not that bad, actually. Correct combs, correct leg color, as my girls are growing their coloring is evening out and I am very happy with them. I would like to see slightly more upright carriage, but it is not bad. They are decent considering how many birds, total, are out there. I think they are only a couple of generations removed from good breeder stock.

I got a giggle out of your comment that "now people can ruin them and no one is there to complain with good reason". In every species, I think there is a faction of folks out there that feel that breeding to a physical appearance standard instead of a practical one is the major thing that DOES ruin the breed! I personally go back and forth, but I am happy to have a breed that I can work on in earnest without worrying extensively about meeting a aesthetic standard. I think my flock will benefit from it.

 

[Tropical Chook]

Quote:
I'm so excited to think I'll be supporting the growth of the Shamo population next year.

You certainly won't be sorry - they are great birds, and you will never ever experience the stags being aggressive towards people, not even towards little kids. I only have this breed, and I'm more than happy with them. Just seems strange to eat the excess roos when some people are willing to pay top dollar for this breed.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Welp Hatchery in Bancroft, Iowa has very nice Russian Orloffs.

Very nice as in pretty, or APA standard nice?

I believe a couple other hatcheries do, too, but we're listing them in terms of Orloffs of type, not production-bred Orloffs.

Welp's Orloffs are ok, not great but OK. I think I've got a picture of one of the Orloffs I got from them at about 3 months old on my personal page here on BYC. I've got two lines and neither are perfect but both are better than most I've seen over the years. I know several others on here have them also. I figure it'll take me three to four years to get these where I want them, but I love them so it'll be worth it.
My great uncle had a huge flock of these running lose on his farm when I was growing up, he just called them "Russians", They were a lot bigger and had a more upright carriage than any I've seen since plus the spangling was much more even.
I don't know what the old APA standard called for, and they are no longer recognized, but I'm going for the look I remember as a kid.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
I'm so excited to think I'll be supporting the growth of the Shamo population next year.

You certainly won't be sorry - they are great birds, and you will never ever experience the stags being aggressive towards people, not even towards little kids. I only have this breed, and I'm more than happy with them. Just seems strange to eat the excess roos when some people are willing to pay top dollar for this breed.

I'll second that, I love my Shamos! Still new to me, but excellent indeed.

-Daniel

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
You certainly won't be sorry - they are great birds, and you will never ever experience the stags being aggressive towards people, not even towards little kids. I only have this breed, and I'm more than happy with them. Just seems strange to eat the excess roos when some people are willing to pay top dollar for this breed.

I'll second that, I love my Shamos! Still new to me, but excellent indeed.

-Daniel

I want some!

I just don't know where we'd house them....unless they are very cold hardy and could survive -10 or so...

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
I agree, maybe a white rock.

 

[Chickielady]

Rare Feathers maybe you could have a small flock indoors for winter like a mini barn with infra red lamp for heat ?

 

[Illia]

We certainly don't get below freezing temps very often, but we're going to use a heatlamp for ours.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
Very nice as in pretty, or APA standard nice?

I believe a couple other hatcheries do, too, but we're listing them in terms of Orloffs of type, not production-bred Orloffs.

Welp's Orloffs are ok, not great but OK. I think I've got a picture of one of the Orloffs I got from them at about 3 months old on my personal page here on BYC. I've got two lines and neither are perfect but both are better than most I've seen over the years. I know several others on here have them also. I figure it'll take me three to four years to get these where I want them, but I love them so it'll be worth it.
My great uncle had a huge flock of these running lose on his farm when I was growing up, he just called them "Russians", They were a lot bigger and had a more upright carriage than any I've seen since plus the spangling was much more even.
I don't know what the old APA standard called for, and they are no longer recognized, but I'm going for the look I remember as a kid.

Does anyone know when Orloffs were admitted to & removed from the Standard?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I have not been able to find an actual year because several sources I did find were all stating different dates.

ABLC says it was in the standard from 1875 until 1894 and removed in 1894 due to lack of popularity...

Sandhill's website says: They were introduced to the standard in 1898" but it gives no end date and later contradicts itself by saying: "This breed is not yet listed in the APA Standard."