Top Ten Endangered Chickens In The Usa

[Illia]

Quote:
Ah forgot Fayoumis to the list. Hamburgs I see shown all the time. Buttercups are in the list I wrote.


Fayoumis are indeed hard to consider about though because they don't have a standard, but if one were to compare them with Campines, which their color technically is supposed to be like, - Then good ones certainly are hard to find. But, they don't have a standard far as I know, so, that's up in the air. The best thing to consider is their history, how does it match to today's hatchery Fayoumi?

For example even if Houdans didn't have a standard and weren't recognized - Most if not all LF birds in the US most definitely do not match to their history.

 

[Chris09]

You can add Rhode Island Reds (true non-hatchery Reds) to the list.
During the months December through February you might be able to count 200 adult birds and during the summer months maybe there will be a thousand as for Rose Comb Reds there may be about 50 during the winter months and less than 400 in the summer months.

Chris

 

[Illia]

And that I just wasn't fully sure of.

I know I've seen tallies of a lot of them shown in big events like Ohio and Crossroads, but, it could just be a regional thing. I don't really know.

Rosecombs are undoubtedly pretty rare though.

 

[Gresh]

Quote:
'Tis a good point, ma'am

 

[Oldhound]

Oldhound wrote:
You might add Penedesencas and Empordanesa to that list .

Empordanesa yes. Penedesenca no.



I disagree , There are only a handful of breeders and Sandhill with black penedesenca who offer them for sale . Believe me , it took a year to get a 1/2 doz from Sandhill. It seems that many of the black Penes offered are crosses with other colors or Marans. In the long run it really does not matter much. Penes are very flighty and therefore unpopular which may actually save them from the "What will I get if I cross" people who have no regard for purebreds or the work it takes to preserve them.

 

[Illia]

True, but that's in regards to one color. I've seen more Wheaten and "Crele" Penedesenca owners around than I have many of the other breeds mentioned, not including hatchery stock, which Penes have thankfully yet to go through.

 

[mama24]

Quote:
That's starting. I got Pene's from MPC hoping they still met breed standards, and of the 3 I got 1 has feathered legs, and the other 2 look like they're cockerels.

But I just got some eggs off ebay and the pics looked really really good, so I'm hoping...

 

[Illia]

Oh yeah. MPC gets from Meyer who gets from Gabbard Farms, who I'm sorry but they are seriously starting to commercialize a lot of breeds that used to be hatchery-free in bloodlines, but now, that's changing. French Marans too are experiencing that. They're certainly not a rare breed, but it's actually sad to see them increase in numbers at hatcheries now.

Sorry hatchery-ordering folk but I like a Marans to stay big, with dark eggs and with a good temperament.

 

[Gresh]

THE OPINIONS, THE OPINIONS, THE OPINIONS!!!

I love 'em! I think some really good points have been made so far, especially by Illia, Josh, and Chris. I totally forgot that Araucaunas were much rarer than Ameracaunas--go figure!

Anyhow, I should also clarify that I mean REAL breeds, not just mutts imported from other countries. Kraienkoppes, Russian Orloffs, Malays--these are all examples of recognized breeds that have been preserved by foreigners and Americans alike and have been officially recognized by poultry organizations. Easter Eggers do not count in this clarification. Sorry if I was confusing in mine own opinions

Also, Icelandic chickens don't count as breeds either. They don't breed true colors or characteristics, so I hear, and they are not really recognized by any poultry organizations that I know of. As someone here told me, they are a landrace fowl, not a real breed.
But I will maintain to the end that Russian Orloffs and Kraienkoppes should still stay on my list, even if other breeds are subtracted or added. Kraienkoppes are exceedingly rare in this country, to the point that only less than a handful of breeders are out there, and they got their stock mostly from hatcheries, who got their stock from the Kraienkoppes imported in the early 20th century, and those Kraienkoppes came from a German guy who got his directly from Germany and the Netherlands (thereby implying that a couple of hatcheries actually have pure Kraienkoppes, though not standard-abiding).
Orloffs are very hard to find in good type. Hatcheries usually sell white-legged mutts that don't reach the weights that the European (and former American) standards call for. Only a small number of people truly breed pure Orloffs.
Having had my say, continue to upload more lists, everyone!

 

[mama24]

I got Marans in the same order (hatching eggs) and the eggs were big and REALLY dark. And the chicks are all black with feathered legs, so so far, so good.

The Pene eggs I got from eBay are much bigger and much much much darker than the eggs I got from MPC. They look like terracotta. The MPC eggs were just brown, not much darker than my RSL's eggs, and most of them were mediums. The seller was J Pool, and I've seen his name mentioned in Pene threads, so I assume that means he's a good breeder.