What makes a bird “heritage”?

[MysteryChicken]

Ooh! Can you get me the thread?

Sure, I'll see if I can find it. There's alot of back, & forth discussion.

 

[MysteryChicken]

He's really nice looking.
I'm just confused when you're saying he's a heritage Plymouth Barred Rock, and that others of his breed aren't.

He's of what's bred towards standard/Show. Hatchery stock is primarily focused on production.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

He's of what's bred towards standard/Show. Hatchery stock is primarily focused on production.

Okay, but are both still heritage?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Sure, I'll see if I can find it. There's alot of back, & forth discussion.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ee-or-ameraucana.1500059/

Here you go.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Okay, but are both still heritage?

Heritage will conform mostly to the APA. Occasionally there is a hatchery quality bird that will fit, or is really close though. Most often they don't look like the Heritage type.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

The other question I have, is are these actually heritage birds? https://www.rochesterhatchery.com/PoultryCategory/heritagebreeds

 

[User105877]

Heritage bred birds are typically from breeders and not hatcheries. They confirm to the "standard" that is set for for the bred. They are typically bigger, healthier, more vibrant color, and longer lasting.

 

[LaFleche]

He's really nice looking.
I'm just confused when you're saying he's a heritage Plymouth Barred Rock, and that others of his breed aren't.

To almost every popular chickenbreed hatcheries created their own similar looking hybrids, which often causes confusion.

Some hatcheries even point out the differences between production type and heritage:

Heritage: https://www.meyerhatchery.com/Heritage-Barred-Plymouth-Rock-Day-Old-Chicks-p213412031

https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2020/07/breed-spotlight-barred-plymouth-rock/

 

[LaFleche]

The other question I have, is are these actually heritage birds? https://www.rochesterhatchery.com/PoultryCategory/heritagebreeds

Andalusians don't look like it (more like blue Leghorn) as they should look like this:

And neither do the "Cuckoo Maran" look like true Coucou Marans to me. Note that hatcheries often intentionally misspell Marans without the "S" as this is a sure sign that these birds will be hybrids and not the pure breed or heritage kind.

This is what true Coucou Marans look like: http://marans.eu/ca.htm#ca

 

[Let There Be Light]

Here's a Heritage Plymouth Barred Rock, rooster of mine. They're very different from the regular hatchery quality Barred Rocks.
View attachment 2950296
They're also huge.View attachment 2950297View attachment 2950299

I have that same shirt! XD