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Heritage Poultry The Livestock Conservancy
- 1. Pickin the Right Chicken www.livestockconservancy.org By Jeannette Beranger Senior Program Manager
- 2. Choosing the Right Chicken www.livestockconservancy.org What do you expect? • Eggs • Meat • Pest control • Pets Just for family use or business?
- 3. A Breed Balancing Act www.livestockconservancy.org Eggs vs. Meat
- 4. Body Type www.livestockconservancy.org White Leghorn White Plymouth Rock
- 5. Commercial vs Heritage www.livestockconservancy.org Animals •Rapid growth and high production rate •Early maturity to market weight Farmers •Production of large quantities of food for growing global populations •Larger profits in a shorter period of time Benefits of Commercial Strains
- 6. Commercial Broilers www.livestockconservancy.org Cornish Cross Commercial Broilers Some strains can reach market weight in 6-8 weeks!
- 7. Colored Commercial Broilers www.livestockconservancy.org Freedom Rangers These reach market weight in 9-11 weeks
- 8. Commercial Layers www.livestockconservancy.org Commercial Leghorn Hybrids Starts to lay at 19 weeks Lays average of 259+ eggs
- 9. Colored Commercial Layers www.livestockconservancy.org Black Star Commercial Layers Starts to lay at 22 weeks Lays average of 230-250 eggs
- 10. Commercial Birds www.livestockconservancy.org The Down Side For Animals •Decrease of genetic diversity •Decrease of natural resistance to health problems •Fertility decline & shorter productive lifespan •Loss of ability to thrive in challenging environments For Farmers •Veterinary costs are higher •Increased time, materials and labor needed for livestock care •Added expense for replacement stock
- 11. What is a Heritage Chicken? www.livestockconservancy.org 1. Has a long history in the US 2. Breeds naturally 3. Thrives outdoors and on pasture 4. Has a long natural lifespan 5. Comes from purebred parent and grandparent stock Leghorn Poster celebrating Barnum’s famous poultry expo of 1854
- 12. Comb Types www.livestockconservancy.org Combs better suited for warmer climates Single Buttercup
- 13. Comb Types www.livestockconservancy.org Combs suited for moderate climates Rose “V”
- 14. Comb Types www.livestockconservancy.org Combs suitable for colder climates Pea Cushion
- 15. Size www.livestockconservancy.org • Suits the space you have • Can influence adaptation to temperatures • Can make management easier or difficult
- 16. Breeds from Around the Globe www.livestockconservancy.org • English • Continental • Mediterranean • American • Asiatic • Oriental • Game • Bantam • Miscellaneous
- 17. English www.livestockconservancy.org Sussex • Foundation birds brought to Britain by Phoenician traders prior to Roman arrivals • Developed as a landrace in the area of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey counties in England and link to the Dorking breed • Arrived in America in 1912 • Valued for meat quality and egg laying ability
- 18. Continental www.livestockconservancy.org Faverolle • French breed developed in the 1800’s with meat production and winter egg laying in mind for Paris markets • Hens lay 150-180 tinted eggs and are excellent sitters and mothers. • Produces fine broilers and roasters and will do best when given access to ground and spacious areas • Feathered legs need well drained soils
- 19. Mediterranean www.livestockconservancy.org Andalusian • Ancient rugged fowl of Andalusia region of Spain • Prolific layer of large white eggs • Famous for it’s beautiful blue coloration • Has white flesh with plenty of breast meat • Active forager that will not do well in confinement
- 20. American www.livestockconservancy.org Buckeye • Created by Nettie Metcalf • Named for their color which is like a Buckeye nut • Meat is flavorful and dark • Most active forager of the American class • Peaceful dispositions
- 21. Asiatic www.livestockconservancy.org Brahma • Like the Cochin, its introduction to England inspired “Hen Fever” • Appreciated for its size, strength and vigor • Once known as “king of all poultry” • Good winter layers for their size producing the bulk of their eggs from October to May • Do best on dry, well drained soils in moist, cool climates
- 22. Oriental www.livestockconservancy.org Sumatra • Originally from Indonesia, the breed developed through living wild • Seasonal breeder with hens that are excellent mothers and broodies laying 150-200 eggs • Was used for fighting but weren’t best suited for this due to calm temperament outside of breeding season • Can fly well to avoid predators
- 23. Miscellaneous www.livestockconservancy.org Araucana • Originating in South America • Rumpless birds with distinctive ear tufts • Layer of blue eggs but can have variable fertility • Used to create the Ameraucana breed which has a tail and is a stronger layer
- 24. Sourcing Birds www.livestockconservancy.org • Livestock Conservancy on-line breeders directory and classifieds • American Poultry Association (APA) • Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities (SPPA) • Breed clubs Make sure birds come from National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) Certified Flocks!
- 25. Pricing www.livestockconservancy.org • Chicks $3 - $7 a piece • Hatching eggs $10 - $25 a dozen • Older chicks $7 - $10 • Adults $15 - $50 Expect to pay shipping costs which can be pricey, especially for older birds
- 27. From Showring to Table www.livestockconservancy.org TLC Buckeye Chicken Recovery Project
- 28. Breeder Selection www.livestockconservancy.org • Same breed • Same sex • Same age
- 30. The Head Tells it All www.livestockconservancy.org
- 38. Keeping on the Straight & Narrow www.livestockconservancy.org
- 41. Pelvic Arch Minus Feathers www.livestockconservancy.org
- 43. Minus Feathers www.livestockconservancy.org Feel for straightness and “grizzle”
- 44. And finally…. www.livestockconservancy.org Weight can be final decision maker
- 45. Some Words on Temperament www.livestockconservancy.org Choose wisely for a breed that is compatible with your needs and facilities
- 47. Egg Evaluation www.livestockconservancy.org Overly large eggs just as bad as too small
- 49. The Numbers Game www.livestockconservancy.org Larger numbers to choose from for your top 10%
- 50. livestockconservancy.org www.livestockconservancy.org www.livestockconservancy.org Heritage Chicken Manual Chapter 1. Selecting for Meat Qualities and Rate of Growth Chapter 2. Selecting for Egg Production Chapter 3. Ongoing Selection of Breeding Stock Additional useful forms: Toe Punch Chart Chick Assessment Form Breeder Qualification Form Satellite Consignment Agreement Breeder/Hatchery Agreement The Livestock Conservancy Chicken Breed Comparison Sheet
- 51. Questions? www.livestockconservancy.org Thank you! Livestock Conservancy PO Box 477 Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5704 jberanger@livestockconservancy.org