Barred Hollands, such as the hen at right, are a modern composite that would make a good general purpose chicken for an integrated farm. They are good layers of white eggs and grow into a large, meaty table bird. Roosters ideally weigh 8 1/2 pounds, hens 6 1/2 pounds.This hen belongs to Heirloom Heritage Farms in Spanaway, Washington, http://www.heirloomheritagefarms.com.
They are also recognized in the Standard for exhibition. A White variety is also recognized.
The Standard gives their history as beginning with chickens imported from Holland. They were crossed with White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires and Lamonas and selectively bred for their productive qualities. They were accepted into the Standard in 1949.
Not many people are raising these useful, calm attractive birds. If you are considering starting a small flock for your own use or to produce meat and eggs for the market, Barred Hollands would be a good choice.
3 comments:
This is the breed, when I start my LF flock, that I plan to start with. Right now, I only have bantams because they live indoors, that's all I can have. When we move to our farm in a year or two, Hollands will be at my place!
They are beautiful!
Useful, too. They need you to establish a flock! A goal for the New Year.
I'm looking for Barred Hollands this year, I have a few chicks and just getting started and need more to add to the diversity of the flock.
fivehillsfarm@gmail.com
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