From an article I wrote for the April/May issue of Backyard Poultry magazine:
People have raised all kinds of poultry for at least 8,000
years. Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineafowl and even ostriches have been
domesticated – that is, they have become genetically able to live and reproduce
among humans. Domestication itself is an interesting process. Of 148 large
mammal species, only about 15 have ever been domesticated.
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| A Junglefowl rooster photographed in India |
Chickens are descended from Junglefowl, which still roam
wild in India and other parts of Southeast Asia. Most domesticated ducks are
descended from mallards, but domesticated Muscovies from the Americas (that
name has its own history) are also raised. Geese are descended from Western
Graylag geese and turkeys from wild turkeys, which still roam the countryside. Wild
guineafowl and ostriches are common in Africa, but their domestic relatives live
on farms.
That wild heritage includes a lot of variety, both in
appearance and in those invisible genes. That’s one of the values of heritage
breeds, their genetic variability. You see it in their body shape and
conformation and their colorful plumage. Equally important are unseen qualities
such as disease resistance, broodiness and egg production. Choosing heritage
breeds for your backyard flock puts you and your birds in the long history of
traditional poultry.
Hybrid chickens may lay more eggs and the Cornish-Rock cross
is the fastest-growing meat bird, but they lack the genetic variability of
heritage breeds and many of the less visible qualities. Broodiness is bred out
of hybrid layers, so that they don’t take any breaks from laying. They may be
spent, have laid as many eggs as they will ever lay, in three years.
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| My Blue Laced Buff Wyandotte with her brood. |
“Any chicken that lays 300 eggs a year will not live past
three years,” said Frank Reese, life-long poultry breeder of Good Shepherd
Poultry Ranch in Lindsborg, Kansas. “You do have an animal who is highly
productive, but they are hyperactive, short-lived, dead-end animals.”
Because they are hybrids, with the vigor of cross-breeding,
they can’t pass that on to their offspring, even if they were able to brood
them. Cornish-Rock crosses do little but eat and grow. They are physically
unable to reproduce.
“Healthy, balanced heritage breed birds have a healthy
immune system,” Reese said. “They are like athletes who have trained. Don’t
expect morbidly obese animals to be athletes. They are bred to be what they
are.”
Reese has worked with the Livestock Conservancy and others
to develop a marketing definition of Heritage Chickens (abbreviated version,
see sidebar for the full definition): “A Heritage Egg can only be produced by a
Standard-bred Chicken admitted by the American Poultry Association. A Heritage
Chicken is hatched from a Heritage Egg sired by an American Poultry Association
Standard-bred Chicken established prior to the mid-20th century, is slow
growing, naturally mated with a long productive outdoor life.”
That definition is a foundation on which to build a market
for traditional breed poultry and educate the public. A USDA-approved
definition would require producers to meet that definition in order to label
their products as ‘heritage,’ and sell for a premium price. One of Mr. Reese’s
goals was to write the definition so that it would not be subject to being
subverted by the poultry industry the way ‘natural,’ ‘free range’ and ‘organic’
often are. A precise definition is necessary to prevent unqualified companies
from labeling their products with it, until the term loses its meaning and the
producer loses the market premium.
The American Poultry Association has a Flock Inspection
Committee to explore how the APA could lead in certifying flocks in the
marketplace.
Breeds for backyard
flocks
Identify the breeds that suit your needs. Just as a hunter
wouldn’t choose a Chihuahua for a hunting dog, small flock keepers should
choose breeds that suit them. Silkies, Dorkings and Cochins have gentle
personalities that make them desirable birds for households with young
children. Bantams are small breeds, easier for small hands to hold.
Wyandottes, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, New
Hampshires, Orpingtons, Polish and Houdans were commercial production breeds in
the early 20th century. Javas, Dominiques, Buckeyes, Delawares, New
Hampshires, Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are among the
historic chicken breeds that are appearing more frequently at poultry shows.
Some breeds, such as the New
Hampshire, are often shown, but most do not meet the Standard.
Mr. Reese has focused on New Hampshires and is making good progress
with them. “It takes years of commitment, but it’s so satisfying to walk out
and look at your flock and be happy with what you see.”
Attend a poultry show and meet the breeders. Consider visiting
the farm where they raise their flocks.
“Seek out those people who have dedicated their lives to
quality and proper breeding,” Mr. Reese said. “See how the Mom and Dad birds
treat you. Find out what it takes to maintain a good flock of these birds.”
Breeds may be familiar, such as the Rhode Island Red, the
state bird of Rhode Island, or obscure. Sultan chickens were bred as ornamental
birds for Turkish royalty by the 19th century. They are decorative
indeed, with full flowing white crests, muffs and beards, long feathers gracing
their legs. Their feathery legs, called vulture hocks, are undesirable in other
breeds, but in the case of Sultans, they add to the allure. To keep those
feathery feet attractive, you won’t want them spending time around the edge of
a muddy pond.
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| This photo of Sultans comes from Cackle Hatchery. |
They have five toes, like the Dorking and the Silkie. They
are a medium sized bird, at 6 lbs. for a rooster and 4 lbs. for a hen. Bantams
top out at 22-26 ounces. They are good layers of white eggs, your bonus for keeping
such distinctive birds.
Bantams are small chickens, generally one-fifth to one-third
the size of large fowl, weighed in ounces rather than pounds. Most are small
versions of standard size chickens, but some are True Bantams, such as Nankins
and Silkies. They require proportionately less space and feed.
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| These Nankins live at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. |
Modern Games, both large fowl and bantams, were bred
exclusively for showing. They have an unusual, modern art appearance. Japanese
bantams hold their black tails high above their white bodies. Silkies have
unusual hair-like feathers. Bantams come in every color imaginable.
Many bantams retain good mothering characteristics and will
happily set on eggs and raise chicks for you. Their eggs, though small, are
tasty. A friend finds one regular chicken egg too small for breakfast and two
too large, but two bantam eggs just right.
Add ducks to your
flock
Mandarin ducks and Wood ducks look as if someone painted
them, with distinct brightly colored green, red, brown and white markings. The
drakes, at any rate. The hens, like so many waterfowl, have camouflage plumage
that is less striking. They happily nest in boxes and will raise a clutch of
youngsters for you.
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| Mandarin ducks |
Wood ducks are native to North America,
one of the few duck breeds that nest in trees. That first step out of the nest
can be a big one for ducklings – jumps as long as 290 feet, without injury,
have been documented. They naturally produce two broods in a year. You may
attract some wild ones to your pond, or you can acquire domestically raised birds.
Trimming the primary flight feathers on one wing will keep them from flying
away, although domestic birds may willingly stay in the comfortable
surroundings you provide.
Mandarin Ducks are Asian cousins to Wood Ducks. While they
are not native to North America, they do well
here. Their stunning plumage makes them popular in private collections. While
their wild numbers in China are declining, they are doing well in domestic
flocks. Pairs bond for life, making them a symbol of marital love and fidelity,
often used to bless Chinese weddings.
Not everyone finds the caruncles of Muscovy
ducks attractive, but they are a conversation point. The fleshy growths on
their heads are warty and strange. These large ducks, native to the American
continents, can be friendly companions. The hens are good mothers and naturally
lay quite a few eggs. Crested ducks have feathered knobs on their heads, giving
them an eye-catching appearance. Runner ducks are often described as ‘wine
bottles with legs.’ With supportive diet, they lay as many eggs as chickens,
and come in many colors.
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| Harvey Ussery's Muscovy ducks in Virginia |
Bantam ducks, weighing less than two pounds, may suit you.
Call ducks were originally bred to attract wild ducks by calling them down to
the hunter’s blind. They retain their inclination to call, and are vocal and
sociable. East Indies ducks glimmer with
greenish iridescence on their black plumage.
Geese are beautiful
Historic geese breeds such as Embden, Toulouse and
Pomeranian have smooth feathers, but Sebastopol geese look as if someone curled
theirs. Their soft, flowing ruffles give them the appearance of fantastic dream
birds. Their feathers are as much as four times as long as normal feathers,
with flexible shafts that spiral, draping down to the ground.
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| Dave Kozakiewicz raises these Sebastopols in Minnesota |
They are an ancient utility breed, hardy and respectable egg
layers of 25-35 eggs a year. Goose eggs can substitute for chicken eggs in
cooking and are especially valued in baking. Their albumen is heavier than that
of chicken eggs, so don’t bother trying to get them to whip up light.
Sebastopols are considered medium geese, weighing 12 to 14
lbs. at maturity, making them good table birds, if you are so inclined. They
are gentle and enjoy human companionship. Keep them away from aggressive birds.
They enjoy bathing those lovely feathers in clean water.
All waterfowl feathers and down make the warmest insulation,
both for the bird and for clothing and bedding. No man-made product is as good
as goose down and feathers. Geese stay warm in the harshest winter weather, but
the loose feathering of Sebastopols makes them appreciate protection when it’s
especially cold, wet and windy.
Don’t worry about them flying away. Those long, curly
feathers are useless for flying. Like all geese, they mate for the duration,
which may well be for life. They love raising a family and will happily adopt
youngsters of other species. Give them a place to nest and you will have years
of happy families.
On beyond turkeys
All turkeys are the same breed, but their different colors
separate them as varieties. Royal Palm turkeys have striking white and black
markings. Although Royal Palms have been selected for their beauty, they did
not lose their ability to forage for themselves. Royal Palm turkeys will also
raise their own poults for you.
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| A Royal Palm tom. |
Wild turkeys are plentiful around the U.S. now,
having made a recovery from being hunted into extinction in many areas. If you
keep domestic turkeys, you may find a wild male eager to join your flock for a
season. Farmers of the past generally welcomed such interlopers, for their
contribution to the vitality of the flock. The offspring won’t retain the distinctive
coloring of Royal Palms, but that may not be important to you. All turkeys are
sociable and companionable with people.
Royal Palm turkeys are relatively small, with toms topping
out at around 22 lbs. and hens around 12 lbs. They are good table birds, if you
find yourself with more than you want.
