Barred Hollands

fivehillsfarm@gmail.com writes: 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.

Duane Urch of Urch-Turnland Poultry in Minnesota, 507-451-6782, dpurch@netzero.com, has Barred Hollands, Five Hills Farm. He's one of the most respected judges in the country, well known for high quality birds.This picture is from www.feathersite.com.

Tracy Jenner in Florida, 352-489-4937, has Hollands, listed in the ALBC Directory. Also Robert Perdue at Waccamaw Poultry in North Carolina, 910-770-2408, crperdue@hotmail.com; Neil Perin of Arcadian Acres  in Ohio, 740-753-4333, ArcadianAcres@gmail.com; Lamar Knudsen of South Carolina, lamarknudsen@hotmail.com; and Terry and Linda Neal at Neal's Farm in Tennessee, 931-967-4202, tltsav83@gmail.com.

The ALBC Directory doesn't specify Barred Hollands, but since no one has seen any white ones since I don't know when, it's safe to assume theirs are barred. Barred Hollands were always more popular with farmers.

Hollands are a composite breed, based on stock originally brought from Holland. White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires and Lamonas were added to the original stock in the 1930s by Rutgers Breeding Farm. Barred Hollands were developed from White Leghorns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Australorps and Brown or Black Leghorns. They were admitted to the Standard in 1949.

The Holland is a heavy breed, weighing 8 1/2 pounds for roosters and 6 1/2 pounds for hens. The type is not the same but they are essentially the same size as a Rock, yet they lay a white egg like a Leghorn.