The summer of 2008 was a hard one for our poultry. Some predator killed at least 25 of our heritage breed chickens. We no longer have many of the breeds we started with. I was particularly upset to loose all but one of our Dorkings and all but one hen from our Catalanas.
We do still have the following 4 breeds. It is our hope to be able to offer some chicks from the following breeds this summer.
Marans: A French breed known for the dark color of their egg shells. These are big, calm birds that make good table fare as well.
Phoenix: A smaller breed related to the long-tailed Japanese birds that you sometimes see in illustrations. These birds do have extra long tails as they tend not to shed those feathers in the yearly molt once they are mature. They are friendly birds that can make good pets.
Buckeye: The only chicken breed in the US that was developed by a woman, Mrs. Metcalf of Warren, Ohio. These beautiful red birds are extremely friendly and the roosters have a variety of calls. These birds are very active and great at rustling up their own food. Some people think that these chickens are as good as a cat for catching and eating mice! If you’re looking for a nice pet bird these can’t be beat.
